The thematic relations in the content of Suurat al-CAlaq in the light of government and binding theory

Other Title(s)

العلاقات الدلالية في سورة العلق في ضوء نظرية العامل و الربط

Dissertant

Qasim, Hind Mansur

Thesis advisor

Jalabnah, Atif Mustafa Muflih

Comitee Members

al-Hajjaj, Hamid
Hamdan, Jihad

University

Middle East University

Faculty

Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of English

University Country

Jordan

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2010

English Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the concept of thematic relations of Suurat Alc alaq of the Glorious Qur'an at deep structure (D- structure) with reference to Chomsky’s (1981 and 1986) theoretical views on the theory of government and binding and Jalabneh's (1992 and 2007) views on verb- movement (V-movement) and the concept of theta absorption in Arabic syntax.

This study aimed at answering the following questions: 1.

How is each theta role determined by the lexical property of its head ? 2.

At what level are theta roles assigned under government? 3.

How is each argument assigned a theta role in exactly one theta position and how is each assignable theta role assigned to one and only one argument in a sentence? 4.

How does the theory of theta absorption account for the covert theta roles? To achieve the objectives o this study, the researcher analyzed the nineteen ayats of suurat al-calaq from the Glorious Quran translated by Mohammed Mahmud Ghali (2008).

The study revealed that the thematic relations must be determined by the lexical head governs it.

The concept of government was applied at the level of D- structure because it is the level at which all lexical representations are posted to get meaning.

After the concept of government was applied, the Arabic verb has to move to the position of [C, C'] to initiate the ayats at the logical form.

It was argued that, at his particular level, each argument is assigned one theta role and each assignable theta role is assigned to one and only one argument to avoid any confusion that might rise at the logical form.

Another significant piece of work was discussed over here is the concept of that absorption.

It was decided that an argument can be absorbed only if it is an essential argument of the theta grid of a transitive verb used in the Ayat, and it can be recovered by the same verb at all levels of syntax.

It is not regarded deletion because the deleted argument cannot be retrieved by the verb at any level .for example, in the sentence ['I want PRO to go'], the embedded subject PRO is deleted but it has nothing to do with the verb 'want' to be retrieved.

However, in the sentence ['he is ironing'].

The object complement 'clothes' is an absorbed argument and can be retrieved by the theme which was either of a generic or specific reference.

Not only the theme but also the theta roles of goal, instrument and location can be absorbed and they can be of either generic or specific references.

This theory can be applied not only to suurat al-calaq but also to all texts of the Glorious Qur’an.

Main Subjects

Languages & Comparative Literature

No. of Pages

93

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-693074