Abstract

The main concern of this paper is to investigate the syntax of Wh-questions in Standard Arabic (SA). This investigation will be conducted within the latest framework envisaged by Chomsky (1998, 1999, 2001, 2005, and 2006). Chomsky’s latest version has been termed a phase-based theory of syntax. As far as I know SA Wh-questions have not been analyzed within this framework. I think it is worth the trouble knowing if recent developments in the syntactic theory are applicable to a non-Indo-European language such as SA. As is well known there is scarcity of studies on SA in this modern line of research. If SA along with other languages can be handled within the phase-based theory of syntax, this will provide a cross-linguistic evidence for the universality of this theory; if not, further research needs to be conducted before reaching any definitive conclusions.

Highlights

  • Since the seminal work of Chomsky (1977) on Wh-questions in English, there have been a large number of studies on Wh-questions in different languages

  • We can conclude that wh-questions in intransitive and transitive Standard Arabic (SA) clauses can be moved to the left periphery of the clause and that extraction is admissible from object as well as subject positions

  • In this paper I have investigated the syntax of wh-questions in SA, I have conducted this investigation within Chomsky’s latest framework which has been termed a phase-based theory of syntax

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Summary

Introduction

Since the seminal work of Chomsky (1977) on Wh-questions in English, there have been a large number of studies on Wh-questions in different languages. To cite just a few, Cole and Herman (1998) study the typology of wh-movement in Malay They investigate the principles which govern overt wh-movement as well as wh-in-situ and partial wh-movement within an earlier version of the minimalist framework (Chomsky,1995). She shows that while extraction out of indicative complement clauses is ungrammatical, extraction out of subjunctive complement clauses is grammatical She states that problems of long-distance wh-movement in Russian is due to the fact that, unlike English, T and not C is the phase head in Russian and she offers a number of arguments to support her proposals. I haven’t gone into them in any detail Their importance stems from the fact that they are conducted on different languages, and dialects within different theoretical frameworks. For more on these studies, I refer the interested reader to the reference section in this paper

Phase-Based Framework
Wh-Constructions in SA
Intransitive Structures in SA
Transitive Structures in SA
Multiple Wh-questions in SA
Embedded Wh-questions in SA
Conclusion
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