Augmented Verbs Expressing Reflexivity (Mutâva‘at) in the Arabic Language

Abstract

Verbs play a significant role in the Arabic language. Arab grammarians, from the time of Sîbeveyhî to the present day, have given special importance to verb patterns and their meanings whether they are mücerred (pure) verbs or mezîd (augmented) verbs. Generally, the verbs are studied in grammar books together with nouns and letters but we also see books dedicated to only verbs like the book of Kitâbu fa‘altü ve ef‘altü of Ebû İshâk ez-Zeccâc. In grammar books, verbs have been dealt with under various sub-titles. Ma‘lûm-meçhûl (active-passive), müte‘addî-lâzım (transitive – intransitive), sahîh-mu‘tel (sound-weak) and mutasarrıf-câmid (declinable – indeclinable) can be given as examples of these titles. Another important sub-topic of verbs is mezîd (augmented) verbs and their meanings. One of the meanings that mezîd verbs express is, with the expression of Sîbeveyhî, the subject of mutâva‘at (reflexivity) in which a ma‘lûm (active) verb gains the meaning of meçhul (passive). Verbs expressing mutâva‘at (reflexivity) were used both in religious texts and Arabic poetry and proverbs during the time before Islam (Câhiliyya). In this study, dictionary and lexical meanings of the word mutava‘at, the mezîd (augmented) verbs expressing mutâva‘at (reflexivity) meaning, the forms of the verbs with mutâva‘at (reflexivity), meaning in use, and grammarians’ opinion of mutâva‘at (reflexivity) will be examined in the light of examples from the Quran, Arabic poetry and proverbs.