Deflected Agreement and Verb Singular in Arabic: A Three-Stage Historical Model

Abstract

Abstract A categorical initial Vsg (verb in singular) in Classical Arabic (‘verbal sentence’) is unique among the Semitic languages, and can therefore be postulated to be innovative in it. This paper situates this phenomenon in the larger context of the development of so-called deflected agreement (FSG agreement with a plural subject). A three-stage historical model is developed whereby stage 2 in particular saw an explosion of FSG agreement among almost all categories of plural subject nouns. It is during this phase that categorical initial Vsg is argued to have emerged. However, the origin of the characteristic Arabic deflected agreement rule is tentatively suggested to have begun not among plural nouns but among collectives, comparable phenomena in Hebrew and Syriac indicating a West Semitic origin. The three stages are to be understood as being each associated with different speech communities, which explains why each of the stages is still attested in different parts of the Arabic-speaking world today.