Gahwat al-murra: the N + DEF-ADJ syntagm and the *at>ahshift in Arabic

Abstract

AbstractMultiple varieties of Arabic attest a definite noun + adjective syntagm in which only the adjective is marked morphologically with the article, e.g., Lebanesebēt iz-zġīr“the small house”. The feminine ending*-ahis everywhere realized -(v)t, e.g., Baghdadisint il-māḍye“last year”. Most have assumed that it was originally appositional, and re-analysed as a construct, prompted perhaps by the loss of case (Hopkins 1984; Pat-El 2017). A few scholars (Reckendorf 1921; Retsö 2009) have argued that this syntagm was originally construct. In this article I draw on relevant Arabic data, including parallels with dialectaltanwīn, as well as comparative Semitic evidence, to argue that this syntagm is, diachronically and synchronically, one of apposition and not annexation. I propose that the feminine-athere represents a retention of proto-Arabic*-at, which was protected by the close relationship between a noun and following attribute. I conclude with a discussion of historical and comparative implications.