Abstract
This paper discusses shared arguments in coordinate structures in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). It assumes that a shared argument between two conjuncts can be a subject or an object. The paper uses the lexical-functional grammar (LFG) framework for analyzing this kind of structure. In LFG, the two possible analyses for similar structures involve analyzing the shared argument as bearing two functions in the two conjuncts. The first analysis is the split analysis, where the shared argument is zipped to both conjuncts by assuming that the verb phrases in both conjuncts are split. The second analysis is function spreading, in which the function of the shared argument is spread from one conjunct to another. This paper argues that the previous analyses in LFG have faced some problems in accounting for this phenomenon in MSA. To solve these problems, this paper contributes a new analysis for shared arguments that involves analyzing the missing argument, whether it is a subject or an object, as a null argument.
Highlights
This paper discusses nonconstituent coordination or shared arguments in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and uses an lexical-functional grammar (LFG) approach to account for this phenomenon
This paper argues against both analyses in LFG, claiming that the two analyses are unable to account for all examples of shared arguments in MSA. 3.1 Split Analysis In the LFG framework, Maxwell & Manning (1996) propose a theory that is able to account for nonconstituent coordination in some languages
This paper has argued for a new analysis for shared arguments, including right node raising (RNR), in the LFG framework
Summary
This paper discusses nonconstituent coordination or shared arguments in MSA and uses an LFG approach to account for this phenomenon. The two conjuncts in example (1b) share the proper noun Ahmad, which functions as an object for both verbs in this coordinate structure The latter phenomenon, which is called right node raising (RNR) and found in many languages, has attracted some attention in the literature. This paper discusses both phenomena and provides an appropriate analysis within the LFG framework (Note that this paper is assuming that there is no a pronoun, functioning as a subject in example (1a)). The second phenomenon has a shared element between two conjuncts in a coordinate structure, but the shared element here functions as a subject rather than an object Both phenomena are regarded as a kind of a nonconstituent coordination in this paper (Note 2)
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