Overview

The Morphosyntax of Sentential Negation in Iraqi Arabic (Minimalist-Cartographic Perspectives) is a pioneering study that explores one of the most fundamental yet understudied aspects of human language: negation. Focusing on Iraqi Arabic-a dialectal landscape that has long remained on the margins of theoretical linguistics-this book reveals how the simple act of saying ""no"" uncovers complex interactions between syntax, semantics, and the architecture of grammar. Hayder S. Alkhafaji examines two major dialectal constellations: the ma group, spoken in Baghdad, Najaf, and Mosul, and the ma-ʃ group, characteristic of Basra, Amarah, and the south. Through detailed empirical analysis and the framework of the Minimalist Program and cartographic syntax, he challenges established views such as the High-Neg Hypothesis, demonstrating how negation in Iraqi Arabic operates in systematic but previously unrecognized ways. The study further investigates Negative Polarity Items (NPIs) like kullʃi ""anything"" and Negative Concord Items (NCIs) like wəla waħid ""no one,"" showing how their licensing patterns illuminate both dialectal diversity and universal principles of grammar. Offering a synthesis of theoretical rigor and dialectological insight, this volume positions Iraqi Arabic at the heart of global debates in morphosyntax, making it an essential resource for linguists, dialectologists, and scholars of Arabic studies.

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9789999330985

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