A Unified Theory of Polarity Sensitivity: Comparative Syntax of Arabic

Polarity sensitivity is a widespread phenomenon that involves expressions like anybody, nobody, ever, never, and their counterparts in other languages. This book proposes a unified approach to studying this phenomenon by examining the interaction between different types of polarity sensitivity, with a particular focus on Arabic. The author draws on data from Standard Arabic and major regional dialects to explain distributional contrasts and develops a fine-grained inventory of negative formal features for polarity items and their licensors. This book provides a new perspective on the syntax-semantic interface and develops a unified syntactic analysis for polarity sensitivity, with important implications for the study of Arabic and syntactic theory more generally.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Polarity sensitivity is a pervasive phenomenon that encompasses a wide range of expressions in different languages. These expressions fall into various classes, including negative and positive polarity, negative concord, and negative indefinites. In his book, Ahmad Alqassas presents a comprehensive approach to studying this phenomenon, with a particular focus on Arabic.

Alqassas demonstrates that analyzing the interplay between different types of polarity sensitivity is crucial for understanding their licensing conditions. He draws on data from Standard Arabic and major regional dialects such as Jordanian, Egyptian, Moroccan, and Qatari, employing a (micro)comparative approach to explain distributional contrasts. By utilizing a minimal set of universal syntactic operations such as Merge, Move, and Agree, Alqassas elucidates the complexities of polarity sensitivity. He also examines a fine-grained inventory of negative formal features for polarity items and their licensors, shedding light on the intricate landscape of polarity and leading to significant conclusions about syntactic computation.

By engaging with the under-studied realm of Arabic polarity sensitivity, this book offers a fresh perspective on the syntax-semantic interface and develops a unified syntactic analysis for polarity sensitivity. These contributions have significant implications for the study of Arabic and for syntactic theory more broadly.

Weight: 380g
Dimension: 155 x 233 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197554890