The Syntax of Spoken Arabic: A Comparative Study of Moroccan, Egyptian, Syrian, and Kuwaiti Dialects / Edition 1

by Kristen Brustad

Overview

This book is the first comparative study of the syntax of Arabic dialects, based on natural language data recorded in Morocco, Egypt, Syria, and Kuwait. These four dialect regions are geographically diverse and representative of four distinct dialect groups.

Kristen E. Brustad has adopted an analytical approach that is both functional and descriptive, combining insights from discourse analysis, language typology, and pragmatics—the first time such an approach has been used in the study of spoken Arabic syntax. An appendix includes sample texts from her data.

Brustad's work provides the most nuanced description available to date of spoken Arabic syntax, widens the theoretical base of Arabic linguistics, and gives both scholars and students of Arabic tools for greater cross-dialect comprehension.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780878407897
Publisher:	Georgetown University Press
Publication date:	09/28/2000
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	464
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.03(d)
Language:	Arabic
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Kristen E. Brustad is an associate professor of Arabic at Emory University. She is co-author, with Mahmoud Al-Batal and Abbas Al-Tonsi, of the Arabic language program Al-Kitaab fii Ta callum al-cArabiyya: A Textbook for Arabic, published by Georgetown University Press.

Table of Contents

Notes on Transcriptions and Glosses

Introduction

1. The Definiteness Continuum

2. Number, Agreement and Possession

3. Relative Clauses

4. Demonstrative Articles and Pronouns

5. Categorizing Verbs

6. Aspect

7. Tense and Time Reference

8. Mood

9. Negation

10. Sentence Typology

Conclusions

Appedix 1: Informants

Appendix 2: Texts

Morocco

Egypt

Syria

Kuwait

References

Subject Index

Author Index

Tables

Figures

Editorial Reviews

A welcome addition to Arabic linguistics. It is well written, with lucid explanations and transparent terminology. It breaks new ground in Arabic dialectology . . . Recommended reading for anyone who is interested in the Arabic language or Arabic linguistics, including teachers and professors, native and non-native alike. It is readable, clearly laid out, and written in an engaging style.

Modern Language Journal

Thoroughly backed up by numerous solid references in the dialectological literature . . . an important publication advancing the field of comparative Arabic dialectology.

Journal of the American Oriental Society

Thoroughly backed up by numerous solid references in the dialectological literature . . . an important publication advancing the field of comparative Arabic dialectology.

--Journal of the American Oriental Society

A welcome addition to Arabic linguistics. It is well written, with lucid explanations and transparent terminology. It breaks new ground in Arabic dialectology . . . Recommended reading for anyone who is interested in the Arabic language or Arabic linguistics, including teachers and professors, native and non-native alike. It is readable, clearly laid out, and written in an engaging style.

--Modern Language Journal

From the Publisher

This comparative study of the syntax of Arabic dialects is based on natural language data recorded in Morocco, Egypt, Syria, and Kuwait. Brustad (Arabic, Emory University) has adopted an analytic approach that is both functional and descriptive, combining aspects of discourse analysis, language typology, and pragmatics, and applying them to the study of spoke Arabic. An appendix includes sample texts from her data. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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