Modality in Modern Standard Arabic: Hierarchical Structure and Complement Selection.
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| Title: | Modality in Modern Standard Arabic: Hierarchical Structure and Complement Selection. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Aldrayweesh, Rima A.1 aldrayweesh@uhb.edu.sa |
| Source: | Journal of Language Teaching & Research. Nov2025, Vol. 16 Issue 6, p2130-2142. 13p. |
| Subject Terms: | Modality (Linguistics), Arabic language, Linguistic analysis, Epistemic logic, Grammar |
| Abstract: | This study provides a syntactic analysis of modality in Modern Standard Arabic, distinguishing between epistemic and deontic/root modals and examining their structural properties within the framework of Cinque's (1999) hierarchy of modal heads. Using a corpus-based approach, this study analyzes how modality is marked in Arabic, which types of modals occupy higher syntactic positions, and the kinds of complements they select. The findings reveal that Arabic modals include verbs (e.g., yajib "must", yumkin "may"), prepositional phrases (mina al-dˤaruwrii "necessary"), particles (qad, rubbama), and prepositions (ʕala, al-lam). Epistemic modality, in particular, can be expressed through modal verbs such as yumkin "may" and yuħtamal "might"; prepositional phrases such as mina al-muʔakkadi "certainly" and mina al-muħtamali "likely"; and particles (qad + perfective), (qad + imperfective), rubbama "perhaps", and the verb yabdu "seem". The data confirm that epistemic modals occupy a structurally higher position than deontic modals, consistent with cross-linguistic typological trends. Additionally, modal verbs predominantly select complementizer phrase (CP) complements (e.g., ʔan + verb phrase (VP)) over noun phrase (NP) complements, indicating a syntactic preference that contrasts with that in English. The results indicate that Arabic aligns with Cinque's hierarchy, with obligation modals (e.g., yajib "must") ranking higher than ability/permission modals (e.g., yaqdir "can"). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Language Teaching & Research is the property of Academy Publication Co., LTD and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 189225199 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Modality in Modern Standard Arabic: Hierarchical Structure and Complement Selection. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Aldrayweesh%2C+Rima+A%2E%22">Aldrayweesh, Rima A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> aldrayweesh@uhb.edu.sa</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Language+Teaching+%26+Research%22">Journal of Language Teaching & Research</searchLink>. Nov2025, Vol. 16 Issue 6, p2130-2142. 13p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Modality+%28Linguistics%29%22">Modality (Linguistics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Arabic+language%22">Arabic language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Linguistic+analysis%22">Linguistic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Epistemic+logic%22">Epistemic logic</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grammar%22">Grammar</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This study provides a syntactic analysis of modality in Modern Standard Arabic, distinguishing between epistemic and deontic/root modals and examining their structural properties within the framework of Cinque's (1999) hierarchy of modal heads. Using a corpus-based approach, this study analyzes how modality is marked in Arabic, which types of modals occupy higher syntactic positions, and the kinds of complements they select. The findings reveal that Arabic modals include verbs (e.g., yajib "must", yumkin "may"), prepositional phrases (mina al-dˤaruwrii "necessary"), particles (qad, rubbama), and prepositions (ʕala, al-lam). Epistemic modality, in particular, can be expressed through modal verbs such as yumkin "may" and yuħtamal "might"; prepositional phrases such as mina al-muʔakkadi "certainly" and mina al-muħtamali "likely"; and particles (qad + perfective), (qad + imperfective), rubbama "perhaps", and the verb yabdu "seem". The data confirm that epistemic modals occupy a structurally higher position than deontic modals, consistent with cross-linguistic typological trends. Additionally, modal verbs predominantly select complementizer phrase (CP) complements (e.g., ʔan + verb phrase (VP)) over noun phrase (NP) complements, indicating a syntactic preference that contrasts with that in English. The results indicate that Arabic aligns with Cinque's hierarchy, with obligation modals (e.g., yajib "must") ranking higher than ability/permission modals (e.g., yaqdir "can"). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Language Teaching & Research is the property of Academy Publication Co., LTD and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=189225199 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.17507/jltr.1606.35 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 13 StartPage: 2130 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Modality (Linguistics) Type: general – SubjectFull: Arabic language Type: general – SubjectFull: Linguistic analysis Type: general – SubjectFull: Epistemic logic Type: general – SubjectFull: Grammar Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Modality in Modern Standard Arabic: Hierarchical Structure and Complement Selection. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Aldrayweesh, Rima A. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 11 Text: Nov2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 17984769 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 16 – Type: issue Value: 6 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Language Teaching & Research Type: main |
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