Between VO and OV in Arabic and Aramaic

A corpus-based typology with implications for word-order shifts

Datos Bibliográficos

ID20381728
AutoresPaul M Noorlander (0000-0002-9407-1453, Nankai University School of Literature), Dorota Molin (0000-0002-2407-2012, Nankai University School of Literature), Geoffrey Haig (0000-0002-5410-3692, Sichuan University)
Año2025
Volumen49
Número2
Páginas289-336
Fecha de publicación2025-06-27
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaStudies in Language (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0378-4177 • E-ISSN: 1569-9978
EditorialJohn Benjamins Publishing Company (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1075/sl.24027.noo
OpenAlexW4406531867
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas93

Drawing on a corpus-based typology of 24 spoken dialects of contemporary Arabic and Aramaic, we explore relevant microvariation along the VO-OV spectrum in Central Semitic, which holds implications for the still understudied VO-to-OV shift. While the literature emphasizes that this type of syntactic change is only possible under external pressure, our findings demonstrate that this development is also driven by internal dynamics, in particular the syntax of definite objects. Our study shows a robust tendency for pronouns and definite object NPs to be selected first for preverbal placement; being originally left-dislocated topics with resumption, this at times results also in higher rates of object cross-referencing. Furthermore, this corpus-based typology also highlights the importance of a gradient approach to word order variation and change as well as the importance of studying distinct object types, which, together, help us document mixed systems that in themselves can be diachronically stable

Ancient history · Arabic · Linguistics · History · Language, Linguistics, Cultural Analysis · Linguistics and language evolution · Philosophy · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation