The Syntax of Left Periphery in Arabic: A Multiple Feature Inheritance Account

Authors

  • Saleem Abdelhady

    Liberal Arts Department, American University of the Middle East, Egaila 54200, Kuwait

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i8.7592
Received: 24 July 2025 | Revised: 16 August 2025 | Accepted: 14 August 2025 | Published Online: 18 August 2025

Abstract

This paper examines the syntax of the left periphery in Arabic through the framework of Multiple Feature Inheritance (MFI). Traditional cartographic syntax assigns distinct projections (e.g., TopP, FocP) to account for discourse–related elements, but it often clashes with phase theory and standard Feature Inheritance (FI), which allows only a single transfer of features from C to T. To resolve this tension, the study applies MFI to Arabic data, arguing that features such as [Top], [Foc], and [Case] originate in C and are transferred through multiple applications of FI to intermediate heads (δ). These heads acquire functional identity – like δ–T or δ–C –based on the inherited features. This mechanism explains how topicalized DPs receive nominative case via direct probing by C, while accusative–marked DPs (in focus or base–generated topics) derive their case either through δ–C or from transitive verbs. Arabic root and embedded clauses illustrate how MFI accounts for differences in case, movement, and compatibility with wh–elements more effectively than cartographic models. The analysis provides a unified, feature–based explanation of Arabic left periphery constructions within minimalist syntax, offering insights into cross–linguistic variation, clause structure, and the interplay between discourse features and syntactic derivation in a principled and economical manner.

Keywords:

Multiple Feature Inheritance; Arabic Syntax; Left Periphery; Topicalization; Focus; Case Assignment; Phase Theory; Feature Inheritance

References

[1] Rizzi, L., 1997. The Fine Structure of the Left Periphery. In: Haegeman, L. (eds.). Elements of Grammar. Springer: Dordrecht, Netherlands. pp. 281–337.

[2] Rizzi, L., 2014. Syntactic Cartography and the Syntacticisation of Scope–Discourse Semantics. In: Reboul, A. (eds.). Mind, Values, and Metaphysics. Springer: Dordrecht, Netherlands. pp. 517–33.

[3] Weifeng, H., Dingxu, S., 2016. Topic and left periphery in Shanghainese. Journal of Chinese Linguistics. 44(1), 29–59. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/jcl.2016.0007

[4] Shlonsky, U., 2014. Topicalization and focalization: a preliminary exploration of the Hebrew left periphery. In: Cardinaletti, A., Cinque, G., Endo, Y. (Eds.), Peripheries. Hitsūbun Kankōkai: Tokyo, Japan. pp. 327–341.

[5] AlShammiry, K., 2007. The clause structure of Turaif Arabic [Doctoral Dissertation]. University of Kansas: Lawrence, KS, USA. pp.1-305

[6] Al–Shorafat, M.O., 1999. Topics in Arabic: A Minimalist Approach. 32, 1–21.

[7] Chomsky, N., 2008. On Phases. In: Freidin, R., Otero, C.P., Zubizarreta, M.L. (eds.).Foundational Issues in Linguistic Theory. The MIT Press: Cambridge, MA, USA. pp. 132–166. DOI:https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9780262062787.003.0007

[8] Branigan, P., 2020. Multiple Feature Inheritance and the phase structure of the left periphery, In: Woods, R., Wolfe, S. (eds.). Rethinking Verb Second. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK. pp. 150–176. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198844303.003.0007

[9] Branigan, P., 2023. The Grammar of Multiple Head–Movement: A Comparative Study, 1st ed. Oxford University Press: New York, NY, USA. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197677032.001.0001

[10] Aoun, J.E., Benmamoun, E., Choueiri, L., 2009. The Syntax of Arabic, 1st ed. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511691775

[11] Fakih, A.–H.A., 2016. Agreement in Standard Arabic VSO and SVO Word Orders: A Feature–based Inheritance Approach. Theory and Practice in Language Studies. 6(1), 21. DOI:https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.0601.03

[12] Ouhalla, J., 1994. Focus in Standard Arabic. Linguist Potsdam. 1, 65–92.

[13] Ouhalla, J., 1997. Remarks on Focus in Standard Arabic, In: Eid, M., Ratcliffe, R.R. (eds.). Current Issues in Linguistic Theory. John Benjamins Publishing Company: Amsterdam, Netherlands. pp. 9–46. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/cilt.153.04ouh

[14] Farghal, M.A., 1986. The Syntax of Wh–Questions and Related Matters in Arabic [Doctoral Dissertation]. Indiana University: Bloomington, IN, USA. pp.1-250

[15] Johanson, P.A., 1998. The Refutation of the Grammarians" by Ibn Mada' al–Qurtubi: A translation, with syntactic analysis of “Bab al–Ishtighal” [Doctoral Dissertation]. The University of Arizona: Tucson, AZ, USA. pp.1-280

[16] Ouali, H., 2008. On C–to–T φ–feature transfer: The nature of Agreement and Anti–Agreement in Berber. In: D'Alessandro, R., Fischer, S., Hrafnbjargarson, G.H. (eds.). Agreement Restrictions. Mouton de Gruyter: Berlin, German. pp. 159–180. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110207835.159

[17] Radford, A., 2009. Analysing English Sentences: A Minimalist Approach, 1st ed. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511801617

[18] Abdelhady S., 2017. Agreement and anti-agreement in Berber: A multiple-feature inheritance account. International Journal of Humanities Andcultural Studies. 1(7);1–15.

[19] Abdelhady S. A., 2019. Minimalist Analysis of jā for Coordination in Jordanian Arabic. SKASE Journal of Theortitcal Linguistics. 59–79.

[20] Abdelhady, S., 2024. The Syntax of ʔiˈða al–fud͡ʒɑːʔiːja ‘If of Surprise' in Classical Arabic. Theory and Practice in Language Studies. 14(4), 1035–1047. DOI:https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1404.12

[21] Abdelhady, S., Alkinj, M., 2023. Vocatives of Entreaty in Arabic: Evidence for PP Selection. Journal of Language Teaching and Research. 14(3), 576–586. DOI:https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1403.05

[22] Fuß, E., 2014. Complementizer agreement (in Bavarian): Feature inheritance or feature insertion?. In: Grewendorf, G., Weiß, H. (eds.). Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today. John Benjamins Publishing Company: Amsterdam, Netherlands. pp. 51–82. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1075/la.220.03fub

[23] Rouveret, A., 2024. Labeling by type. The Linguistic Review. 41(3), 477–542. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1515/tlr-2024-2015

[24] Fukuda, M., 2019. A Merge–based Analysis of the Left Periphery of vP. Miyazaki Kokuritsu Daigaku Jinbungakubu Kiyou. 27. pp.219–232.

[25] Abdel Hady, S., 2020. The syntax of ostensible categories in Arabic [Doctoral Dissertation]. Memorial University of Newfoundland: St. John's, NL, Canada. pp.1-203

Downloads

How to Cite

Abdelhady, S. (2025). The Syntax of Left Periphery in Arabic: A Multiple Feature Inheritance Account. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(8), 911–921. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i8.7592

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 8 (August 2025): In progress

Article Type

Article

License

Copyright © 2025 Saleem Abdelhady

Creative Commons License

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.