The syntax of serial verbs in Jordanian Arabic: a cartographic analysis

Abstract

Serial verb constructions have been the focus of much linguistic research, especially in studies on languages of East Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. This paper contributes to the growing body of research on the topic by providing empirical data from Jordanian Arabic, through an introspective study, which show that this dialect exhibits this type of phenomenon. The Jordanian Arabic data are examined against defined characteristics of serial verb constructions across natural languages and the description confirms that this dialect exhibits productive verb serialization. An analysis that utilizes the assumptions of the cartographic program, a line of research within generative syntax, is then presented, where the first verb within the series occupies a little v head, whereas the second verb occupies a V head. The data and analysis contribute to our understanding of serial verb constructions and challenge the misconception that Semitic languages do not exhibit verb serialization. This calls for more research on natural languages to update the typology of this construction.

Keywords

• Serial verb constructions
• Jordanian Arabic
• verb serialization
• cartographic program
• typology of serial verbs
• Language & Linguistics