The Linguistic Link: Investigating Discourse Connectives in Arabic

Author(s): Abderrahman Chafiki, Mohammed Marouane and Abdelkader Sabil

Abstract:

This paper delves into the critical role of discourse connectives, a class of lexical units, in linking segments within discourse, from individual words to entire texts. It examines the literature on discourse connectives in Arabic, organized into three main sections. The first section delves into the classical Arabic perspective on the term al-ḥarf, or 'particle', as defined by grammarians, rhetoricians, and legal theorists. This provides a historical and theoretical foundation for understanding the significance of discourse connectives in Arabic discourse. The second section presents taxonomies of discourse connectives in Arabic, which helps categorize and understand the different types and functions of these connectives. This classification is essential for both theoretical and practical applications, providing a framework for analyzing and interpreting Arabic discourse. The third section focuses on the discourse connective bal ('nay', 'nay rather', 'indeed', 'even'), exploring its functions as delineated in Classical Arabic grammar. This provides a detailed examination of a specific connective, shedding light on its usage and implications within Arabic discourse. Overall, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of discourse connectives in Arabic, from classical perspectives to contemporary analysis, offering insights into their role in linking and organizing discourse at various linguistic levels.

Keywords: Connective- classical Arabic grammarians- rhetoricians- legal theorists-bal

Pages: 25-30      |       213 View       |       9 Download