FROM LOCATIVE TO EXISTENTIAL: THE GRAMMATICALIZATION OF “FĪ” IN THE SPOKEN ARABIC OF ALEPPO
FROM LOCATIVE TO EXISTENTIAL: THE GRAMMATICALIZATION OF “FĪ” IN THE SPOKEN ARABIC OF ALEPPO

Summary/Abstract: “fī” exhibits multiple grammatical functions. As a prototypical preposition, “fī” demonstrates a wide variety of usages, ranging from a locative marker, over a temporal marker, to a figurative marker. This paper makes a case for the grammaticalization of “fī” in from a locative preposition to an existential pronoun, thus capturing the common claim that existential structures originate from locative constructions. The shift from alocative preposition to an existential occurs by the process of grammaticalization whereby lexical items and constructions assume in certain linguistic contexts grammatical functions, and once grammaticalized, continue to develop more grammatical functions. The grammaticalization of “fī” represents an interesting casein which the preposition is desemanticized and decategorialized but has retained its phonetic form.

• Details
• Contents