The Syntax of Left Periphery in Arabic A Minimalist Analysis

This thesis investigates the syntax of the left periphery in two varieties of Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic and Tabuki Arabic. The thesis adopts the Split-CP hypothesis proposed by Rizzi (1997) and the minimalist theoretical framework proposed by Chomsky (2000; 2001; 2008; 2013). The thesis looks at the possible constituent orders in the two varieties of Arabic, and how they differ, and accounts for that variation order within a minimalist analysis. Within the core clause, an account is proposed for the agreement patterns and the case assignment between the subject and the verb in the two main orders VS and SV. Then Rizzi’s (1997) proposals for the CP-left periphery are examined here with data from Modern Standard Arabic and Tabuki Arabic, with regard to the positioning of two kinds of topic and focus.

In embedded clauses, there are different lexical complementizers in the left peripheries of the two varieties of Arabic, and an account is given for their properties of assigning case or mood. Based on the feature valuations of the complementizers in Arabic, they interact with other left peripheral elements differently. Finally, the phenomenon of Complementizer Agreement in Modern Standard Arabic and Tabuki Arabic is analysed, as a kind of clitic agreement of Complementizer Agreement following the establishment of an Agree relation between the complementizers and the relevant following elements of clausal structure.