The Syntactic Argumentation of the Word / le: š / in Jordanian Arabic

Abstract

This study aims at investigating the syntactic status of the word /le:š / in question formation in Jordanian Arabic (JA). It is argued that this word has two syntactic functions in JA questions. The first of which is that it works as interrogative operator, meaning ‘why’, which moved to the [Spec C] position in one type of wh-question. However, the second role of this word is found in other types of questions, wh-questions and yes-no questions. In these types of questions /le:š/ is realized as an interrogative complementiser formed within the C position and giving the interrogative force for the question. To this end, empirical evidence is given and discussed to distinguish between the two syntactic representations of this word especially in ambiguous cases of having two different types of questions sharing the same surface structure.