The Complexity of the Irregular Verbal and Nominal Forms & the Phonological Changes in Arabic [Paperback]

Joyce Akesson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2009

This book will serve as a basis for a developed study of the morphological classes of the irregular verbal and nominal forms and the main phonological changes that occur in the Arabic language. For this purpose, the author presents and studies the forms of the doubled, hamzated, verb with first, 2nd or 3rd weak radical, and the verb that is doubly weak. The existence of a doubled segment, a hamza or a weak segment in the word can result in different phonological changes which lead it from one base form to a derived form. The author adopts an original model which takes into consideration the succession of different segments occurring in one word, and in some cases, in two words following each other. With its numerous references, this comprehensive work is likely to stimulate further research and is an invaluable resource for intermediate and advanced students of Arabic and for anyone interested in the Arabic language and linguistics.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This book contains a wealth of data and references to well-known grammarians and linguists from the 8th century until our days. The readers will be acquainted with the big names in the field and will explore many of the theories that are laid down.

Joyce Akesson has studied the Semitic languages at Lund's University, Sweden, and has previously been a lecturer there during many years.

Beside the present book, she is the author of "Arabic Morphology and Phonology: Based on the Marah Al-Arwah by Ahmad B. Ali B. Masud (Studies in Semitic Languages and Linguistics), Brill Academic Publishers (July 2001) and "Ahmad B. 'Ali B. Mas'Ud on Arabic Morphology Marah Al-Arwah: Part 1:The Strong Verb (Studia Orientalia Ludensia, Vol 4), Brill Academic Pub (October 1990).

She has also published several articles about Arabic linguistics in two Journals, the Journal of Arabic Linguistics (the ZAL or Zeitschrift für Arabische Linguistik) Wiesbaden, and the previous Acta Orientalia, Denmark. She has also written a lemma about sarf "morphology/phonology in the Encyclopaedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics, vol. 4. Leiden: Brill, 2009.

About the Author

Joyce Akesson has studied the Semitic languages at Lund's University, Sweden, and has previously been a lecturer there during many years.

Beside the present book, she is the author of "The Phonological Changes due to the Hamza" (Pallas Athena 2010); " A Study of the Assimilation and Substitution in Arabic" (Pallas Athena 2010), "The Essentials of the Strong Verb in Arabic" (Pallas Athena 2010), "Arabic Morphology and Phonology: Based on the Marah Al-Arwah by Ahmad B. Ali B. Masud" (Studies in Semitic Languages and Linguistics), Brill Academic Publishers (July 2001) and "Ahmad B. 'Ali B. Mas'Ud on Arabic Morphology Marah Al-Arwah: Part 1:The Strong Verb" (Studia Orientalia Ludensia, Vol 4), Brill Academic Pub (October 1990).

She has also published several articles about Arabic linguistics in two Journals, the Journal of Arabic Linguistics (the ZAL or Zeitschrift für Arabische Linguistik) Wiesbaden, and the previous Acta Orientalia, Denmark. She has also written a lemma about sarf "morphology/phonology in the Encyclopaedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics, vol. 4. Leiden: Brill, 2009.

She is also the author of 3 books of Poetry: "Majnun Leyla: Poems about Passion" (Pallas Athena 2010), "Love's Thriling Dimensions" (Pallas Athena 2010) and "The Invitation" (Pallas Athena 2010).

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Pallas Athena Distribution (April 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9197764124
• ISBN-13: 978-9197764124
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,290,296 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joyce Akesson has studied the Semitic languages at Lund's University, Sweden and has previously been a lecturer there during many years. She is the author of nine books about foreign linguistics: "Causes and Principles in Arabic", "A Study of Arabic Phonology", "The Basics & Intricacies of Arabic Morphology", "The Phonological Changes due to the Hamza and Weak Consonant in Arabic", "A Study of the Assimilation and Substitution in Arabic", "The Essentials of the Class of the Strong Verb in Arabic", "The Complexity of the Irregular Verbal and Nominal Forms & the Phonological Changes in Arabic", "Arabic Morphology and Phonology based on the Marah" and "Ahmad b. Ali b. Masud on Arabic Morphology, Part One: The Strong Verb".
She has also published several articles about Arabic linguistics in two Journals, the Journal of Arabic Linguistics (the ZAL or Zeitschrift für Arabische Linguistik) Wiesbaden, and the previous Acta Orientalia, Denmark. She has also written a lemma about sarf "morphology/phonology in the Encyclopaedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics, vol. 4. Leiden: Brill, 20.
She is also the author of three books of poems "Love's Thrilling Dimensions", "The Invitation" and "Majnun Leyla: Poems about Passion".
Two of her poems have also been selected in an Anthology in the UK, "The New Poetry: In Love".

You can check her web page www.joyceakesson.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An in-depth linguistic work, April 19, 2009

By 

D. Lynn "David" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complexity of the Irregular Verbal and Nominal Forms & the Phonological Changes in Arabic (Paperback)

This book places special emphasis on the irregular verbs and nouns and on the phonological changes which occur in the Arabic language.
The chapters of the irregular verbs are those of the doubled verb, the hamzated verb, the verb with 1st, 2nd or 3rd weak radical and the verb with two weak radicals. Concentrating on them, Akesson presents and analyses all the various imaginable sequences which constitute a part of their formations.
The chapters of the phonological changes are those of the assimilation, the changes due to the hamza, the unsoundness due to the weak segment and the substitution. Here, Akesson discusses when these phonological changes occur and when they do not. She presents as well and analyzes many different sequences in detail.
The index in the beginning of the book is very detailed and will help the reader to find the subject that he/she wishes to delve into.
This is a very scientific and well researched book. It is filled with linguistic terminology and contains references to many other important works, ancient as well as new.
All in all, it is a very useful book and an eye opener into the intricacies that occur in the complex Arabic language.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive work!!, June 7, 2009

By 

Dianne Oak "Dianne" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complexity of the Irregular Verbal and Nominal Forms & the Phonological Changes in Arabic (Paperback)

This book covers everything you want to know about some important parts of Arabic morphology relating to the irregular forms of the verbs and nouns and to the phonological changes. It contains chapters that take up every key issue of the doubled, hamzated and weak verbs and it provides interesting insights about the assimilation, the transfer, the elision and the addition of vowels and consonants and the substitution.
It is easy to use with its comprehensive indices and thorough numbered paragraphs. So you can easily pick up the specific information that interests you among all the essentials that are treated. For instance if you want to know more about a particular issue within the subject of assimilation, you look for it in the index of contents and are directed to the particular section or sections where you'll find piles of information and examples about it.
The work is a comprehensive handbook for intermediate and advanced students in Arabic linguistics and for scholars and professionals. Its detailed approach makes it also an excellent complement to the work of less specific grammatical textbooks.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely organized and well written!!, August 23, 2009

By 

Mark S. - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complexity of the Irregular Verbal and Nominal Forms & the Phonological Changes in Arabic (Paperback)

The complexities of the Arabic language continue to interest the Arabs and the English-speaking world. By studying the irregular forms and the phonological changes, this book serves to highlight all the thinkable features relating to them and inspires new ideas about Arabic linguistics.
The work is extremely organized and well written. It provides an in-depth look at the morphological forms from the ground up and fills a gap in some advanced levels of the Arabic language as it presents advanced concepts of the language.
The references make the content and other works from the 8th century until our days accessible.
The Complexity of the Irregular Verbal and Nominal Forms & the Phonological Changes in Arabic is of interest for scholars and professionals, Arabists and comparative Semiticists and to phonologists, morphologists and linguists in general.