Quizzical Question with Null Question Particle: Is the Underlying Particle ‘Al-Hamza’ or ‘Hal’?

Author

Associate Professor - Faculty of Arts, Yarmouk University

Abstract

The current paper investigates the quizzical, intonational question which lacks an overt question particle. The paper aims to explicate the underlying question particle which is either ‘al-hamza’ (glottal stop) or ‘hal’ (yes/no question particle). Classical Arab Grammarians take the ‘al-hamza’ rather than ‘hal’ as the covert question particle in this type of questions. They have not even discussed ‘hal’ as a candidate for the underlying question particle. However, A few modern Arab linguists departed the traditional viewpoint and argued for considering ‘hal’, as well as ‘al-hamza’, as the underlying question particle forthequizzical question with null particle. They argue that both particles surface in the quizzical question with overt particle counterpart. The current paper scrutinizes the arguments of Classical Arab Grammarians and posits a different analysis couched in some syntactic and historical linguistic insights.
 
 

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