Formation and Semantic Behavior of Color Verbs in Algerian Arabic

In this paper, the formation of verbs of color in Algerian Arabic is analyzed morphologically, phonologically, syntactically, and semantically. Seven Algerian Arabic verbs of color were analyzed in terms of their verbal forms: ḥamira حمر ‘o be red; zariga زرق’to be blue’; safiraسفر ‘ to be yellow’; xaḍira خضر ‘to be green’ kahilaكحل ‘to be black’ bayiḍaبيض ‘to be white’ sawidaسود ‘to be dark’. The verbs and the color idioms were collected by the authors themselves. The analysis shows that only three forms out of the ten verb forms in Arabic can be derived from this verb class; Forms II, IV, and IX. Each of these three forms has two patterns: one for the perfect tense and one for the imperfect. The study also shows that the root-based approach is most adequate in analysing such verb classification because Form I does not semantically exist in the language and so cannot be used as an input for the derivation of the other forms. The study also scrutinizes the use of this verb class in idiomatic expressions and the data shows that color verbs are incorporated in two metaphorical keys: feeling is color and abstract concept metaphors. These metaphorical keys are culture-bound.