Split CP, Functional Categories, and Logical Form (LF) in Standard Arabic (SA): A minimalist Approach

This research paper aims to explore the hierarchy of functional and lexical categories that occur under the complementizer phrase (CP) in the syntax of Standard Arabic (SA) according to Chomsky’s (1981, 1986a) Principles and Parameters (P&P) theory along with his Minimalist Program (MP) (1995, 2000a, 2004). Rizzi (1997) proposes a strict hierarchy of phrases under a split CP according to which the Force phrase comes as the highest, the Focus phrase as the lowest, and the Topic phrase comes in the middle. The Arabic data provides concrete evidence that this strict hierarchical structure doesn’t hold in the syntax of SA. This paper presents two pieces of evidence against the strict hierarchy in Rizzi (1997). The first counterargument derives from conditional sentences where a topicalized expression moves higher than the Force phrase. The second argument derives from the interaction between free relatives and conditionals. A moved wh-operator in a free relative may move higher in the projection. It is assumed to have the role of a conditional particle that mimics conditionals in assigning the jussive mood marker to both verbs in the conditional sentence. The universal constraint on barring multiple complementizers that serve the same semantic function in English is also observed in SA concerning affirmative complementizers.