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Part of
Perspectives on Arabic Linguistics XXXI: Papers from the annual symposium on Arabic Linguistics, Norman, Oklahoma, 2017
Edited by Amel Khalfaoui and Youssef A. Haddad
[Studies in Arabic Linguistics 8] 2019
► pp. 51–74

Diminutive and augmentative formation in northern Najdi/Ḥā’ili Arabic

| University of Hail
| Indiana University

The main goal of this paper is to make known an unusual, if not unique, morphological augmentative found in one variety of northern Najdi (Saudi) Arabic, specifically the Ḥā’ili variety as mainly spoken by members of the Shammar tribe. A brief description of the pattern can be found in Assuwaida (1997). Our paper expands on his original work, illustrating more subpatterns of the augmentative. We conclude by briefly discussing whether the unique Ḥā’ili augmentative is an innovation or a truly archaic feature.

Keywords: diminutive, augmentative, morphology, northern Najdi Arabic, Ḥā’ili dialect
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background on Najdi Arabic
  • 3.Diminutive and augmentative in Arabic
  • 4.Some connotations of the augmentative in the HD
  • 5.Morphological diminutive and augmentative in Ḥā’ili dialect
    • The diminutive in HD and CA
    • Diminutive and augmentative forms in HD
    • Monosyllabic base words
    • Disyllabic base words
    • Trisyllabic base words
    • Base words with more than four root consonants
    • The Diminutive with [aj] infix and its augmentative form
    • Summary
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 8 July 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/sal.8.03als
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