The Role of the b-prefix in Gulf Arabic Dialects as a Marker of Future, Intent and/or Irrealis

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Abstract

This paper presents arguments for a re-analysis of the b-prefix in Gulf
Arabic dialects. Similar to several other dialects, Gulf Arabic possesses a b-prefix
that is inserted before the p-stem (prefix form) of the verb. However,
the Gulf Arabic b-prefix differs substantially from the one encountered in
other Arabic dialects. According to most previous studies, the Gulf Arabic
b-prefix encodes future tense or intentive mood or a combination of these.
Based on a thorough survey of the use of this particle in modern speech, I
suggest that it is used in Gulf Arabic today as a generalized marker of the
irrealis mood rather than being limited to function as a future/intentive
marker. Futurity is one - but not the only or necessarily the most important
one - of its connotations. Meanwhile, another marker, rāḥ, emerges as an
obvious future marker in some parts of the dialectal area.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)26-52
JournalJournal of Arabic and Islamic Studies
Volume8
Publication statusPublished - 2008

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • General Language Studies and Linguistics

Free keywords

  • Arabic
  • Gulf Arabic
  • Dialect
  • Tense
  • Mood
  • Aspect
  • Syntax
  • Semantics
  • Future
  • Irrealis
  • b-prefix

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