Approximation Particle in Kufi Syntax
Khalid Masa’feh, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, Ma'an, Jordan.
Abstract
This study aims to shed light on Approximation, a term coined by the Kufi syntacticians to refer to the demonstrative pronoun functioning like Kan and its sister particles (particles that have the same function of Kana). Put it differently, the use of this approximation particle in an utterance requires the presence of a nominative noun and an accusative predicate. Tha’lab, a pioneer figure on ancient Arabic syntax, argues that Sibawayh had no idea about this syntactic phenomenon. Rather, it was Al-Farraa’ and Al-Kisaai who coined this particle. However, Al-Farraa’s book ‘Ma’ani Al-Quran’ (The Quran Meanings) does not provides a concrete piece of evidence in support of the claim that he believes that this particle has the same function of Kan and its sister particles. Furthermore, this book provides no piece of evidence concerning the agreement or disagreement between Al-Farraa’ and Al-Kisaai over the use of the approximation particle, as mentioned by Tha’lab and other syntacticians.
Findings show that what has been attributed to Kufi syntacticians concerning the approximation particle is not precise. Rather and contrary to the ancient and modern syntacaticians’ beliefs, such a generalization needs re-examination and further investigation since not all Kufi syntacticians believed even in the existence of this phenomenon. Moreover, Kufi syntacticians who believed in this syntactic phenomenon did not provide sufficient exploration of this phenomenon, including the reasons underlying the analogy between this particle and Kan and its sister particles, and the syntactic environments where this particle is considered as a demonstrative pronoun rather than an approximation.