IP PATTERNS OF MOVEMENTS IN VSO TYPOLOGY: THE CASE OF ARABIC

Abstract

The aim of this article is to explore a particular instantiation of the order in Arabic and to demonstrate that VSO and SVO are frequent alternatives for the language. The article will offer a range of views that have been expressed on the subject in order to give a comparative orientation to this study and will include and cover a range of empirical data in an attempt to discover and to understand the interaction of the IP (Inflectional Phrase) components of the languages underlying system. There will be two kinds of arguments advanced in support of the claim we make with regard to such movement: empirical arguments based on the data provided and theoretical or conceptual arguments based on the internal consistency of the system and the literature that deals with similar issues elsewhere.