Epistemic ʔilla and Deontic ʔilla in Jordanian Arabic Converge or Diverge in their Semantics and Syntax?

Abstract

The goal of this study is to investigate the semantics and the syntax of the epistemic modal ʔilla in Jordanian Arabic (JA) and find-out if epistemic ʔilla and deontic ʔilla are comparable in their semantics and syntax. As for its semantics, it draws an inference based on previous knowledge and experience to expresses certainty. The proposal was that the epistemic and the deontic modal force that ʔilla has come as an extension of the exclusive focus property this modal particle has. With regard to its distribution, epistemic ʔilla appears in two patterns. A mono-clausal structure is assumed for ʔilla In Pattern 1. In Pattern 2, ʔilla comes before the copular verb kuun ‘be’ to be necessarily followed with any of the components of a declarative clause. In this pattern, the modal and the copular verb are assumed to be in a TP, and the complement of the copular verb is in a lower TP. The subject is able to raise to the higher TP. The epistemic modal may not occur in non-declarative clauses, as they cannot be judged true or false.