The Syntax of Quantifier Float in Standard Arabic

Abstract

    Quantified nominal phrases in standard Arabic display three word-order patterns: Q-DP, short-distance Q-float, and long-distance Q-float. The study investigates whether these patterns are derivationally related or whether they represent different structures. For the Q-DP pattern, the study shows that Q is a head that contains the DP as its complement. For Q-float constructions, the study reviews three major analyses including the stranding analysis, the adjunct analysis, and the labelling analysis, which all share the assumption that Q-float is derived by movement of the associate DP form a position within QP or near QP to its surface position. These previous analyses are shown to be empirically inadequate. Instead, Q-float is argued to be derived by base-generation of the nominal associate in its surface position rather than by NP-movement. Q in Q-float structures is argued to be an NP adjunct, albeit for universal quantifiers. Floating generalized quantifiers are better analyzed as arguments that might include the associate DP as a specifier.