A Semi-Genitive Vocative: From Grammarians' Theorization to Use

Abstract

This study aimed to show the semi-genitive vocative in the Arabic grammar, and, if possible, include other grammatical functions (e.g., indefinite adjectival vocatives, coupling vocatives, etc.) within its paradigm. Although Sibawih, the author of the oldest Arabic grammatical corpus, alluded this clearly, none paid attention to that except few grammarians (e.g., Al-Radhi and Al-Shatebi) only. Nevertheless, the problem of this topic is that Arab grammarians argued that an intentional indefinite vocative may end with the vowel [u] (thammah) but, we explored, it may sometimes be declined as in ''Ya adhiman yorga lekul adhimen''. On this base, the grammarians introduced a another rule or exclusion to confirm the standard rules they agreed upon, stating: ''if an intentional indefinite noun is described, it becomes declined''. However, this research did not support this elicitation or exclusion; rather, it considered it as a semi-genitive vocative. To achieve the objective of this research, a descriptive approach, of both inductive and analytical techniques, was used. Accordingly, the study concluded that a semi-genitive vocative cannot be affected by a merely relationship between passive and active operatives; rather, it is affected by causes other than declension, as shown in this research. This, in turn, renders a semi-genitive vocative show various forms such as adjectival vocatives and coupling vocatives, based on certain conditions, marked vocatives, etc.