LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 13 : 1 January 2013
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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The Arabic Origins of Negative Particles in English, German and French:
A Lexical Root Theory Approach

Zaidan Ali Jassem, Ph.D.

Abstract

This paper aims to establish, through the application of the lexical root theory, the Arabic origins of negative particles and words in English mainly besides German, French, Latin, and Greek. Rejecting traditional Comparative (Historical Linguistics) Method views that Arabic and English, for example, are members of different language families, it shows that such particles are related to and derived from one another, with Arabic being their end origin perhaps. More precisely, negative particles like no, not, in-, un-, ill-, mal-, dis- and Arabic in, ma, la, lan, lam, Did are shown to be identical cognates with the same or similar forms and meanings or functions, albeit with slight phonetic and morphological changes.

Keywords:Negative particles, Arabic, English, German, French, Latin, Greek, historical linguistics, lexical root theory

1. Introduction

The lexical root theory was first proposed in Jassem's (2012a) study of numeral words as a rejection of the claims of the Comparative 'Historical Linguistics' Method that Arabic and English, German, French, and so on belong to different language families (Bergs and Brinton 2012; Algeo 2010; Crystal 2010: 302; Campbell 2006: 190-191; Crowley 1997: 22-25, 110-111; Pyles and Algeo 1993: 61-94), establishing instead the genetic relationship between Arabic and English, in particular, and all other (Indo-)European languages.

Such a position is justifiable on three counts. The first is geographical continuity and/or proximity between both sides of the Mediterranean which were historically one land stretch; the second is cultural similarity and the persistence of cultural contacts between Mediterranean peoples over the ages, turbulent at times though; the last and most important is the overwhelming similarity between their languages. Therefore, it would be impossible for the above languages and cultures not to be genetically related; in fact, the barriers and divisions are flimsy and artificial which can by no means mar, obviate or break up the deeply and genuinely interlinked relationship between the languages and cultures of these peoples across time and space.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Zaidan Ali Jassem, Ph.D.
Department of English Language and Translation
Qassim University
P.O.Box 6611
Buraidah
KSA
zajassems@gmail.com
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