A generic framework for Arabic to English machine ... - Acsu Buffalo
A generic framework for Arabic to English machine ... - Acsu Buffalo
A generic framework for Arabic to English machine ... - Acsu Buffalo
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2.2. CHARACTERISTICS OF ARABIC WORDS<br />
word order allows the combinations of SVO, VSO, VOS and OVS. For example, consider<br />
the following word orders:<br />
(1) Noun1 Verb Noun2<br />
(2) Noun2 Verb Noun1<br />
(3) Verb Noun1 Noun2<br />
(4) Verb Noun2 Noun1<br />
(a) Noun Verb Noun example.<br />
qys yh. b lylā<br />
Qays loves Laila<br />
lylā yh. b qys<br />
Laila loves Qays<br />
noun verb noun<br />
Table 2.7: Free word order<br />
(c) Verb Noun Noun example.<br />
yh. b lylā qys<br />
Qays loves Laila<br />
qys lylā yh. b<br />
Qays Laila loves<br />
noun noun verb<br />
(b) Verb Noun Noun example.<br />
yh. b qys lylā<br />
Qays loves Laila<br />
lylā qys yh. b<br />
Laila Qays loves<br />
noun noun verb<br />
This means that we have a challenge <strong>to</strong> identify exactly which is the subject and the ob-<br />
ject. Tables 2.7(a), 2.7(b) and 2.7(c) show this challenge. In <strong>Arabic</strong> the subject agrees<br />
with the verb with appropriate morphological marking on the word <strong>to</strong> differentiate sub-<br />
ject from object in these free word order sentences. †<br />
The difference in Tables 2.7(a), 2.7(b) and 2.7(c) is the position of the ac<strong>to</strong>r. The sen-<br />
tences in fact have the same meaning. While in <strong>English</strong> the <strong>for</strong>m of a sentence is subject<br />
verb object.<br />
† Note that <strong>Arabic</strong> sentences should be read from right <strong>to</strong> left.<br />
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