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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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