Nature of Prefixes in Arabic: A Proposed Classification

Abstract

Arabic prefixes are one of the most neglected areas in the modern linguistic literature of Arabic. This paper aims to investigate the nature of prefixes in Arabic, and propose a classification for their types and subtypes. This is achieved by defining the potential grammatical and/or semantic functions of prefixes in Arabic through examining their common occurrences in different Arabic contexts. On the basis of their potential functions, types and subtypes of Arabic prefixes are outlined and discussed.

It was found that prefixes in Arabic, as in many other languages, are a basic linguistic feature that influences grammar and meaning. Arabic prefixes, as proposed by this study, can be classified into three basic types; particle prefixes, inflectional prefixes and derivational prefixes. It is true that the second and third types might be present in many other languages, but the first type might not, which might make this study interesting. That is, for particles, including prepositions and conjunctions, to be prefixed to words may not exist in many other languages. Particle prefixes can be, then, considered a distinctive linguistic feature for Arabic language. The study concludes with recommending further researches to be conducted in the area of Arabic affixation in general, and in the semantic variations of particle prefixes in different contexts, in particular.