Non-derivational approach to ditransitive constructions in MSA

In 2002, Harley adopted the non-derivational approach in analyzing English double objects construction (DOC) and double complement (DC). This paper aims to apply the same approach to Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) ditransitive structures. The following is an example of such a structure in MSA: (1) a. Ɂaʕta al-muʕlam-u al-taalib-a kitaab-an Gave-3ms the-teacher-nom the-student-acc book-acc ‘The teacher gave the student a book’ b. Ɂaʕta al-muʕlam-u kitaab-an li al-taalib-i Gave3ms the-teacher-nom book-acc Dat prep the-student-gen ‘The teacher gave a book to the student’ In this paper, I argue for Harley’s non-derivational approach t