Abstract
The French indefinite letter has usually two values: a specific value (the uniqueness or singularity), whether the referent is one or several elements whatsoever; and a generic, where the referent is a representative example of a class of elements. However, if we exclude the few distribution quantifiers, there is morphologically no Arabic equivalent of the French indefinite article. It is for this reason that we have carried out this contrastive study. We found that the noun phrase (indefinite article - noun) is usually translated into Arabic by an indefinite noun. But it can also be translated by a noun defined by the article al- or defined by annexation to a possessive pronoun, or by an indefinite noun preceded by "kull" or "ayy"; according to the value or the actualization of the indefinite article.
Recommended Citation
Saada, Mahmoud
(2020)
"French Indefinite letters and their Equivalents in Arabic: Contrastive Study,"
An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities): Vol. 31:
Iss.
2, Article 3.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.aaru.edu.jo/anujr_b/vol31/iss2/3