Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/27979
Title: Verb-Subject order in Maltese
Authors: Kalmar, Ivan
Agius, Dionisius A.
Keywords: Maltese language -- Verb
Grammar, Comparative and general
Maltese language -- Foreign elements -- Arabic
Maltese language -- Variation
Maltese language -- Grammar
Issue Date: 1981
Publisher: University of Malta
Citation: Kalmar, I. & Agius, D. (1981). Verb-Subject order in Maltese. Journal of Maltese Studies, 14, 22-31.
Abstract: In the Maltese language, as well as in other modern Arabic dialects, the normal order of words in a sentence is strikingly different from classical Arabic. In the classical language and in the conservative literary Arabic of today, the unmarked word order is verb first, subject second. However, there are many contexts in Maltese where verb-subject (VS) order is still possible along with subject-verb (SV) order. And in some cases, VS order is still obligatory. The purpose of this paper is to survey the kinds of VS constructions found in Maltese, and to offer an explanation for their persistence in what is primarily 'an SV language'.
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/27979
Appears in Collections:JMS, Volume 14
JMS, Volume 14



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