Dual in Standard and Syrian Arabic

Abstract

This chapter examines the morphology and semantic interpretation of the dual in Standard Arabic and Syrian Arabic. In the evolution from classical Arabic to modern dialects dual agreement was lost entirely and only a few dialects such as Syrian Arabic have preserved productive dual marking on nouns. Even though the forms of dual agreement in Syrian Arabic are syncretic with the plural agreement forms the agreement pattern of duals remain clearly distinct from plural agreement with plural DPs and nouns modified by higher numerals. Furthermore, while the plural in Standard and Syrian Arabic allows inclusive readings, the dual expresses exact cardinality of two and does not allow the equivalent inclusive duals.