Broken Plurals in Arabic333

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Arabic is a Semitic language with a rich morphology. One of the most distinctive features of Arabic morphology is its system of broken plurals. Broken plurals are a type of plural formation in which the singular form of the noun is modified to form the plural. This modification can involve changes to the root consonants, the addition of affixes, or both.
There are three main types of broken plurals in Arabic:
* Sound broken plurals are formed by changing the root consonants of the singular form. The most common sound broken plural pattern is the "faʿal" pattern, in which the singular form is modified by changing the final consonant to "-a" and adding the prefix "faʿal-". For example, the singular form of the noun "كتاب" (book) is "kitab", and the plural form is "فكتب" (kutub).
* Suppletive broken plurals are formed by using a completely different word for the plural form. For example, the singular form of the noun "رجل" (man) is "rajul", and the plural form is "رجال" (rijal).
* Mixed broken plurals are formed by using a combination of sound and suppletive broken plural patterns. For example, the singular form of the noun "طفل" (child) is "tifl", and the plural form is "أطفال" (atfal).
Broken plurals can be used to express a variety of different meanings, including:
* Plurality: Broken plurals are most commonly used to express simple plurality. For example, the plural form of the noun "كتاب" (book) is "فكتب" (kutub), which means "books".
* Collectivity: Broken plurals can also be used to express collectivity. For example, the plural form of the noun "شعب" (people) is "شعوب" (shuʿub), which means "peoples".
* Intensification: Broken plurals can also be used to intensify the meaning of a noun. For example, the plural form of the noun "كبير" (big) is "كبار" (kibār), which means "very big".
Broken plurals are an essential part of Arabic morphology. They are used to express a variety of different meanings, and they can be a challenge for learners of the language. However, with practice, learners can master the use of broken plurals and improve their overall Arabic proficiency.

2025-01-04

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