by Atef Jalabneh, Awad H. AlShehri
ABSTRACT
The objective of this article is to investigate the crucial roles of the intrinsic categorial and functional optional features on the interpretation of the complementizer? an ‘that’ phrase in Arabic Syntax. It was not simple to decide the types and which features inter into interpretation, which features survive until LF and which are not. The researchers refer to Chomsky’s (1995, 2001, 2005) Minimalist Views to solve the issues. The results reveal that the intrinsic categorial features of the nouns [Ds], verb [V], complementizer [C] and the optional feature [Number] enter interpretation; thus, they survive until the logical form [LF]; however, the optional features of tense [T], Case, gender, agreement subject [Agrs], Subjunctive [Subj.] and determiner [D ±] do not, and they are deleted before interface / or LF. These optional features are mapped to the phonetic form [PF] by phonological rules but without carrying semantic connotations. They also trigger [D] and [V] but not [? an ‘that’] to move and merge in the syntactic hierarchy of X-bar –syntax at spell out to be checked to meet word order at VSO at LF.
