The Alternation of Prepositions in Arabic Grammatical Thought: A Descriptive and Analytical Study

Abstract

This research aims to study the phenomenon of "alternation (al-Ta'aqub) among Arabic prepositions" in Arabic grammatical thought, attempting to resolve the terminological ambiguity arising from the confusion between alternation, substitution, delegation (inabah), and sufficiency (ighna'). The research employs the descriptive-analytical method, along with the comparative method to balance the views of the Basran and Kufan schools, and the pragmatic (contextual) method to reveal the impact of context on directing meaning during alternation. The research traces instances of alternation among the primary prepositions (fi, min, ila, 'ala) in heritage sources, with a focus on Qur'anic and poetic evidence. The research reaches several conclusions, most notably: alternation is not neutral lexical replacement, but carries subtle semantic differences related to the nature of the preposition and its relation to the verb and context; the condition of "semantic unity" stipulated by grammarians often applies only at the general contextual level, not at the level of the individual preposition.