Syntactic And Semantic Functions Of The Grammatical Governor In “Mughni Al-Labib”

Dilnoza KHOLMIRZAYEVA

doi:10.57033/mijournals-2026-9-0278

Keywords

Ibn Hishаm al-Anṣаri “Mughni al-labib” grammatical governor i‘rаb syntactic function semantic function ta‘liq ilghа’ ta‘alluq ellipsis and reconstruction Arabic grammatical tradition

Abstract

The article analyses the syntactic and semantic functions of the notion of the grammatical governor (al-‘аmil) in Ibn Hishаm al-Anṣаri’s (708–761/1309–1360) “Mughni al-labib ‘an kutub al-a‘аrib”. The study is based on the critical edition prepared by Mаzin al-Mubаrak and Muḥammad ‘Ali Ḥamd Allаh and published by Dаr al-Fikr in Damascus. Using descriptive-analytical, structural-functional and comparative methods, and taking the triad governor–governed–effect as the unit of analysis, the study identifies three functional layers of the governor in the “Mughni”: a formal- syntactic layer that assigns case and mood markers; a structural layer that shapes sentence architecture through attachment (ta‘alluq), ellipsis and reconstruction; and a semantic layer that differentiates and specifies meaning. Ibn Hishаm’s methodological principle is that syntactic parsing must proceed from meaning, while meaning must not contradict the attested usage of Arabic. Phenomena such as ta‘liq, ilghа’, the meaning- driven vocalisation of the hamza in inna/anna, and the divergence between formal and positional case caused by redundant particles show that the governor is not a purely mechanical device. The article concludes that in Ibn Hishаm’s treatment the theory of the governor operates as an explanatory model mediating between syntax and semantics.

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