Alternation between source structures. Morphological and semantic study

Abstract

A language user resorts to shifting between verbal noun structures, using a different verbal noun form instead of the verb present in the context of speech; for a specific purpose they aim for. This shift occurs according to the requirements of the context, and it represents semantic outcomes understood through context and with the help of accompanying cues. These outcomes, which are a main goal of linguistic usage, thus reveal a clear contrast between the original use and the linguistic performance The nature of the research required it to include an introduction and three main parts. The introduction covered a definition of the topic, its questions, objectives, methodology, and previous studies. Then: First: the alternation between verbal noun structures, term, and concept. Second: the semantic value of alternation. Third: practical examples from Al-Mutanabbi's poetry. The research concluded that the phenomenon of alternation in verbal noun structures is characteristic of the Arabic language and is a sign of its expansiveness. It helps broaden the meanings of words, so that a single word can have multiple meanings depending on the context of speech. This is considered a way of expanding the use of morphological forms to convey multiple meanings understood through context.

 Keywords: Alternation, Verbal Noun, Context, Meaning, Shift.