The Semantic Implications of Preposing and Postposing of Predication in the Poetry of Bashar ibn Burd and Abu al-Atahiyah

Abstract

Rank is one of the semantic clues that determine the position of a word within sentence structure. It refers to the placement of a word in the sentence, such as saying that the rank of the subject is to precede the object, while the rank of the object is to follow the subject. Similarly, the rank of the subject (in nominal sentences) is to come before the predicate, while the predicate is expected to follow the subject. If a word appears in the sentence according to its predetermined rank, it is said to be advanced in rank; if it appears later, it is considered delayed.

The Arabic language is distinguished by this phenomenon, which is one of the stylistic features that reflect flexibility in usage and enhance the ability to convey messages in a more complete and refined manner. This variation in sentence structure is not random but rather follows consistent linguistic principles tied to meanings and communicative purposes. Sentence order in Arabic grammar is governed by established rules, some of which must be strictly adhered to, while others allow for deviations within acceptable limits to achieve specific nuances or additional meanings that standard sentence structure may not highlight. Therefore, rank serves as a verbal clue in speech and establishes a hierarchical relationship between elements of context, where each element’s position informs its meaning through adjacency.