The Logical Quantifiers: Universal, Existential and Diacritical Demonstrative Noun Phrases in Classic Arabic

Abstract

From a structural perspective, this paper explores the extent to which certain words referred to as noun phrases (NPs) are used as quantifiers in Standard Arabic. It exceptionally excludes the logical quantifiers that have clear and constant references as quantifiers, such as the articles, numbers and numerals. The paper also examines exclusively the demonstrative pronouns (as Arab linguists traditionally refer to them on the prosodic level). From a semantic view, the article classifies the Semitic demonstrative pronouns as syncategorematic words that syntactically spread either anaphorically or cataphorically. It also subcategorizes them functionally as endophoric, exophoric and anaphoric proximal words. Unconventionally, the paper also exploits first order logic to re-categorize them as universal and existential references. Truth values and meaning postulates for the propositions in which the demonstrative NPs used, are drawn and calculated. For its precision and concision, the paper benefits as well as cites from The Noble Quran