• Ala'a Khalifa Owaidi

  Author

• Mohammad Irshaid Al- Khawalda

  Author

Despite the considerable effort in the field of syntax, several aspects of object extraction remain uncharted area. One such area is Object Shift. The aim of this paper is to examine three interrelated keys to Object Shift. First, it seeks to test Case Theory as a key to Object Shift (i.e. A movement). Secondly, it tests Equidistance Theory as another key to Object Shift. Finally, the present study looks into Focalization as a key to Object Shift. The study adopted four approaches and theories, namely (1) Chomsky's (2000,2001,2005,2007) latest version on Minimal Program, (2) Holmberg's (1986) Generalization, (3) Chomsky's (1993,1995) Equidistance Theory, and (4) Rizzi's (1997) Cartographic Approach. Different examples from MSA were selected based on Arabic specialists at the University of Jordan and Arabic Language Academy. The analysis demonstrated that Object Shift in MSA can be A-movement in certain constructions and an A-bar movement in others.

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