The Role of Deep Structure and Surface Structure in Fronting and Postponement in Al-Fath ‘ala Abi al-Fath by Ibn Furja

Abstract

classical linguists and modern researchers have studied al-Mutanabbi’s poetry at all linguistic levels: phonological, morphological, syntactic, semantic, and rhetorical. Scholars have approached his poetry using all ancient and modern methodologies. Among the early scholars is the great linguist Ibn Jinni, who examined and analyzed al-Mutanabbi’s poetry in his book Al-Fasr. Many scholars have studied this book, and several works of criticism and analysis have been written in response to Ibn Jinni’s opinions. One of these is Al-Fath ‘ala Abi al-Fath by Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Furjah, in which he critiques Ibn Jinni’s views on al-Mutanabbi’s poetry. This book has been examined in the current study according to a modern linguistic approach, and specifically from the perspective of Chomsky’s theory. The study focuses on the element of transformation, particularly fronting and postponement, within the framework of Generative-Transformational Theory. The nature of this research required it to be divided into two sections, preceded by an introduction and concluded with the most important findings, including: The rational approach dominated the thought of both Abd al-Qahir al-Jurjani and Chomsky. Both of them relied on "complex syntax" to understand formulation.Ibn Furjah was ahead of his time. His critique of Ibn Jinni was based on an analysis of deep and surface structures 1000 years before Chomsky.Transformation is the foundation. The phenomenon of fronting and postponement among the Arabs is a type of transformation discussed in Generative Theory.