PROBLEMS OF TRANSLATING English ELLIPTICAL

CONSTRUCTIONS INTO ARABIC

A Thesis Submitted
By

Isam Tahir Muhammad

To
The Council of the College of Arts
University of Mosul
In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements
for the Degree of

Master of Arts

In

Translation

Supervised by

Assistant Professor

Dr. Abbas J. Rahim

2000 A.D 1420 A.H.

 I certify that this thesis was prepared under my supervision
at the University of Mosul as a partial requirement for the
Degree of Master of Arts in Translation.

Signature:
Supervisor: Dr. Abbas J. Rahim
Date: / / 2000

In view of the available recommendations, I forward this thesis for

debate by the Examining Committee.

Signature:
Name: Dr. Misbah M. Al-Sulaimaan
Chairman of the Departmental
Committee of Graduate Studies
In Translation
Date: / / 2000
 We certify that we have read this thesis and as Examining
Committee examined the student in its content and that in our
opinion, it is adequate as a thesis for the Degree of Master of
Arts in Translation.

Signature: Signature:
Name: Name:
Member: (Chairman) Member:

Signature: Signature:
Name: Name:
Member: (Supervisor) Member:

Approved by the Council of the College of Arts.

Signature:
Name: Salahuddin A. Taha
Dean of the College of Arts
Date: / / 2000
 Table of Contents
Title Page
Chapter One :
1.1 Statement of the Problem 1
1.2 Aims of the Study 1
1.3 Hypotheses 1
1.4 Scope 1
1.5 Procedures 1
1.6 Data 2
1.7 The Model Adopted 2
1.8 Value of the Study 2
Chapter Two: Ellipsis in English
2.1 Introduction 3-4
2..2 Types of Ellipsis 4
2.2.1. Nominal Ellipsis 4
2.2.1.1. Deictic Ellipsis 4-6
2.2.1.2 .Enumerative 6-8
2.2.1.3.Epithets 8-9
2.2.1.4. Classifiers 9
2.2.2.Verbal Ellipsis 9-10
2.2.2.1. Lexical Ellipsis 10
2.2.2.2. Operator Ellipsis 11-12
2.2.3.Clausal Ellipsis 13
2.2.3.1.Modal Ellipsis 13-14
2.2.3.2.Propositional Ellipsis 14-15
Chapter Three: Ellipsis in Arabic
3.1.Introduction 16-17
3.2. Types of Ellipsis 17
3.2.1. Nominal Ellipsis 17-18
3.2.1.1. Deictic Ellipsis 18-19
3.2.1.2 .Enumerative 19-22
3.2.1.3.Epithets 22-24
3.2.1.4. Classifiers 24
3.2.2.Verbal Ellipsis 24-25
3.2.2.1. Operator Ellipsis 25-26
3.2.2.2. Lexical Ellipsis 26-28
3.2.3.Clausal Ellipsis 28-29
3.2.3.1.Modal Ellipsis 29
3.2.3.2.Propositional Ellipsis 29-31
Chapter Four: Analysis and Discussion
4.1.Introduction 32-33
4.2.Translation of Contextualized Sentences 33-68
Chapter Five: Conclusions, Pedagogical Implications
Recommendations and Suggestions
for Further Research
5.1.Conclusions 69-71
5.2. Pedagogical Implications Recommendations 71-72
5.3. Suggestions for Further Research 72
-Bibliography
-Abstract
 Chapter One

1.1.Statement of the Problem:

Translating and interpreting requires full command of the languages
involved. Translation pitfalls are there since languages have different
families and different cultures. This study tries to shed light on the main
problems raised by the translation of Elliptical constructions between
Arabic and English. The translators of these constructions are expected to
commit some errors due to the translation of ellipsis due to their novice
experience.

1.2.Aims of the Study:

1.To find the area of difficulty in translating ellipsis into Arabic and
suggesting suitable remedies.

2.To shed light on this linguistic cohesive tie and that exist in both
languages i.e., Arabic and English.

1.3.Hypotheses:

The study hypothesizes the following:

1.Some elliptical constructions are more difficult than others and cause
areal pitfall for non-native people.
2.Some elliptical constructions are not existent in Arabic while they are
available in English.
3.Ellipsis is widely used in English rather than Arabic.

1.4,Scope of the Study:

This work is concerned with textual ellipsis only and deal with standard
Arabic and English. The investigation will be carried out on the sentential
level only. Context of situation is excluded here. .

1.5.Procedures of the Study:

1.Conducting a test of number of sentences including ellipsis and asking

senior students of translation to translate them into Arabic.

1
2.Analysing the translations of the students and detecting the defects in
their renderings.

3.Suggesting suitable ways to overcome the problems.

1.6.Data:

A test of 41 sentences containing ellipsis was distributed on ten senior

students of translation Dept. at Mosul Univ. and they were asked translate
them into Arabic to be the data of the study.

1.7.Model:

Systemic grammar has been chosen as the model to be followed in this

study for several reasons:

1.This type of grammar adopts functional approach which serves the

purpose of the present study.

2.It looks at languages as similar in their semantic structure but different

in the surface structures.

3.It views language as having three primary levels: substance, form and
function which facilitates the process of contrast and comparison.

1.8Value of the Study:

The present study is an investigation of a very important linguistic

phenomenon and very important discourse feature that helps in the
process of communication. This study may be helpful for those who work
in the field of English language teaching as well as those who are
concerned with translation. Finally, the findings of this study are expected
to be of value to those who are concerned with syllabus design and text
book writing.

2
 CHAPTER TWO
ELLIPSIS IN ENGLISH

2.1 Introduction:
Language is a part of the process of life, and we use it to
communicate with one another. It is a means of representing knowledge
and it has a communicative function, namely, communicating
information. Knowles (1998: 103) states that communicating means
making something common property between two or more interlocutors,
and the process of communicating is simple if the addressee already has
the information on offer and needs only to activate it by retrieving it from
memory in accordance with some sort of clue. He adds that the purpose
of a particular act of communication may be to ‘transmit’ to somebody a
message which results in the increment of the recipient knowledge (ibid).
Halliday & Hasan (1985: 275) describes the structure of information unit
as consisting of two elements: an obligatory ‘New’ element plus an
optional ‘Given’ element. The terms ‘Given’ and ‘New’ refer to the status
of information introduced in the information unit. Halliday affirms that
this status is not determined by the discourse structure, but by the
speaker. Thus ‘Given’ is the information treated by the speaker as known
or recoverable by the listener (ibid: 277). Aziz (1998: 151) points out that
the importance of new information encoded in a message hardly needs to
be emphasized. He adds that given information is also important because
it links what has been said with what the speaker wants to say, and it
helps the hearer to comprehend new information (ibid). Allerton (1978:
133) states that there is a common knowledge shared by the speaker and
the listener and this knowledge should come in conjunction with Grice’s
cooperative principles. He adds that in the case of information interaction

3
one must follow the principle of reducing the message to what is essential
to avoid wasting time by making economical reference to items he talks
about (ibid : 133).
The basic function of ellipsis is then, to create cohesion by leaving
out, under definite rules, what can be taken over from the preceding
discourse, and it is one of the cohesive devices which enables the
sentences in a text to hang together into a cohesive whole. Ellipsis ,
therefore, is the representation of a semantic and lexicogrammatical
relation across the adjacent sentences in a text.
2.2 Types of Ellipsis:
According to Halliday and Hasan (1976: 146), ellipsis is of
three types: nominal, verbal and clausal.
2.2.1 Nominal Ellipsis:
This type of ellipsis involves omission within the nominal group,
which consists of the noun ‘Head’ and the modifying elements. Nominal
ellipsis occurs under certain circumstances, when the common noun is
omitted and its function is taken on by one of the modifying elements.
In general, any nominal group having the function of the ‘Head’
filled by a word that normally functions as a modifier is elliptical. This
type of ellipsis , therefore involves the upgrading of a word functioning
as ‘Deictic, Numerative, Epithet, or classifier’ from the status of modifier
to the status of noun Head. However, a brief discussion of each of these
modifiers is necessary.
2.2.1. 1 Deictics:
This type of modifying elements is very frequently used to take on
the function of the ellipted head in the elliptical nominal group. Deictics,
then, can be subclassified into what is called deictics proper and post
deictics.

4
 (a) Deictics Proper:
These are of two types: specific and non-specific. Specific deictics
include: possessives ( nominals & pronominals), demonstratives and the
definite article. Let us consider the following examples:
(1) Just ask Janet how to polish the brassware. Hers sparkles. (Halliday & Hasan,
1976: 157)
(2) There is no country more liberal than this. (Krapp, 1970: 228)
(3) She put her arm through her brother’s . (Eckersley & Eckersley, 1960: 46 )
The function of the ellipted head in these examples is taken on by
the specific deictics (hers, this, and brother’s). In this case, the ellipted
items must be recovered from the preceding sentence.
As for non-specific deictics on the other hand, they are: each, every,
all, both, any, either, neither, some and a. They can act elliptically by
taking on the function of the ellipted head. Let us consider the following
examples :
(4) These apples are delicious, let’s buy some. (Halliday & Hasan, 1976: 159)
(5) I ‘m expecting a letter. Has any come? (ibid: 158)
(6) The men got back at midnight. All were tired out. (ibid : 155)
Here, each of “some, any and all” behaves as the head of the
ellipted nominal group, which can be retrieved from the preceding
sentence. Halliday & Hasan (1976: 155) assert that specific and non-
specific deictics may be combined only through the use of a partitive
qualifier, e.g.
(7) Some of that pudding. (Halliday & Hasan, 1976: 155)
(b) Post – Deictics:
These modifying elements are mostly of the class of adjectives, so
the word functioning as a post-deictic element in the nominal group is not
a determiner, but an adjective.

5
 The most frequent adjectives, which are used with a deictic function
are “other, same, different, identical, usual, regular, certain, odd, famous,
well-known, typical, obvious”. These deictics combine with “the, a” or
another determiner. This type of adjectives which are used with a deictic
function are usually distinguished from the adjectives used to function as
epithets. Adjectives with a deictic function are usually followed by a
numerative, unlike others in the normal function as epithets which must
be preceded by any numerative element, e.g.:
(8) A different three people. (Halliday & Hasan, 1976: 160)
(9) Three different people. (ibid: 160)
Here, the shift of words has resulted in changing the sense of the
two instances. In the first instance, the adjective “different” is post-
deictics, whereas in the second it is an epithet.
The first instance means “these three are different from the
previously mentioned three, whereas the second means “these three are
different from one another”.
2.2.1.2 Numeratives:
These modifying elements are expressed by numerals or other
quantifying words. They can take on the function of the noun head by
acting elliptically in the nominal group and they are of three
subcategories: cardinals, ordinals and indefinite quantifiers.
(a) Cardinals:
These numerals are frequently used in ellipsis , and they may be
preceded by any deictic which is appropriate in number, e.g.: the three,
these three, any three and all three. They can also be preceded by post-
deictic adjectives as in “the usual three” and “the same three”. Cardinals
are very frequently used to fill in the place of the ellipted noun head,
which can be recovered from what has gone before. Let us consider the
following instances:

6
(10) Have you seen my cigarettes? I want to smoke one. (Leech & Svartvik,
1975: 163)
(11) I’m not sure how many packets I need, but I will take two to start with. (Swan,
1995: 184).
(12) Mary thought the dress was only one inch too long, but her friends said it was at
least two. (Lobeck, 1995: 67)
In these three instances, the ellipted items are “cigarette, packets
and inches” respectively. Their function has been taken on by cardinal
numeratives in the elliptical nominal group.
(b) Ordinals:
These numerals are also frequent in ellipsis. These are “first, next,
last, second, third, fourth, etc.” They are used elliptically, generally when
they are preceded by “the” or a possessive as a deictic. Let us consider
the following instances:
(13) Our train is the second from this platform. (Swan, 1995: 184)
(14) John won the first race and Jim the second. (Close, 1975: 150)
(15) Have another chocolate? “No, thanks; that was my third”. (Halliday & Hasan,
1976: 161)
Here, the function of the ellipted noun heads “train, race and
chocolate” is taken on by the ordinal numerals which act elliptically in
the elliptical nominal groups. Thus, they contribute highly to establish
cohesion in a text by linking sentences by means of presupposition. It
must be noted that with both ordinals and cardinals the presupposed noun
may be singular or plural, but cannot be a mass noun unless there is also
some measure word present or presupposed.
(c) Indefinite Quantifiers:
These are modifying items such as “ much, many, more, most, few,
several, a little, lots, a bit, hundreds, etc” ; they are like other items with
numerative function very frequently used in ellipsis to fill in the place of
the ellipted noun head and take its function. These numeratives are

7
 indefinite, because they are usually not accompanied by a deictic, except
in some cases where “a” is demanded as in “a lot”. In addition, many of
the indefinite quantifiers are derived from measure nouns as “lot,
amount” and the larger numbers such as “hundred & thousand”. Let us
consider the following examples:
(16) What do you think of the poems? A lot are excellent. (Aziz, 1988: 149)
(17) Ed had hardly any friends, whereas Max had many. (Huddleston, 1984: 284)

Here, the indefinite quantifiers “ a lot and many” are acting

elliptically by taking on the function of the ellipted nouns “poems and
friends” respectively, which must be presupposed from the preceding
questions. It must be noted that indefinite quantifiers can occur
exophorically in expressions like the following:
(18) He expects a lot. But you can’t do much to help him. (Halliday & Hasan, 1976:
163)
Here, the ellipted element is not presupposed from what has gone
before, but from what follows, and this type of ellipsis is called
exophoric.
2.2.1.3 Epithets:
These are adjectives functioning as epithets and they are less
frequently taking on the function of the ellipted head. So, it is not
common to find adjectives occurring as heads in ellipsis. Colour
adjectives are perhaps the most usual, except in their comparative and,
especially, in their superlative form. Substitution tends to be preferred to
ellipsis wherever the presupposing nominal groups contains an epithet.
This type of ellipsis occurs in examples such as:
(19) I like strong tea. I suppose weak is better for you. (Halliday & Hasan, 1976: 166)
(20) You take the red card and I’ll take the blue. (Close, 1975: 105).
(21) He prefers Dutch cheese to Danish. (Sanders, 1976: 304).

8
 In these three examples the function of ellipted heads “tea, card,
and cheese” respectively is taken on by adjectives functioning as heads in
the elliptical nominal groups.
2.2.1.4 Classifiers:
These are nouns preceding the head. They are very much less
frequently used as heads in elliptical nominal groups and this is because a
classifier is typically, though not always, realized by a word that could
also realize the noun. Let us consider the following example:
(22) “Don’t you like babies?” “Yes, but I can’t stand crying”. (Halliday & Hasan, 1976:
153)
Here, “crying” cannot be interpreted as “crying babies” but simply
as the act of any one crying. So, in such cases substitution is preferred to
ellipsis.
However, a classifier can take on the function of the ellipted head in
examples like the following:
(23) Do you want the electric train or the mechanical one? I want the electric. (Aziz,
1998: 96)
Here, the function of the ellipted head “train” is taken on by the
classifier “electric” which behaves elliptically in the elliptical nominal
group.
It must be noted that nominal ellipsis is largely confined to
instances where the presupposing elements is a deictic or numerative. In
addition, substitution is preferred to ellipsis whenever the presupposing
nominal group contains an epithet or classifier.
2.2.2 Verbal Ellipsis:
This type of ellipsis involves omission within the verbal group,
which consists of a lexical verb, as well as the operator which precedes it.
As for the operators, they express systemic selections or choices, such as
finiteness, polarity, voice and tense of the verbal group, and these

9
 selections must be stated in every verbal group and must be referred to
throughout the process of ellipsis by means of presupposition. However,
an elliptical verbal group is technically defined as a verbal group whose
structure does not express its systemic features. So the elliptical verbal
group whose structure fully represents its systemic features is not
elliptical. We can conclude that in the verb group, the simplest way to
explain ellipsis is highly dependent on the grammatical systems, while in
the nominal group ellipsis is not described in this way and it would b e
much more complex to describe nominal ellipsis in terms of systems, so
it is presented in structural terms in stead and this may be the main
distinction between nominal ellipsis and verbal ellipsis. Verbal ellipsis,
then can be discussed under two headings:
2.2.2.1 Lexical Ellipsis:
This type of verbal ellipsis involves the omission of the lexical
verb of the verbal group. It is ellipsis from right and it always involves
the omission of the last word of the verbal group, which is the lexical
verb. This type of ellipsis may extend left ward to leave only the initial
operator, which carries the polarity and tense of the sentence. In a verbal
group with lexical ellipsis, the finiteness and polarity are always
expressed because these systems are closely associated with the first
position in the verbal group, so in this kind of ellipsis the question of
presupposing these systems from earlier verbal groups does not arise.
The lexical verb itself is therefore always presupposed, and so is the
voice. Let us consider the following examples:
(24) The cat won’t catch mice in winter. It will birds in summer. (Halliday & Hasan,
1976: 195)
(25) John should have been followed or I should have been. (Sanders, 1976: 303)
(26) John should have been followed or Mary should have. (ibid: 303)

10
 In these three sentences, the lexical verb is ellipted and it must be
recovered from the preceding verbal group.
2.2.2.2 Operator Ellipsis:
It is the type of ellipsis in which the operator is missing from the
verbal group. It is the omission from the left in which the initial element
in the verbal group is omitted, and the following elements may be
omitted, all except the lexical verb. This type of ellipsis then, is a
characteristic of those contexts in which the mood is taken over from the
previous clause. In operator ellipsis, we may expect that among the
omitted items is the one which carries polarity as well as tense. These
selections would naturally be presupposed by the elliptical verbal group.
Let us consider the following examples:
(27) Some were laughing and others crying. (Halliday & Hasan, 1976: 174)
(28) John will leave and Mary, stay. (Culicover, 1976: 130)
(29) John must have been playing football and Mary doing her homework. (Quirk &
Greenbaum, 1973: 262)
Here, the operator, which is the finite part of the verbal group is
omitted and it must be presupposed from the preceding verbal group. The
finiteness and polarity selections must also be presupposed. These
systems are closely associated with the first position in the verbal group.
The following tree-diagram shows the principal systems associated with
the verbal group.

11
 Systemic Choices

Polarity
Tense Voice Finiteness

Positive Negative

Finite Non - finite

Past Present Future
Active Passive

Indicative Imperative

Modal Non-modal

Diagram (1): Principal Systems of Verbal Group

12
2.2.3 Clausal Ellipsis:
This type of ellipsis is external to the verb itself and it affects other
elements in the structure of the clause. In English, the clause is
considered as the expression of various speech functions, such as :
statement, question, response, and so…on. It has a two parts structure
consisting of Modal and Propositional elements. The Modal element
consists of the subject plus the finite element in the verbal group. As for
the Propositional element, it consists of the remainder of the verbal
group, and any complement or adjunct that may be present. This major
division of clause elements is clearly shown in Diagram (2) suggested by
Halliday & Hasan ( 1976: 194):

Modal Propositional

Subject Predicator Complement Adjunct

Nominal Finite Lexical Nominal Prepositional

Group Operator Verb Group Group

The cat Won’t Catch Mice In winter

Diagram (2): Cluasal Ellipsis

2.2.3.1 Modal Ellipsis:
This type of ellipsis is associated with a context where there is no
choice of mood in the clause. I addition, polarity and the subject are
presupposed from what has gone before. Let us consider the following
example:

13
(30) She was singing and dancing all night. (Newby, 1987: 77)

Here, the subject and the finite operator are ellipted from the second
clause and they can be presupposed from the preceding clause.
Modal ellipsis is always very frequent in response to “ Wh”
questions. Examples:
(31) What was the Duke going to do? Plant a row of poplars in the park. (Halliday &
Hasan, 1976: 197)
(32) What were they doing? Holding hands. (Halliday & Hasan, 1976: 198)
In these two examples, the modal part is omitted and can be
recovered from what has gone before.
2.2.3.2 Propositional Ellipsis:
This type of clausal ellipsis is associated with those instances where
the mood and polarity are the principal components of the message. Let
us consider the following examples:
(33) Joan will cook the meals today and Barbara may tomorrow. (Quirk &
Greenbaum, 1973: 262)
(34) If I wanted to collect bottles, I would. (Napoli, 1985: 281)
Here, the lexical verb as well as the direct object are ellipted and
they can be recovered from the preceding clause.
Propositional ellipsis is also very frequent in response to “Wh”
questions as well as “Yes, No” questions. Let us consider the following
examples:
(35) Who can untie this knot? I can. (Halliday, 1994: 299)
(36) Must a name mean something? Of course it must. (Halliday, 1994: 298)
It must be noted that in polar questions as well as “Wh” sequences,
the entire clause can be ellipted except for the polarity marker and the
“Wh” element. Let us consider the following examples:
(37) I think you ought to tell me who you are, first. Why? ((Halliday, 1994: 299)
(38) Do you know this man? Yes. (Aziz, 1998: 96)

14
 Here, the entire clause is omitted except for the “Wh” element and
polar marker. Finally, It is worth mentioning that in all types of ellipsis,
the ellipted item can be recovered from what precedes or follows by
means of the contextual clues and we must not make ellipsis whenever it
leads to ambiguity and loss of meaning.

15
 CHPATER THREE
ELLIPSIS IN ARABIC

3.1 Introduction:
As stated before ellipsis is mainly used to avoid repetition by
omitting the redundant items which can be easily and uniquely retrieved
and to focus attention on the new information.
In Arabic, the process of ellipsis is called ‫( الحذف‬Al-Hathf) which

means the omission of the superfluous linguistic items. Matlub (1980:

206) affirms that ellipsis is one of the most important features of Arabic
since Arabs do not appeal to prolixity and expatiation. He defines ellipsis
as the process of expressing the full meaning in the smallest number of
linguistic items. Al-Jurijani (1969: 70) views ellipsis as something great,
magic, where one finds oneself more eloquent and effective, when one
doesn’t mention the elliptical item. Hasan (1960: 507) states that ellipsis
is usually common, whenever the ellipted items can be presupposed from
contextual clues, without changing or affecting the semantic structure of a
text, otherwise ellipsis will lead to ambiguity and loss of meaning.
Lashin (1980: 159) asserts that rhetoric consists in ellipsis, and when we
use ellipsis we become more effective, eloquent and expressive. Al-
Hashimi (1940: 120) thinks that in all types of ellipsis there must be
something which refers to the ellipted items, otherwise the process of
ellipsis will be not common and will look like riddles. In addition, he
states that the whole speech will be non-sensical and not so nice when we
replace the ellipted elements.
Ellipsis is viewed by Al-Quzwini (1971: 106) as one type of brevity
which involves the omission of a sentence, part of a sentence or more
than a sentence, provided that there must be a presupposition for the

16
 recoverability of the ellipted items. As for, Ibnu-Jinni (1990: 362), the
process of ellipsis also involves the omission of case inflection besides
the omission of sentences, words, and articles. However, he believes that
these types of omission are impossible without the contextual clues which
provides us with the right and specific interpretation of the ellipted items.
Aziz (1998: 96) refers to ellipsis as a universal phenomenon and that all
languages make use of this linguistic device, inspite of the fact that
languages differ in the means they use to realize it, and the extent to
which it is exploited.
It seems that both languages regard ellipsis as a mark of good
style and it is achieved in both languages by leaving out the redundant
elements. Thus, we conclude that two important conditions must be taken
into consideration whenever we want to omit information. These
conditions are :
a. The ellipted items must be recovered by the hearer or reader from
contextual clues.
b. The omission of linguistic items must not distort the syntax or the
meaning of the text whether it be spoken or written, otherwise the
process of ellipsis will lead to ambiguity, loss of meaning, and
misunderstanding.
However, this chapter will focus on ellipsis in Arabic according to
the procedures Halliday and Hasan (1976) pioneered in their
classification of cohesion in English.

3.2 Types of Ellipsis in Arabic:

Ellipsis in Arabic is of three types: nominal, verbal and clausal.
3.2.1 Nominal Ellipsis:
This type of ellipsis involves omission within the nominal group, it
involves omitting the noun Head and upgrading a word functioning as

17
 deictic, a numerative, an epithet or classifier from the status of modifier
to the status of Head. These modifiers are used in Arabic as post-modifier
because they usually follow the head, and these post-modifiers form a
basic part of the noun-phrase in Arabic and they belong to a closed
system.
Now, let us discuss these modifiers respectively.
3.2.1.1 Deictics:
These are subclassified into:
(a) Specific Deictics: They include possessives, demonstratives, and
the definite article. Possessive pronouns are mainly used as suffixes
attached to the noun head, they are therefore post-modifiers. Arabic
pronouns form a closed system consisting of the following:
‫ نذ ذ ذ ذ ذ‬/ ‫ي‬ / ‫ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ‬/ ‫ ذ ذ ذ ذذا‬/ ‫ مذ ذ ذ ذ ذ‬/ ‫ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ‬/ / ‫ كذ ذ ذ ذ ذ‬/ ‫ ك ذ ذ ذ ذذا‬/ ‫ كمذ ذ ذ ذ ذ‬/ ‫ ك‬/ ‫ك‬

Aarbic, as we have seen has one set of possessive pronouns and it

corresponds to the two sets of English possessive pronouns
(nominals and pronominals). Thus, rendering an English pronominal
possessive into Arabic requires repetition of the noun head, because
Arabic has no equivalence of the pronominal possessives . Let us
consider the following example:
(39) .ً ‫ أم حي ته فك نت سهلة نسبي‬:‫ك نت حي ة والديه صعبة‬

(Her parents’ life had been difficult: hers was relatively easy.) (Aziz, 1998: 100)
As for demonstrative pronouns, the most common of which are:
‫ فا‬/‫ فه‬/‫ ؤالء‬/‫ فلك‬/‫ تلك‬/‫ اولئك‬/ ‫ فا‬/ ‫ت‬

The distribution of these demonstrative pronouns is determined not

only by the factors of number and distance as in English, but also
according to gender and case, e.g.
(40) ‫ أريد فه‬.‫ال أريد تلك الس عة‬

18
(I don’t want that watch. I want this.) (Aziz, 1998: 101)

(41) ٍ ‫ولك ألي‬

‫سبب آخر ا لا يك لهفا ؟‬

(But for what other reason if not for this?) (Cantarino, 1974: 151)

Here, demonstratives ‫ذفه‬ and ‫ ذفا‬take on the function of ellipted

nouns ‫ السذ عة‬and ‫ سذبب‬of the preceding nominal group. The ellipted items

of both sentences are recoverable from the antecedents.

As for the definite article, it is used in Arabic prefixed to nouns,
epithets and numeratives. It must be noted that in the case of the
definiteness of the head, its modifier should be definite as well. The
definite article then plays an important role to the process of ellipsis
specially in being prefixed to an epithet or numerative which in turn can
operate elliptically, e.g.
‫ ثا استيقظ الن ئا فجأةً وق ل لقد‬.‫ أم الرجل الث لث فبدأ كأنه ن ئا‬. ‫ودخل الرجال في جدال ح د‬

(42) . ‫تأخرن‬

(The two men started a heated argument; the third man seemed to be sound asleep.
Then the sleeping woke up suddenly and said: we are late.)
(Aziz, 1998: 101)
Here, the definite article is prefixed to the epithet to help the
occurrence of the nominal ellipsis.
(b) Non-Specific Deictics : These are:
‫ جميع‬/ً‫ كال‬/‫ كل‬/‫ أي‬/‫ بعض‬/‫أحد‬

These deictics play an important role in ellipting the noun head and
taking on its action, e.g.,
(43) .‫الجميع‬
ْ ‫لي اْلمُل َك َقتَ َل‬
ِ ‫َفَل َّم َو‬

(and after he obtained the sovereignty, he put them all to death.) (Wright, 1859:
205)

19
 .‫الرسل‬ َّ
(44) ُ ‫بع ُك ٌل َكف َب‬
َّ ُ‫وع د وفرعو واخوا لوط وأصح ب االيكة وقوا ت‬

(and ‘Ad, and pharaoh, and the brothers of Lot, and the inhibitants of the grove, and
the people of Tubba’, all accused the apostles of imposture.) (Wright, 1859: 206)

(45) .‫رأيت كل األعم ل التي عملت تحت الشمس فإفا الكل ب طل‬

(I contemplated what was done under the sun, and all was vanity.) (Cantarino, 1974:
292)

3.2.1.2 Numeratives:
They are either cardinal or ordinal numerals. A brief treatment of
each will therefore be necessary.
(a) The Cardinals: These are: ‫واحذد‬/ ‫اثن‬/‫ ثالثة‬etc. These numerals may

precede or follow the head. They can take on the function of the ellipted
head in the elliptical nominal group. Let us consider the following
examples:
.‫رجل واحد‬ (One man)

. ‫رجال اثن‬ (Two men)

.‫ثالثة رج ل‬ (Three men)

Aziz (1989: 102) asserts that when a numeral is used it normally

follows the head and expresses emphasis, and it is not a determiner but
a positive, while numbers in the premodifying position seen to have the
function of a determiner. Let us consider the following instances:
.‫ثالثة رج ل‬ (Three men)

.‫الرج ل الثالثة‬ (The three men)

In the definite noun phrase, if the number precedes the definite head,
it normally takes zero article. The definite article is used before the

20
 cardinal number when following a definite noun. In addition, a noun
phrase must be definite when it follows a definite cardinal, e.g.
(46) .‫يتألف الشهر م ثالثي يوم ً أو واحد وثالثي إال شهر فبراير‬

(The month consists of thirty or thirty-one days, except February.) Ziadeh & Winder,
1957: 147)

(47) . ‫كا في القرآ م جزٍء؟ ق ل ثالثو‬

“How many parts does the Qur’an have?” He said, “Thirty”(Cantarino, 1974: 167)

‫فرض الصبي على نفسه ليصلي الخمس فذي كذل يذوا مذرتي ة مذرة لنفسذه ومذرة ألخيذه وليصذوم‬

(48) .ً ‫ وليكتم فلك ع أ له جميع‬- ‫م السنة شهري‬

(The boy imposed upon himself the task of praying the five twice every day, once for
himself and once for his brother, of fasting two months a year, and hiding this
from his whole family.) (Cantarino, 1979: 83)

.‫ ثا مضت أعواا طويلة‬.‫كنت قد التقيت ثالثة م أصدق ئي القدامى في مقهى صغير بب ريس‬
(49) .‫فرأيت الثالثة مرة أخرى وقد أصبحوا تج اًر أثري ء‬
(I met three of my old friends in a small café in Paris, then many years passed before I
met the three again. They had become rich merchants.) (Aziz, 1998: 101)
In the previously mentioned examples, the cardinal numbers
‫ واحذذد وثالثذذي‬, ‫ثالثذذو‬, ‫الخمذذس‬, and ‫ الثالثذذة‬respectively have taken on the

function of the heads which can be recovered from the preceding

sentence. Thus, this type of ellipsis makes sentences cohere and upgrades
cardinals from their modifying status to fill the slot of the omitted head.

(b) The Ordinals:

These numerals usually premodify the head and both noun and the
ordinal number take zero article. The noun head, however, may be
definite in which case the ordinal number takes the definite article and

21
 follows the noun head. Aziz (1989: 102) says that a semantic distinction
can be drown between the postmodyfying and premodifying role of these
numbers. As premodifier, they are determiners proper and indicate mere
order (temporal or spatial); as postmodifiers they function like adjectives
indicating superiority.
.‫أول درجة‬ (First class)

.‫الدرجة األولى‬ (The first class)

This type of numeratives can take on the function of the noun head
in an elliptical nominal group. Let us consider the following example:
‫ ق ل أولهذا أنذه البذواب وثذ نيها الطذ ي وثذ لثها البسذت ني ورابعهذا‬.‫ج ء ا جمع م النس ء والرج ل‬
(50) .‫مربي الطيور‬
(A group of men and women came to them. One said he was a gatekeeper, another
the cook, a third the gardener, a fourth the poultry keeper.) (Aziz, 1998: 112)
Here, the ordinal number is functioning elliptically because it has
been used to replace the missing noun.
(c) The Indefinite Quantifiers:
These are: ‫أكثر‬/‫أقذذل‬/‫قليل‬/‫ كثير‬etc. They may behave elliptically by

taking on the function of the omitted head. Let us consider the following
examples:
(51) .ً‫حتى أبو بكرذ قد بقي اليعر م األمر إال قليال‬

(Even Abu-Bakr, he know just a little of this matter) (Cantarino, 1975: 94)

(52) .‫ك نوا قد برحوا مصر وليس معها م الم ل إال القليل‬

(They had left Egypt having only a little money with them.) (Cantarino, 1994: 124)

In these examples, it may be argued that both ‫ القليل‬and ً‫ قليال‬may be ‫م‬

‫األمذر‬, and ‫ مذ المذ ل‬respectively, which may come immediately after the

indefinite quantifiers.

22
 3.2.1.3 Epithets:
These may be participles and adjectives functioning elliptically. In
Arabic, they are frequently used in place of the head in elliptical
constructions which may be attributed to the fact that an Arabic adjective
has most of the characteristics of a noun; namely, gender, number, case
and definiteness. Aziz (1998: 100) affirms that Arab grammarians usually
group adjectives and nouns together, and they consider adjectives as the
productive source of ellipsis. In addition, adjectives in Arabic are mainly
derived from verbs and nouns they are used attributively and
predicatively. Attributive adjectives normally postmodify the noun head,
while predicative adjectives function as predicates in nominal sentences
(ibid).
.‫الولد الفكي‬ (The clever boy)

.‫الولد فكي‬ (The boy is clever)

However, an epithet in Arabic can replace a noun head. Let us

consider the following examples:
(53) .‫دول كبرى وصغرى‬

(great and small states) (Beeston, 1968: 79)

(54) .‫ ثا طلبت الصغيرة منه أ يس عد في ملء ان ئه ب لم ء‬.‫إلى بئر الم ء‬ ‫ج ءت فت ت‬

(Two girls came to the well. The young asked him to help her to fill her vessel with
water.) (Aziz, 1998: 101)

(55) .ً‫ وك نت الطويلة تحمل على كتفه طفال‬.‫م السي رة‬ ‫واقتربت االمرأت‬

(The two women came near the car. The tall was carrying a child on her shoulder.)
(ibid: 101)

‫ لقذد‬:‫ذأة وقذ ل‬
ً ‫ ثا استيقظ النذ ئا فج‬.‫ أم الرجل الث لث فبدأ كأنه ن ئا‬.‫ودخل الرجال في جدال ح د‬

(56) . ‫تأخرن‬

23
(The two men started a heated argument; the third man seemed to be sound asleep.
Then the sleeping woke up suddenly and said we’re late.) (ibid: 101)

In these four examples, the function of the ellipted noun head is

taken on by the epithets ‫صغرى‬, ‫الصغيرة‬, ‫ الطويلة‬and ‫ الن ئا‬respectively, in order

to avoid over-simplification and monotony in the process of developing a

text by eliminating the common items of pairs of successive sequences .
However, these epithets, which act elliptically contribute much to
establishing cohesion in a text. It is worth mentioning that in such
constructions, English prefers substitution to ellipsis ((Halliday & Hasan,
1976: 148).
3.2.1.4 Classifiers:
These are most frequently used in Arabic to fill in the place of the
ellipted noun head. They freely act as heads in nominal groups, e.g.,
(57) .‫أتريد القط ر الكهرب ئي أا القط ر اآللي ؟ أريد الكهرب ئي‬

(Do you want the electric train or the mechanical one? I want the electric ((Aziz,
1998: 102)

(58) .‫أيهم أغلى الخ تا الف بي أا الخ تا الم سي ؟ الم سي أغلى‬

(Which one is more expensive; the gold ring or the diamond ring? The diamond is
more expensive.) ((Aziz, 1998: 102)

Here, ‫ الكهربذ ئي‬, ‫ الم سذي‬are functioning elliptically and the ellipted

items of both sentences ‫ القط ذ ر‬and ‫ الخ ذ تا‬are recoverable from the

antecedents ‫ القط ر‬and ‫ الخ تا‬respectively.

It is worth mentioning that in such constructions, English prefers

substitution to ellipsis (cf. Halliday & Hasan, 1976: 148)
3.2.2 Verbal Ellipsis:

24
 This type of ellipsis involves omission within the verbal group.
An elliptical verbal group presupposes one or more words from a
previous verbal group. Arab grammarians have devoted most of their
efforts for discussing the verb group. This concern of Arab grammarians
comes as a result of the fact that the verb in Arabic is very rich in its
morphological inflections which has led Arabic grammarians to classify
verbs, not according to their syntactic function, but according to the
internal changes of the verb, especially the radicals. However, Arabic has
two forms of verb which indicate tense and aspect contrasts: the perfect
and imperfect and they are found in dictionary in their perfect form. The
imperfect is derived from the perfect by prefixing one of these radicals ‫أ‬,

, ‫ ي‬and ‫ت‬. However, the Arabic verbal group is basically simple and the

only combination which may be considered complex is ‫كذ‬, ‫يكذو‬, and ‫كذ د‬

combined with the verb to indicate past or future. Verbal ellipsis , then,
can be subclassified into two main types: operator ellipsis and lexical
ellipsis.
3.2.2.1 Operator Ellipsis:
This type of ellipsis involves omission of the first finite auxiliary
verb of the verbal group. This definition, in fact, is open to question here,
since Arabic does not have the same categories of auxiliaries as does
English; moreover the verb phrase in Arabic is basically simple. Operator
ellipsis may cover ‫ ك‬only. Let us consider the following examples:

(59) ‫ إ خيذ اًر يكذ الجذزاء خيذ اًرة وا شذ اًر‬:‫المذرء مح سذب علذى عملذه‬

(Hasan, 1968: 40) .‫يك الجزاء ش اًر‬

(A man is responsible for his deeds; if they are good, his reward will be good and the
reverse is true.)

25
 Here, ‫ ك‬and ‫ العمل‬have been ellipted in order to avoid repetition.

In Arabic, the process of keeping part of the verb and omitting the
other is very much less frequent and is not recommended. The verb has to
be repeated or ellipted completely. Let us consider the following English
examples and its literal Arabic rendering:
(60) ‫ل سيحضر الح كا االجتم ع فه الليلة؟‬

(-Will the governor attend the meeting tonight?)

.‫نعاة س‬

(-Yes, he will.)( (Aziz, 1998: 97)

The Arabic rendering is grammatically unacceptable until we put
the lexical verb ‫ يحضذر‬after the futurity particle; otherwise both should be

omitted.
‫ل سيحضر الح كا االجتم ع فه الليلة ؟‬
.)‫نعا (سيحضر‬

3.2.2.2 Lexical Ellipsis:

This type of ellipsis involves the omission of the lexical verb of the
verbal group. This type of ellipsis is only applicable to verbal sentences.
Let us consider the following examples:
(61) .‫ذ م قرأ‬ (-Who read?)

(Muhyud-din, I, 1964: 474) ) .‫ذ زيد‬ (-Zaid)

(62) ‫ذ م ج ء؟‬ (-Who came?)

(Nasr, 1967: 189) .‫ذ سليا‬ (-Saleem)

(63) ٍ
.‫كوكب آخر غيره‬ ‫وال أعلا ل سقطت في كوكب األرض أا في‬

26
(I do not know whether I fell on the planet Earth, or on another one.) (Cantarino,
1974: 56)

Here, the ellipted items ‫ق أر‬, ‫ ج ء‬and ‫ سقطت‬are respectively recoverable

from the preceding questions. This type of ellipsis is found quite often in
interrogative sentences.
Another interesting examples, involving the omission of the lexical
verb, is that of coordination.
In which the second member of the coordination is the negative
counterpart of the first.
(64) .‫ليحكموا بق نو الفقر والرحمة ال بق نو الغنى والقسوة‬

(to judge by the law of poverty and mercy, not by that of wealth and severity.)
(Cantarino, 1975: 57)

(65) .‫ال أعتقد ال به وال بك‬

(I do not believe in it or in you.) (Cantarino, 1975: 57)

(66) .‫اليعيدو في الصيف وال في الخريف‬

ُ ‫في ضيعتن‬
(In our village, people do not celebrate a feast in summer or autumn.) (Cantarino,
1975: 57)

Here, the lexical verbs ‫يحكمذوا‬, ‫ أعتقذد‬and ‫ يعيذدو‬respectively have been

ellipted after the negative particle ‫ ال‬. Such a type of ellipsis is common

in Arabic.
Interesting cases of lexical ellipsis may be spotted, in alternative
conditional constructions. In these cases of ellipsis , an introductory
element or a new statement may replace the original first member of the
alternative conditional construction. The second part is introduced by the
compound ‫ واال‬which consists of ‫ إ لذا‬in this case. Let us consider the

following examples:

27
 (67) .‫إنصر به عني واال ف ن ق تله ال مح لة‬

(Take him a way from me, otherwise I surely would kill him) (Cantarino, 1975: 337)

Here, the lexical verb ‫ تنصر‬has been ellipted after ‫ إ لا‬and it can be

retrieved from what has gone before. Such a type of ellipsis is frequent in
Arabic. Similarly, Let us consider the following examples:
(68) .‫قل م أنت واال تركتك تموت‬

(Tell me who you are; if not, I shall leave you to die. ) (Cantarino, 1975: 337)

(69) . ‫أترك المسرح ح الً ذ واال فأنت أعلا بم يكو‬

(Leave the stage immediately; otherwise you know what will happen.) (Cantarino,
1975: 337)

Here the lexical verbs ‫ تقل‬and ‫ تتذرك‬respectively have been left out to

be presupposed from the preceding constructions.

Lexical ellipsis may occur in sentences beginning with ‫ كذ د‬. Let us

consider the following examples:

(70) (Hasan, 1968: 619) .‫م عجل أخطأ أو ك د‬
( Who is not patient has, or nearly has, been mistaken.)
Here, the ellipted lexical verb ‫ يخطذىء‬can be retrieved from what has

gone before.
Evidently, these examples demonstrate lexical ellipsis , since the
lexical verb is left out but can be supplied from the preceding
constructions.
3.2.3 Clausal Ellipsis:
This type of ellipsis involves omission within the clause, and it can
be subclassified into two main types: Modal and Propositional. Modal
ellipsis involves the omission of the finite auxiliary as well as the
subject. Propositional ellipsis means the omission of the lexical verb as

28
 well as the complement and the adjunct. Clausal ellipsis is very frequent
in “question-answer” texts.
3.2.3.1 Modal Ellipsis:
As we have stated before, this type of ellipsis involves the omission
of the subject as well as the first finite auxiliary verb. Let us consider the
following examples:
(71) ‫ذ م فعل زيد ؟‬ (-What did Zaid do?)

(Al-Jiwari, 1987: 65) .‫ذ س فر‬ (- traveled.)

(72) ‫ذ أي سليا ؟‬ (-Where is Saleem?)

(Nasr, 1967: 189) .‫ذ في البيت‬ (-In the house)

Here, the ellipted items are ‫ زيذد‬and ‫ سذليا‬respectively. They are the

subjects of the elliptical clauses and they are omitted to mark the modal
ellipsis which links the two clauses cohesively.
In a question-answer sequence, it is common to come across modal
ellipsis, particularly in examples starting with ‫ متذى‬, ‫ أيذ‬and ‫ مذ فا‬and so

they play great role in creating cohesion throughout the text.

3.2.3.2 Propositional Ellipsis:

This type of ellipsis means the omission of the lexical verb as well
as the complement and the adjunct. In Arabic, this type of omission is
very frequent. Let us consider the following examples:
(73) ‫ذ م فعل فا ؟‬ (-Who did this?)

(Al-Jiwari, 1987: 65) .‫ذ عمر‬ (-Omar.)

29
 Here, only the subject is stated explicitly in answering the question,
while the other elements are left out.
Clear cases of propositional ellipsis may be spotted in polar
questions. Arabic uses ‫نعذا‬, ‫ بلذى‬and ‫ أجذل‬for the positive responses, while ‫ال‬

and ‫ كذال‬are used frequently for negative responses. Let us consider the

following example:
(74) ‫( ذ ألا تك تحب علي طه؟‬-Did not she love Ali Taha?)

.‫ذ بلى ك نت‬ (-Indeed, she did.) (Cantarino, 1975: 58)

Here, the lexical verb ‫ تحذب‬is omitted as well as the residue of the

sentence, with the exception of the polar marker and the auxiliary verb
‫ك نت‬.

The whole clause may be omitted in polar questions except for the
polar marker. Let us consider the following examples:
(75) ‫فا الرجل ؟‬ ‫ذ ل تعر‬ (-Do you know this man?)

‫ذ نعا‬ (-Yes) ((Aziz, 1998: 96)

(76) ‫ذ أليس و بخير ؟‬ (-isn’t he well?)

.‫ذ بلى‬ (-Yes) (Cantarino, 1974: 165)

(77) ‫( ذ أحق ً كنت أح دث نفسي ؟‬-Was I really talking to myself?)

.‫ذ أجل‬ (-Yes) (Cantarino, 1974: 166)

Here, as we have stated before, the whole clause is omitted except

for the polar marker, while in propositional and modal ellipsis , we omit

30
one part of the clause, either the subject and the first finite auxiliary verb
or the lexical verb, complement, and adjunct.
Causal ellipsis in Arabic like other types of ellipsis, is exploited to
avoid repetition, monotony and over-simplification which lead to the loss
of effective value of a text, whether it be written or spoken. In addition,
the process of ellipsis connects sentences cohesively by virtue of
presupposition, and highly, contributes to establish cohesion in a text.

31
 CHAPTER FOUR
ANALYSIS & DISCUSSION

4.1 Introduction:
Translation is not a simple task in which the translator only
substitutes TL linguistic elements for SL linguistic elements. It is a more
complicated phenomenon in which the translator does something more
complex and interesting. Hickey (1998: 1) asserts that translation now is
understood as a process in which the translators do not simply say in one
language what somebody or some piece of writing has said in another. He
adds that translation in its entirety seems to involve linguistic, textual,
lexical, social, cultural and sociological aspects or elements, all of which
are studied nowadays as determining factors in whatever the translator
does.
Translation has been viewed differently by different scholars. As for
Catford (1965: 20) and Pinchuk (1977: 38) translation is a matter of
equivalence, whereas for other scholars such as Newmark (1988: 7) and
Ray (1962: 187) it is viewed as a matter of transferring meaning and
conveying the messages from SL into TL. However, translation is not
just a matter of replacement of words from one language to another, but it
is a more complicated process in which the translator must have a good
command of SL and TL, since dictionaries are of limited help because
most words in one language may have a dozen possible translations in
another. Translation errors come from all fields. In this study, the
researcher has adopted the assumption that translation is an act of
communication, involving texts as a set of mutually relevant intentions, in
which users (including translators) pre-suppose, implicate and infer
meaning. The non-native translator is supposed to face a number of

32
problems and difficulties in translating elliptical constructions, which
may form a pitfall for the inexperienced as well as experienced
translators.
In what follows, we shall attempt to discover the main problems
involved in the translation of elliptical constructions at the sentential
level.
4.2 Translation of Contextualized Sentences:
The term „contextualized sentences‟ is used in this study to refer to those
elliptical sentences whose meaning is heavily dependent on context
especially the linguistic context which is our concern in this study. The
translator attempts to retrieve what is left out or unsaid, but understood
from what has gone before or what follows by means of contextual clues
and pragmatic inference. Presented below are forty-one contextualized
sentences which contain elliptical constructions. They are as follows:
1. We wanted fried, but they gave us boiled fish. (Quirk et al., 1972: 590)

The subjects gave ‫ سمكًا سمغلكًا‬, ‫ سمكًا سمشلكًا‬, ‫ سك كخن‬, ‫ سمكًا سططشخكًا‬, ‫سمة‬

‫ سقغلة‬and ‫ سمكًا سقغي‬as equivalents to the elliptical nominal group “fried”

and the sentence was translated as :

.‫ وقد طغطبك سمكًا سقغلكًا شولبنم دسشو وبك سمكًا سمغلكًا‬.2 .1
.‫ طغطبك سك سقغيي ولبنم أأطشبك سك س غشو‬.3
.‫ أردبك سمكًا سمشلكًا شولبنم أأطشبك سك سمغي‬.4
.‫ أردبك سمكًا سقغلكًا إإ أبنم أأطشبك س غش كًا‬.5
.‫ طغطبك سمكًا سططشخكًا شولبنم أأطشبك سمكًا س غش كًا‬.6
.‫ بكورغم سن إببك أردبك وحم سقغي إإ أبنم أأطشبك سمكًا س غش ة‬.7
.‫ أردبك سك كخن إإ أبنم أأطشبك سك سمغي‬.8
.‫ أردبك سققال شولبنم أأطشبك سك س غشو‬.9
.‫ طغطبك سمة سقغلة شولبنم دسشو وبك سمة سططشخة‬.10

33
 Obviously, most of the subjects succeeded in recovering the ellipted
noun head, whose function is taken on by the modifying element “fried”
which means in this context “ fried fish”. The subjects rendered the
elliptical nominal group accurately as denoting “fried fish” as it can be
understood from the linguistic context. Two of the subjects translated
“fried” inaccurately into ‫ وحم سقغي‬and ‫سققال‬. In fact, we can infer from the

linguistic context that “fried” must refer to “fried fish” and not to “fried
meat or frying pan”. So an accurate equivalent to “fried” might be ‫سمكًا‬

‫سقغلكًا‬. The most acceptable translation might be that of subject no.5.

.‫أردبك سمكًا سقغلكًا إإ أبنم أأطشبك س غش كًا‬

2. What do you think of the poems? A lot are excellent. ((Aziz, 1998: 149)

The subjects translated the elliptical nominal group “a lot” as ‫ سعظسنك‬,

‫ مغنك‬and ‫ ألثرهك‬the sentence was translated as:

.‫ سكهش رألك بكوقصكئد ؟ مغنك سستكز‬.1

.‫ سك هش رألك بكوقصكئد؟ سعظسنك سستكز‬.2
.‫ سك رألك بكوقصكئد وومعرية؟ ألثرهك سستكز‬.4 .3
.‫ سك هش رألك بكألمعكر؟ سعظسنك سستكز‬.6.5
.‫ سك رألك بكوقصكئد وومعرية ؟ سعظسنك تتصف بكإطدوع‬.8 .7
.‫ سك ووذي تعتقده بكومعر ؟ أغغبه جيد‬.9
.‫ سك رألك بكوقصكئد وومعرية ؟ سعظسنك ت تحق وإطروء‬.10
Obviously, most of the versions given by the subjects are found to
be accurate equivalents to the sentence, particularly the elliptical nominal
group “a lot” which means “a lot of the poems” in this context. One of the
subjects translated “poems” inaccurately into ‫ وومعر‬. Accordingly, the

most acceptable translation of the sentence is that of subject no.2.

34
 ‫سك رألك بكوقصكئد ؟ سعظسنك سستكز‪.‬‬

‫‪3. Although John’s friends were late to the rally, Mary’s arrived on time. (Lobeck,‬‬
‫)‪1995: 20‬‬

‫سكري ‪The subjects translated the elliptical nominal group “Mary‟s” as‬‬

‫‪ and rendered the sentence as follows:‬أصد كء سيري ‪and‬‬

‫‪ .1‬أغى وورغم سن أن أصد كء جشن مكبشو ستأخرين أن وو بكو إإ أن سكري شصغت في ووش ت‬
‫ووسبك ب‪.‬‬
‫‪ .2‬بكورغم سن مشن أصد كء جشن ستأخرين أن وو بكو‪ .‬شصغت سكري في ووش ت ووسحدد‪.‬‬
‫‪ .3‬شصغت سيري إوى وو بكو في ووش ت ووذي تأخر أصد كء جشن‪.‬‬
‫‪ .4‬مكن أصد كء جشن ستأخرين في ووشصشل إوى وو بكو شرغسكًا أن ذوك شصغت سكري في ووش ت‬
‫ووسحدد‪.‬‬
‫‪ .5‬بكورغم سن أن أصد كء جشن شصغشو ستأخرين إوى وورووي فإن سكري شصغت في ووش ت ووسحدد‪.‬‬
‫‪ .6‬بكورغم سن تأخر أصد كء جشن في بكو وو لكروت إإ أن سكري حضرت في ووش ت ووسبك ب‪.‬‬
‫‪ .7‬بكورغم سن ووتأخير ووذي أصكب أصد كء جشن إإ أن سكري شصغت في ووش ت ووسعين‪.‬‬
‫‪ .8‬شصل أصد كء جشن وو بكو ستأخرين طيبسك شصغت سكري في ووش ت ووسبك ب‪.‬‬
‫‪ .9‬شصغت أصد كء جشن وورووي ستأخرين شسع ذوك شصغت سكري في ووش ت ووسبك ب‪.‬‬
‫‪ .10‬سع أن أصد كء جشن مكبشو ستأخرين أن وو بكو‪ .‬أصد كء سيري شصغشو في ووش ت ووسحدد‪.‬‬
‫‪Obviously, most of the subjects failed to supply the appropriate‬‬
‫‪equivalent to the elliptical nominal group “Mary‟s” whose precise‬‬
‫‪meaning is “Mary‟s friends” in this context. Nevertheless, one of the‬‬
‫‪subjects succeeded in supplying the proper equivalent of the elliptical‬‬
‫‪ . In fact, the‬أصد كء سيري ‪nominal group “Mary‟s” by rendering it into‬‬

‫‪linguistic context in which the elliptical nominal group appears suggests‬‬

‫‪that it must mean “Mary‟s friends”. Consequently, the most acceptable‬‬
‫‪translation of the sentence is that of subject no.10.‬‬
‫سع أن أصد كء جشن مكبشو ستأخرين أن وو بكو‪ .‬أصد كء سيري شصغشو في ووش ت ووسحدد‪.‬‬

‫)‪4. She put her arm through her brother’s. (Eckersley & Eckerslaey, 1960: 48‬‬

‫‪35‬‬
 The subjects translated the elliptical nominal group “brother‟s” as
‫أخينك‬, ‫أخشوبنك‬, ‫ أخشتنك‬and ‫ أخكهك‬and the sentence was translated as :

.‫ أبجزت أسل بسعشبة أخينك‬.1

.‫ وقد أكبت أخشوبنك‬.2
.‫ وقد شضعت يدهك أغى أيدي أخشتنك‬.3
.‫ حصغت أغى سك تطتمله سن خقل أخينك‬.4
.‫ شضعت يدوهك أغى أخشتنك‬.6 .5
.‫ س مت أخينك‬.7
.‫ تقدم يد ووعشن ألخكهك‬.8
.‫ سدت يدهك طين إخشوبنك‬.10 .9
Evidently, none of the versions offered by the subjects could achieve
the accurate equivalent of the sentence. Especially the elliptical nominal
group “ brother‟s” whose precise meaning is “her brother‟s arm” in this
case. Indeed, the linguistic context in which “brother‟s” appears suggests
that it must mean” her brother‟s arm”. Accordingly, an appropriate
equivalent to “brother‟s” can be ‫ ذروع أخينك‬and the sentence may be

translated as: .‫تأبطت ذروع أخينك‬

5. Old men and young. (Quirk et al., 1972: 603)

The subjects gave ‫ مكب‬and ‫ مكبكت‬as equivalents to the elliptical

nominal group “young” and the sentence was translated as:

.‫ رجكل س بشن شمكب‬.2 .1
.‫ وبه رجل مطير في وو ن ولن سظنره يدل أغى أبه مكب‬.3
.‫ ووعجكئز شوومكب‬.4
.‫ وورجكل ووس بشن شوومكب‬.5
.‫ ووميشخ شوومكبكت‬.6
.‫ رجكل مبكر شرجل مكب‬.7
.‫ ميبة شمكب‬.8

36
 .‫ مل مبكر وو ن شوومكب‬.9
.‫ س بين شمكب‬.10
Evidently, no version is found to be an accurate equivalent to the
sentence because the subjects failed to provide the proper equivalent of
the elliptical nominal group “young” which denotes “young men” in this
context. In fact, we can infer from the linguistic context that “young”
must refer to “young men” and not to “young man or woman”. So an
accurate equivalent to “young” might be ‫ مبكب‬and the sentence can be

translated as:
.‫رجكل س بشن شمبكب‬

6. He prefers Dutch cheese to Danish. ((Sanders, 1976: 304)

The subjects translated the elliptical nominal group “Danish” as
‫ووجطن وودبسكرمي‬, ‫وودبسكرمي‬, ‫ وودبسكرملة‬and ‫ ووجطبة وودبسكرملة‬and the sentence was

rendered as:
.‫ هش لفضل ووجطن وونشوبدي أغى ووجطن وودبسكرمي‬.1
.‫ هش لفضل وألجبكن وونشوبدلة أغى وألجبكن وودبسكرملة‬.2
.‫ وبه لفضل ووجطبة وونشوبدلة أغى بظيرتنك ووجطبة وودبسكرملة‬.3
.‫ هش لحب ووجطن وونشوبدي ألثر سن ووجطن وودبسكرمي‬.4
.‫ لفضل ووجطن وونشوبدي أغى ووجطن وودبسكرمي‬.6 .5
.‫ وبه لفضل ووجطن وونشوبدي أغى وودبسكرمي‬.8 .7
.‫ ووجطن وونشوبدي أفضل بكوب بة وه سن وودبسكرمي‬.9
.‫ لفضل ووجطبة وونشوبدلة سقكربة سع وودبسكرملة‬.10

Evidently, all of the subjects succeeded in recovering the ellipted

head “cheese” whose function is taken on by the modifying element
“Danish” which denotes in this context “ Danish cheese”. Nevertheless,
all the subjects succeeded in providing the proper equivalent of the
elliptical nominal group “Danish” by rendering it into ‫ ووجطن وودبسكرمي‬,

37
 ‫وودبسكرمي‬, ‫وودبسكرملة‬, ‫ ووجطبة وودبسكرملة‬and ‫ وألجبكن وودبسكرملة‬. Consequently, the

most appropriate translation of the sentence might be that of subjects

nos.7 & 8 because they used an elliptical equivalent in their translation of
the sentence.
.‫وبه لفضل ووجطن وونشوبدي أغى وودبسكرمي‬

7. I know her friends, but I do not know his. (Quirk et al., 1972: 602)

The subject gave ‫ هذو ووصديق‬, ‫ هذو‬, ‫أصد كءه‬, ‫ أصحكبه‬and ‫ زسقئه‬as

equivalents to the elliptical nominal group “his” and the sentence was
translated as:
. ‫ أأرف وصد كئنك ولبي إ أأرف هذو‬.1
.‫ أبك أأرف وصد كئنك إإ أبي إ أأرف هذو ووصديق‬.2
.‫ أبك أأرف وصد كئنك شولبي إ أأرف سن هذو ووصديق‬.3
.‫ أبك أغى سعرفة طجسلع صدلقكتنك شولن إ أأرف أصد كئه‬.4
.‫ أأرف وصحكطنك شولن إ أأرف سن هم أصحكبه‬.6 .5
.‫ أأرف زسلقتنك شولن إ أأرف سن زسقئه‬.7
.‫ أأرف أصد كئنك شولن إ أأرف وصد كئه‬.9 .8
.‫ أأرف وصد كئنك شولبي إ أأغم سن هم وصد كئه‬.10
Most of the subjects succeeded in providing the appropriate
equivalent of the elliptical nominal group “his” by rendering it into
‫أصد كئه‬, ‫ أصحكبه‬and ‫ زسقئه‬as it can be understood from the linguistic

context. Nevertheless, three of the subjects translated “his” inaccurately

into ‫ هذو‬and ‫هذو ووصديق‬. In fact, the linguistic context in which “his” occurs

suggests that it must mean “his friends”. Thus, a proper equivalent to

“his” could be ‫أصد كئه‬, ‫ أصحكبه‬and ‫ زسقئه‬and the most appropriate

translation of the sentence is that of subjects nos. 8

& 9.

38
 .‫أأرف وصد كئنك شولن إ أأرف وصد كئه‬

8. I like strong tea. I suppose weak is better for you. ((Halliday & Hasan, 1976: 166)

The subjects translated the elliptical nominal group “ weak” as ‫وومكي‬

‫ ووخفيف‬and ‫ ووخفيف‬and the sentence was translated as:

.‫ أبك أحب وومكي ووثقيل شولن أأتقد أن وومكي ووخفيف أفضل وك‬.1
.‫ يرشو وي وومكي ووثقيل شأظن أن وومكي ووخفيف أفضل بكوب بة وك‬.2
.‫ أحطذ وومكي ووثقيل ولبي أ ترح أن وومكي ووخفيف أفضل وك‬.3
.‫ إبي أفضل وومكي ثقلقًا شأأتقد بأن ووخفيف أح ن وك‬.4
.‫ أبك أفضل أن لمشن وومكي ثقلقًا شأأتقد وومكي ووخفيف لقئسك ألثر‬.5
.‫ أحب وومكي ووثقيل شأ ترح وبك تحب ووخفيف‬.6
.‫ لعجطبي وومكي ووسرمز شولن أخسن ون وومكي ووخفيف أفضل وك‬.8 .7
.‫ أحب وومكي ووثقيل شأأتقد ون ووخفيف هش وألفضل وك‬.9
.‫ أحب تبكشل وومكي ووثقيل شأظن وبك تحب وومكي خفلفكًا‬.10
Evidently, all of the subjects succeeded in recovering the ellipted
noun head, whose function is taken on by the modifying element “weak”
which means in this context “weak tea”. The subjects rendered the
elliptical nominal group accurately as denoting “weak tea” since it can be
understood from the linguistic context. Consequently, the most
appropriate equivalent is that of subject no.9.
.‫أحب وومكي ووثقيل شأأتقد ون ووخفيف هش وألفضل وك‬

9. I am expecting a letter. Has any come? (Halliday & Hasan, 1976: 158)

The subjects supplied ‫ميء‬, ‫ أحد سك‬and ‫ ر كوة‬as equivalents to the

elliptical nominal group “any” and translated the sentence as:

‫ وبي وتش ع شصشل ر كوةي أوم لصل ميء ؟‬.1

‫ أبك أتش ع شصشل ر كوةي فنل شصغت وي ر كوة ؟‬.2
‫ أبك في وبتظكر ر كوةي فنل شصل ميء ؟‬.3

39
 ‫ أتش ع شصشل ر كوة سكي فنل شصل ميء ؟‬.4
‫ أبتظر ر كوةي هل شصل أحد سك ؟‬.5
‫ أتش ع ر كوة سكي هل أتى أحد ؟‬.7 .6
‫ أتش ع أن تصغبي ر كوةي فنل شصغت ر كوة ؟‬.8
‫ أبك في وبتظكر ر كوةي أوم تصغبي شوحدال ؟‬.9
‫ أتش ع شصشل ر كوةي فنل شصغت وي ألة ر كوة ؟‬.10
Obviously, most of the subjects failed to supply the appropriate
equivalent to elliptical nominal group “any” which refers in this context
to the ellipted noun head “letter”. Nevertheless, four of the subjects
succeeded in supplying the proper equivalent of the elliptical nominal
group “any” by rendering it into ‫ ر كوة‬, ‫ شوحدال‬and ‫ ألة ر كوة‬. In fact, the

linguistic context in which the elliptical nominal group appears suggests

that it must mean “letter”. Consequently, the most acceptable translation
of the sentence might be that of subject no.9.
‫أبك في وبتظكر شصشل ر كوةي أوم تصغبي شوحدال ؟‬

10. The strong nations and the weak. (Quirk et al., 1972: 603)

The subjects gave ‫ وألسم ووضعلفة‬, ‫ ووضعلفة‬, ‫ وودشل ووصمرر‬, ‫ وألسة ووضعلفة‬and

‫ ووضعف‬as equivalents to the elliptical nominal group “weak” and the

sentence was translated as:

. ‫ وألسم ووقشلة شوألسة ووضعلفة‬.1
.‫ وألسم ووقشلة شوألسم ووضعلفة‬.5 .4 .3 .2
. ‫ وودشل ووعظسى شوودشل ووصمرر‬.6
. ‫ وألسم ووقشلة شووضعف‬.7
.‫ وومعشب ووقشلة شووضعلفة‬.9 .8
.‫ وألسم ووقشلة شووضعلفة‬.10
Evidently, not all of the versions are accurate equivalents to the
sentence because some of the subjects failed to provide the proper
equivalent of the elliptical nominal group “weak” which denotes “weak

40
 nations” in this context. One of the subjects translated “weak”
inaccurately into ‫ ووضعف‬. Nevertheless, most of the subjects succeeded in

supplying the proper equivalent of the elliptical nominal group “weak” by

rendering it into ‫ وألسم ووضعلفة‬, ‫ وودشل ووصمرر‬and ‫ ووضعلفة‬. Consequently, a

proper translation of the sentence may be that of subject nos.8, 9 & 10.
. ‫وألسم ووقشلة شووضعلفة‬

11. Your proposal and others’ (Quirk et al., 1973: 269)

The subjects supplied ‫ أملكء أخرر‬, ‫ وآلخرين‬, ‫ سقترحكت أخرر‬and ‫سقترح‬

‫ وآلخرين‬as equivalents to the elliptical nominal group “others‟ ” and

translated the sentence as:

. ‫ و تروحك شوإ تروحكت وألخرر‬.1
.‫ سقترحك شسقترحكت أخرر‬.3 .2
.‫ سقترحك شسقترح وآلخرين‬.5 .4
.‫ سقترحك شووسقترحكت وألخرر‬.7 .6
.‫ سقترحك شأملكء أخرر‬.8
.‫ و تروحك شو تروح وآلخرين‬.9
.‫ سقترحك شوآلخرين‬.10
Most of the subjects could not supply the proper equivalent of the
sentence, particularly the elliptical nominal group “others‟ ” which refers
to “others‟ proposal” in this context. Three of the subjects succeeded in
supplying the appropriate equivalent of the elliptical nominal group
“others‟ ” by rendering it into ‫ سقترح وآلخرين‬and ‫ و تروح وآلخرين‬. Accordingly,

a proper translation of the sentence might be that of subjects nos. 5,4 & 9:
‫و تروحك شو تروح وآلخرين‬

‫سقترحك شسقترح وآلخرين‬

41
12. The students attended the play but most went home disappointed. (Lobeck,
1995: 42)
The subjects translated the elliptical nominal group “most” as
‫وولثير‬, ‫ ووعديد‬, ‫ وألغغطلة‬and ‫ وولثيرين‬and the sentence was translated as:

.‫ حضر ووطقب إوى ووس رحلة شولن ووعديد غكدرشهك طخيبة أسل‬.3 .2 .1
. ‫ وقد حضر ووطقب ووس رحلة ولن وولثير غكدرشو بك تلكء‬.4
.‫ حضر ووطقب ووعرض ووس رحي شولن وولثير أحبطشو طنك‬.5
.‫ حضر ووطقب ووس رحلة ولن غكدر ووعديد شهم سصكطين طخيبة أسل‬.6
.‫ حضر ووطقب ووس رحلة إإ أن وولثيرين غكدرشهك شهم خكئطي وألسل‬.8 .7
.‫ حضر ووطقب ووغعبة شولن وألغغطلة غكدرت طخيبة أسل‬.9
.‫ حضر ووطقب أرض ووس رحلة شولن وولثيرين أحبطشو طنك‬.10
Evidently, most of the subjects succeeded, to a certain extent, in
providing the accurate equivalent of the sentence, particularly the
elliptical nominal group “most” which is equivalent to “students” in this
context. Nevertheless, one of the subjects inaccurately translated “play”
into ‫ ووغعبة‬. In fact, the linguistic context in which the elliptical nominal

group “most” appears, suggests that it must mean “most students”.

Accordingly, a possible equivalent to “most” might be ‫ أغغطنم‬. Thus, the

sentence may be rendered as :

.‫حضر ووطغبة ووس رحلة إإ أن أغغطنم غكدرشهك طخيبة أسل‬

13. William’s is the only homework that is never badly done. (Eckersley & Eckersley,
1960: 48)
The subjects translated the elliptical nominal group “William‟s” as
‫شولسس‬, ‫ شولم‬, ‫ سشضشع شولم مم طير‬, ‫ شوجبكت شولم‬and ‫ شوجب شولم‬and the sentence

was translated as:

. ‫ شولم هش ووشحيد ووذي إيؤدي شوجبه بصشرال يئة‬.1
.‫ شولسس هش ووشوجب ووشحيد ووذي يتم ودوئه بممل جيد‬.2

42
 .‫ ون شوجبكت شولم هي ووشحيدال ووتي تؤدر بصشرال صحلحة‬.3
.‫ شوجب شولم ووطيتي وم لمن يئكًا‬.4
.‫ ينتم شولم طشوجبه ووطيتي‬.5
.‫ ون سشضشع شولم مم طير هش ووشحيد ووذي لحضر في ووسبزل بممل جيد‬.6
.‫ ون شوجب شولم ووطيتي هش ووشحيد ووذي يبجز بممل صحلي دوئسكًا‬.8 .7
.‫ شولم هش ووشحيد ووذي لقشم طتأدلة شوجبه ووطيتي بصشرال جيدال‬.9
.‫ ون شوجبكت شولم ووطيتلة هي ووشوجبكت ووشحيدال ووتي تبجز بممل غير يء‬.10
Obviously, half of the subjects failed to provide the proper
equivalent of the sentence, because they failed to provide the proper
equivalent of the elliptical nominal group “William‟s” which refers to
“William‟s homework” in this context. In fact, the linguistic context in
which the elliptical nominal group “William‟s” occurs, suggests that it
must refer to “William‟s homework” and not to “William” or “William
Shakespeare”. Nevertheless, the other half of the subjects succeeded in
supplying the proper equivalent to the sentence and particularly to the
elliptical nominal group “William‟s” by rendering it into ‫ شوجب شولم‬and

‫شوجبكت شولم‬. Accordingly, a proper translation of the sentence might be that

of subjects nos. 7 & 8.

.‫ون شوجب شولم ووطيتي هش ووشحيد ووذي يبجز بممل صحلي دوئسكًا‬

14. She wore the red dress, but the blue suits her better. (Quirk et al., 1972: 590)

The subjects gave ‫ ووغشن وألزرو‬, ‫ وألزرو‬, ‫ ووف تكن وألزرو‬and ‫ ووثشب وألزرو‬as

equivalents to the elliptical nominal group “blue” and the sentence was
translated as:
.‫ ورتدت ووثشب وألحسر ولن وألزرو يبك طنك ألثر‬.2 .1
.‫ وقد ورتدت ووثشب وألحسر إإ أن ووثشب وإزرو هش وألفضل‬.3
.‫ ورتدت ووثشب وألحسر شولن ووغشن وألزرو لقئسنك‬.4
.‫ ورتدت ووف تكن وألحسر سع أن ووغشن وألزرو أفضل بكوب بة ونك‬.5

43
 .‫ وب ت ووف تكن وألحسر إإ أن ووف كتين ووزر كء تقئسنك ألثر‬.7 .6
.‫ ورتدت ووثشب وألحسر شولبنك تفضل ووغشن وألزرو أغله‬.8
.‫ كست بكرتدوء ووف تكن وألحسر شولن ووف تكن وألزرو يبك طنك‬.10 .9
Most of the subjects succeeded in recovering the ellipted noun head
“dress” whose function is taken on by the modifying element “blue” .
They succeeded in providing the proper equivalent of the sentence,
particularly the elliptical nominal group “blue” which denotes “blue
dress” in this context by rendering it into ‫ ووثشب وألزرو‬, ‫ ووف تكن وألزرو‬and

‫وألزرو‬. Three of the subjects have rendered the elliptical nominal group

“blue” inaccurately into ‫ ووغشن وألزرو‬. Indeed, the linguistic context in

which “blue” appears, suggests that it must mean “blue dress” .

Consequently, the appropriate translation of the sentence must be that of
subjects nos. 1 & 2 because they used an elliptical equivalent to the
elliptical nominal group “blue” by rendering it into ‫ وألزرو‬which is also an

elliptical nominal group in TL and its meaning depends on the linguistic

context in which it occurs. The translation may be as follows:
.‫أرتدت ووثشب وألحسر ولن وألزرو يبك طنك ألثر‬

15. John won the first race and Jim the second. (Close, 1975: 105)

The subjects gave ‫ وو بكو ووثكبي‬, ‫ ووثكبي‬, ‫ ووجشوة ووثكبلة‬and ‫ ووسرتبة ووثكبلة‬as

equivalents to the elliptical nominal group “second” and the sentence was
translated as:
.‫ فكز جشن في وو بكو وألشل شجلم في وو بكو ووثكبي‬.1
.‫ وقد ربي جشن وو كطق وألشل أسك جلم فقد ربي وو بكو ووثكبي‬.2
.‫ حصل جشن أغى ووسرتبة وألشوى شمكبت ووسرتبة ووثكبلة سن بصيب جلم‬.3
.‫ جشن فكز بكوسرتبة وألشوى في وو بكو شجكء جلم في ووسرتبة ووثكبلة‬.4
.‫ فكز جشن في وو بكو وألشل شفكز جلم في وو بكو ووثكبي‬.5

44
 .‫ فكز جشن في ووجشوة وألشوى شفكز جلم في ووجشوة ووثكبلة‬.6
.‫ فكز جشن في وو بكو وألشل شجلم في ووثكبي‬.7
.‫ ربي جشن وو بكو وألشل طيبسك ربي جلم وو بكو ووثكبي‬.9 .8
.‫ جكء جشن في ووسرتبة وإشوى في وو بكو شجلم في ووسرتبة ووثكبلة‬.10
We believe that most of the subjects succeeded in providing the
proper equivalent of the sentence, particularly the elliptical nominal
group “ second” which means “second race” in this case. The subjects
rendered the elliptical nominal group “second” accurately as denoting
“second race” as it can be understood from the linguistic context. Four of
the subjects translated “second” inaccurately into ‫ ووسرتبة ووثكبلة‬and ‫ووجشوة‬

‫ووثكبلة‬. In deed, we must infer from the linguistic context that “second”

must refer to “ second race” and not to “second position” or “second

round”. So an accurate equivalent to “second” is ‫ ووثكبي‬or ‫ وو بكو ووثكبي‬and

the most acceptable translation to the sentence is that of subject no.7 who
has used elliptical equivalent in his translation of the elliptical nominal
group “second” by rendering it into ‫ ووثكبي‬.

.‫فكز جشن في وو بكو وألشل شجلم في ووثكبي‬

16.John ate three apples and Mary four. ((Sanders, 1976: 303)

The subjects supplied ‫ وربعة تفكحكت‬, ‫ وربع‬and ‫ وربع تفكحكت‬as equivalents

to the elliptical nominal group “four” and rendered the sentence as:
.‫ ألل جشن ثقث تفكحكت شسكري أربع‬.1
.‫ تبكشل جشن ثقثة تفكحكت طيبسك تبكشوت سيري أربعة تفكحكت‬.4 .3 .2
.‫ ألل جشن ثقث تفكحكت شألغت سكري أربعة تفكحكت‬.5
.‫ تبكشل جشن ثقث تفكحكت شتبكشوت سكري أربعة تفكحكت‬.7 .6
.‫ تبكشل جشن ثقث تفكحكت شسكري أربع تفكحكت‬.10 .9 .8
All of the subjects succeeded in supplying the ellipted noun head
“apples” whose function is taken on by the modifying element “four”

45
 which denotes in this context “four apples”. Nevertheless, all of the
subjects succeeded in providing the proper equivalent of the elliptical
nominal group “four” by rendering it into ‫ أربع‬, ‫ أربع تفكحكت‬and ‫ أربعة تفكحكت‬.

Consequently, a proper translation of the sentence is that of subject no.1.

.‫ألل جشن ثقث تفكحكت شسكري أربع‬

(17) Do you prefer silver ring to gold ? (Quirk et al., 1985: 902)

The subjects rendered the elliptical nominal group “gold” as ‫ ووذهب‬,

‫ووحغقة ووذهطلة‬, ‫ ووخكتم ووذهطي‬and ‫ حغقة ووذهب‬and the sentence was translated as:

‫ هل تفضل ووحغقة ووفضلة أم ووذهب ؟‬.2 .1

‫ أترشو وك حغقة ووفضة ألثر سن حغقة ووذهب؟‬.3
‫ هل تفضل ووخكتم ووفضي أغى ووذهب؟‬.4
‫ هل تفضل ووحغقة ووفضلة أغى ووذهب؟‬.5
‫ هل تفضل خكتسكًا فضلكًا أغى خكتم سن ذهب؟‬.6
‫ هل يرشو وك ووخكتم ووفضي ألثر سن ووذهب؟‬.7
‫ أتفضل ووحغقة ووفضلة أغى ووحغقة ووذهطلة؟‬.8
‫ هل يرشو وك ووخكتم ووفضي ألثر سن ووخكتم ووذهطي؟‬.9
‫ أتفضل حغقة فضلة أغى حغقة سن ووذهب؟‬.10
Evidently, half of the subjects could provide a proper equivalent of
the elliptical nominal group “gold” which denotes “gold ring” in this
context. Yet, four of them gave inaccurately equivalents to the elliptical
nominal group “gold” by rendering it into ‫ ووذهب‬. In fact, the contextual

environment in which the elliptical nominal group occurs, suggests that it

must mean “gold ring”. One may suggest the following rendering of the
sentence into Arabic:
‫أتفضل ووخكتم ووفضي أغى ووذهطي؟‬

18. That letter was the last. (Quirk et al., 1985: 904)

46
 The subjects supplied ‫ وألخيرال‬, ‫ وور كوة وألخيرال‬, ‫ آخر وور كئل‬and ‫ ووبنكلة‬as

equivalents to the elliptical nominal group “last” and translated the

sentence as:
.‫ مكبت تغك وور كوة هي وألخيرال‬.1
.‫ مكبت تغك وور كوة وألخيرال‬.2
.‫ تغك وور كوة مكبت آخر وور كئل‬.3
.‫ مكبت تغك وور كوة هي ووبنكلة‬.4
.‫ تغك وور كوة مكبت وألخيرال‬.7 .6 .5
.‫ تغك مكبت وور كوة وألخيرال‬.9 .8
.‫ مكن ذوك ووحرف وألخير‬.10
Obviously, most of the subjects succeeded in supplying the proper
equivalent of the elliptical nominal group “last” by rendering it into
‫وألخيرال‬, ‫آخر وور كئل‬. One of the subjects translated “last inaccurately into

‫ووبنكلة‬. Moreover, one of the them translated “letter” inaccurately into

‫حرف‬. In fact, we can infer from the linguistic context in which the

elliptical nominal group “last” occurs that it must refer to “last letter”.
Thus, an appropriate equivalent to “last” is ‫ وإخيرال‬and the sentence can be

rendered as (See subjects 5,6 & 7):

.‫تغك وور كوة مكبت وألخيرال‬

19. John emptied all these bottles and Bill emptied all those. (Napoli, 1984: 310)

The subjects gave ‫ تغك‬, ‫ تغك ووقبكبي‬and ‫ تغك وألبطكل‬as equivalents to the

elliptical nominal group “those” and the sentence was translated as:
.‫ كم جشن طتفريغ مل هذه ووقبكبي ش كم طيل طتفريغ تغك ووقبكبي‬.1
.‫ أفرغ جشن مل هذه ووقبكبي شأفرغ طيل مل تغك ووقبكبي‬.3 .2
.‫ وقد كم جشن طتفريغ جسلع هذه ووقبكبي أسك طيل فقد أفرغ مل تغك ووقبكبي‬.4
.‫ أفرغ جشن مل هذه وألبطكل شأفرغ طيل مل تغك وألبطكل‬.6 .5

47
 ‫‪ .7‬أفرغ جشن هذه ووزجكجكت مغنك طيبسك أفرغ طيل تغك مغنك‪.‬‬
‫‪ .8‬أفرغ جشن مل هذه ووقبكبي ووزجكجلة فلسك أفرغ طيل مل تغك ووقبكبي‪.‬‬
‫‪ .9‬وقد أفرغ جشن هذه ووقبكبي بكجسعنك شأفرغ طيل مل تغك ووقبكبي‪.‬‬
‫‪ .10‬أفرغ جشن مل هذه ووقبكبي شأفرغ طيل تغك‪.‬‬
‫‪Obviously, all of the subjects succeeded in retrieving the ellipted‬‬
‫‪noun head “bottles” whose function is taken on by modifying element‬‬
‫‪“those” in this context. They rendered the elliptical nominal group‬‬
‫‪“those” accurately as denoting “those bottles” , and they succeeded in‬‬
‫‪providing the proper equivalent of the elliptical nominal group “those” by‬‬
‫‪ . In fact, the most appropriate‬تغك وألبطكل ‪ and‬تغك ووقبكبي ‪ ,‬تغك ‪rendering it into‬‬

‫‪ which is used elliptically in Arabic to take the‬تغك ‪equivalent of “those” is‬‬

‫‪function of the ellipted noun head. Thus the proper translation of the‬‬
‫‪sentence might be that of subject no.10:‬‬
‫أفرغ جشن مل هذه ووقبكبي شأفرغ طيل تغك‪.‬‬

‫‪20. I am not sure how many packets I need, but I’ll take two to start with. (Swan,‬‬
‫)‪19956: 177‬‬

‫‪ ,‬أغطتكن ‪The subjects translated the elliptical nominal group “two” as‬‬

‫‪ and the sentence was translated as:‬أثبتين ‪ and‬أطشتكن ‪ ,‬رزستين ‪,‬صبدش ين‬

‫‪ .1‬و ت ستألد مم أغبة وحتكج شولببي شف آخذ أغطتكن في بكدئ وألسر‪.‬‬

‫‪ .2‬و ت ستألد سن سقدور حكجتي وغعغبي ولبي شف آخذ أغطتكن مطدولة‪.‬‬
‫‪ .3‬غير ستألد مم أدد ووصبكديق ووتي شف وحتكجنك شولبي آخذ صبدش ين إطدء طنسك أسغي‪.‬‬
‫‪ .4‬إببي غير ستألد مم رزسة وحتكجي ولن آخذ رزستين إطدء طنسك‪.‬‬
‫‪ .6 .5‬و ت ستألد سن أدد سك وحتكجه سن ووصبكديق شولبي أتبكشل صبدش ين إطدء طنسك‪.‬‬
‫‪ .7‬و ت شوثقكًا مم سن وورزم أحتكجي شولن رزستين تلفي مطدولة‪.‬‬
‫‪ .8‬أبك و ت ستألد مم أطشال وحتكج ولن أتبكشل أطشتكن في ووطدولة‪.‬‬
‫‪ .9‬غير ستألد مم أغبة وحتكجي آخذ أغطتكن مطدولة‪.‬‬
‫‪ .10‬و ت ستألد مم أغبة وحتكجي شولن شف آخذ وثبتين مطدولة‪.‬‬

‫‪48‬‬
 ‫‪Evidently, all the versions suggested by the subjects are found to be‬‬
‫‪accurate equivalents to the sentence because the subjects succeeded in‬‬
‫”‪supplying the proper equivalent of the elliptical nominal group “two‬‬
‫‪ ,‬أغطتكن ‪which denotes “two packets” in this context. The subjects gave‬‬

‫‪ as equivalents to the elliptical nominal‬وثبتين ‪ and‬أطشتكن ‪ ,‬رزستين ‪ ,‬صبدش ين‬

‫‪group “two”. In fact, the most appropriate equivalent of the elliptical‬‬

‫‪ which is used elliptically in Arabic to take on the‬أثبتين ‪nominal group is‬‬

‫‪function of the ellipted noun head. Thus, the most appropriate translation‬‬
‫‪of the sentence might be that of subject no.10.‬‬
‫و ت ستألد مم أغبة وحتكجي شولن شف آخذ وثبتين مطدولة‪.‬‬

‫‪21. Although she might order these, Mary won’t buy those books on Egyptian art.‬‬
‫)‪(Lobeck, 1995: 42‬‬

‫‪ ,‬ذوك ‪The subjects rendered the elliptical nominal group “these” as‬‬

‫‪ and the sentence was translated as:‬هذه وألملكء ‪ and‬هذه وولتب ‪ ,‬هذه‬

‫‪ .1‬أغى وورغم سن أبنك أسرت طذوك‪ .‬سكري ون تمتري تغك وولتب أن وألدب ووسصري‪.‬‬
‫‪ .2‬سكري وم تمتري تغك وولتب أن وألدب ووسصري أغى وورغم سن أبنك أسرت طذوك‪.‬‬
‫‪ .4 .3‬بكورغم سن وبنك ربسك تطغب هذه وولتبي سكري شف ون تمتري تغك وولتب أن وألدب‬
‫ووسصري‪.‬‬
‫‪ .5‬وربسك د تطغب هذه وولتب إإ أن سكري ون تطتكع تغك وولتب أن وألدب ووسصري‪.‬‬
‫‪ .6‬سكري ون تمتري وولتب ووخكصة بكوفن ووسصري أغى وورغم سن أبنك د تأسر بسثل هذه‬
‫وألملكء‪.‬‬
‫‪ .7‬بكورغم سن أبنك ربسك تأسر طذوكي سكري ون تمتري وولتب ووتي تتعغق بكوفن ووسصري‪.‬‬
‫‪ .8‬ربسك تمتري سكري هذه وولتب إإ أبنك شف ون تمتري تغك ووستعغقة بكوفن ووسصري‪.‬‬
‫‪ .9‬بكورغم سن وبنك أسرت طنذه وولتب غير ون سكري إتريد مروء متب ووفن ووسصري‪.‬‬
‫‪ .10‬بكورغم سن وبنك ربسك تمتري هذه إإ أن سكري شف ون تمتري تغك وولتب أن وألدب‬
‫ووسصري‪.‬‬

‫‪49‬‬
 Most of the subjects succeeded in supplying the proper equivalent to
the sentence and particularly to the elliptical nominal group “these” by
rendering it into ‫ هذه‬and ‫ هذه وولتب‬. Nevertheless, four of the subjects failed

in providing the proper equivalent of the elliptical nominal group “these”

which refers in this context to the ellipted noun head “books”.
Accordingly, a proper translation to “these” might be ‫ هذه‬because this

modifier can take on the function of noun head which can be easily
retrieved from what has been mentioned previously by means of
contextual clues. Consequently, a proper translation of the sentence might
be that of subject no.8:
.‫ربسك تمتري سكري هذه وولتبي إإ أبنك ون تمتري تغك ووستعغقة بكوفن ووسصري‬

22. Mary likes Chomsky’s books, but Bill likes Halle’s. (Lobeck,
1995: 89)

The subjects gave ‫ سؤوفكت هشل‬, ‫ متب هشل‬, ‫ متكبكت هيغي‬and ‫ متب هيغي‬as

equivalents to the elliptical nominal group “Halle‟s” and the sentence was
translated as:
.‫ تحب سكري متب جشس مي إإ أن طيل لحب متب هشل‬.1
.‫ سكري تحب سؤوفكت جشس مي شولن طيل لحب سؤوفكت هشل‬.3 .2
.‫ سكري تسيل إوى سك لمتبه جشس مي طيبسك طيل تسيل إوى متب هشل‬.4
.‫ سكري سعجبة بمل متكبكت جشس مي شبيل سعجب بمتكبكت هيغي‬.6 .5
.‫ تحب سكري متب جشس مي شولن طيل لحب متب هشل‬.8 .7
.‫ سكري تحب متب جشس مي شبيل متب هشل‬.9
.‫ متب سكري تمبه متب جشس مي شمتب طيل تمبه متب هيغي‬.10
Evidently, most of the subjects succeeded in retrieving the ellipted
noun head “books” whose function has been taken on by the modifier
“Halle‟s” which denotes “Halle‟s books” in this context. The subjects
also succeeded in providing a proper translation to the sentence and

50
 particularly to the elliptical nominal group “Halle‟s” by rendering it into
‫متب هشل‬, ‫ متكبكت هيغي‬, ‫ سؤوفكت هشل‬and ‫ متب هيغي‬. Nevertheless, one of the

subjects translated the verbal group “likes” inaccurately into ‫ تمبه‬. In fact,

we can infer from the contextual environment that the elliptical nominal
group “Halle‟s” must mean “Halle‟s books”. Consequently, the most
appropriate equivalent to “Halle‟s” might be ‫ متب هشل‬and the appropriate

translation of sentence may be that of subjects no.9:

.‫سكري تحب متب جشس مي شبيل متب هشل‬

23. Can all cats climb trees? They all can, and most do. ((Halliday & Hasan, 1976: 162)
The elliptical nominal group “most” has been taken by the subjects
as signifying ‫ في وومكوب‬, ‫ أغى وألغغب‬, ‫ مثي وًار‬, ‫ ألثرهم‬, ‫ وومكوطلة‬, ‫أكدال‬
‫ ًا‬and ‫ إطد‬and
the sentence was rendered as:
.‫ هل بكسمكن جسلع ووقطط صعشد وألمجكر؟ بعم ت تطلعي طل أغى وألغغب تقشم طذوك‬.1
.‫ هل ت تطلع مل ووقطط أن تت غق وومجر؟ مل ووقطط ت تطلع ذوك شفي وومكوب تقشم طذوك‬.2
.‫ هل بك تطكأة مل ووقطط ت غق وألمجكر ؟ بعم بك تطكأتنم جسلعكًا فعل ذوك‬.3
.‫شأكدال لفعغشن ذوك‬
‫ًا‬ ‫ هل تقدر جسلع ووقطط أغى ت غق وألمجكر؟ جسلعنم ل تطلعشن ذوك‬.4
.‫ هل ت تطلع جسلع ووقطط ووصعشد إوى وألمجكر؟ وولل ت تطلع شفي وومكوب لصعدشن إوينك‬.5
.‫ هل بسقدشر مل ووقطط ت غق وومجر؟ مغنم ل تطلعشن شمثي وًار سك لفعغشن‬.7.6
.‫ أبسقدشر جسلع ووقطط ت غق وألمجكر؟ جسلعنم لقدرشن شإطد ونم سن ذوك‬.8
.‫ هل بك تطكأة مل ووقطط ت غق وومجر؟ بك تطكأتنك شوومكوطلة تفعل ذوك‬.9
.‫ هل بسقدشر مل ووقطط ت غق وألمجكر؟ وولل لقدرشن شألثرهم لفعغشن ذوك‬.10
Obviously, most of the subjects failed to provide the appropriate
equivalent of the sentence, particularly the elliptical nominal group
“most” when they gave ‫ في وومكوب‬, ‫أغى وألغغب‬, ‫ مثي وًار‬and ‫أكدال‬
‫ًا‬ as equivalents

to “most” which refers in this context to “most of the cats”. One of the
subjects confused “most” with “must” by rendering it into ‫ إطد‬.

51
 Nevertheless, two of the subjects succeeded in supplying the proper
equivalent of the elliptical nominal group “most” by rendering it into
‫ وومكوطلة‬and ‫ ألثرهم‬. Accordingly, the most acceptable translation of the

sentence might be that of subject no.10.

.‫هل بسقدشر مل ووقطط ت غق وألمجكر؟ وولل لقدرشن شألثرهم لفعغشن ذوك‬

24. Because her two were sick, Mellisa did not take the children to swimming that
week. (Lobeck, 1995: 91)

The subjects gave ‫ شودينك‬and ‫ طفغينك‬as equivalents to the elliptical

nominal group “two” and the sentence was translated as:

.‫ وم تأخذ سيغ ك شودينك وق تحسكم ذوك وإ طشع ب طب ووسرض ووذي أوم طنسك‬.1
.‫ وم تأخذ سيغ لك طفغينك إوى ووس بي ذوك وإ طشع إن مقهسك مكبك سريضين‬.2
.‫ ب طب ووسرض ووذي أوم بطفغينك سيغ لك وم ت تطلع أخذهم وغ بكحة ذوك وإ طشع‬.4 .3
.‫ ألن طفغينك مكبك سريضين وم تدأنم سغي وز أن ل بحشو في ذوك وإ طشع‬.5
.‫ وم تأخذ سيغل ك طفغينك وغ بكحة ذوك وإ طشع إبنم مكبشو سرضى‬.6
.‫ وم تأخذ سيغ ك شودينك وغ بكحة وإ طشع ووسبصرم شذوك ب طب سرضنسك‬.8.7
.‫ ب طب سرض طفغينك وم تأخذهم سيغ ك إوى حسكم وو بكحة ذوك وإ طشع‬.9
.‫ ب طب سرض شودينك وم ت تطلع سيغ وز أخذهم وغ بكحة في وإ طشع ووسكضي‬.10
The subjects succeeded in providing the appropriate equivalent of
the elliptical nominal group “two” by rendering it into ‫ طفغينك‬and ‫ شودينك‬.

Indeed, we must infer from the linguistic context that the elliptical
nominal group “two” must denote “two children” and the proper
equivalents to it, are ‫ طفغينك‬and ‫ شودينك‬. Accordingly, the appropriate

translation of the sentence may be as:

.‫ب طب سرض شودينك وم تأخذ سيغ ك وألشإد وغ بكحة وأل طشع ووسكضي‬

25. The students have understood the lesson, excepts for some. (Sanders, 1976:
303)

52
 ‫‪The elliptical nominal group “some” has been taken by the subjects‬‬
‫‪ and the sentence was‬غلقًا سبه ‪ and‬ووقغيل سبه ‪ ,‬بعضه ‪ ,‬ووبعض سبه ‪as signifying‬‬

‫‪rendered as:‬‬
‫‪ .1‬وقد و تشأب ووطقب وودرس سك أدو ووبعض سبه‪.‬‬
‫‪ .2‬وقد فنم ووطقب وودرس بك تثبكء بعضه ‪.‬‬
‫‪ .3‬فنم ووطقب وودرس سك خق ووبعض سبه‪.‬‬
‫‪ .4‬وقد فنم ووطقب وودرس سكأدو ووقغيل سبه‪.‬‬
‫‪ .5‬و تشأب ووطقب وودرس أدو بعضه‪.‬‬
‫‪ .6‬وقد فنم ووطقب وودرس سك أدو ووبعض سبه‪.‬‬
‫‪ .8 .7‬وقد فنم ووطغبة وودرس إإ ووقغيل سبه وم لمن سفنشسكًا‪.‬‬
‫‪ .9‬و تشأب ووتقسيذ وودرس بك تثبكء ووبعض سبه‪.‬‬
‫‪ .10‬فنم ووطقب وودرس إإ غلقًا سبه‪.‬‬
‫‪Evidently, no version is found to be an accurate equivalent to the‬‬
‫‪sentence because the subjects failed to provide the proper equivalent of‬‬
‫”‪the elliptical nominal group “some” which denotes “some of the students‬‬
‫‪in this context. Thus, the appropriate equivalent to the elliptical nominal‬‬
‫‪ and the sentence‬ووقغيل سبنم ‪ and‬ووبعض سبنم ‪ ,‬بعضنم ‪group “some” might be‬‬

‫‪can be translated as:‬‬

‫و تشأب ووطغبة وودرس إإ بعضنم ‪.‬‬

‫)‪26. The men got back at midnight. All were tired. (Halliday & Hasan, 1976: 155‬‬

‫‪ as equivalents to the‬وولل ‪ and‬جسلعكًا ‪,‬ووجسلع ‪ ,‬جسلعنم ‪The subjects gave‬‬

‫‪elliptical nominal group “all” and the sentence was translated as:‬‬
‫‪ .1‬وقد أكد وورجكل في سبتصف ووغيل شمكبشو جسلعنم ستعطين‪.‬‬
‫‪ .2‬فل وورجكل روجعين في سبتصف ووغيل ش د مكن ووجسلع ستعطين‪.‬‬
‫‪ .4 .3‬أكد وورجكل أبد سبتصف ووغيل شمكبشو ستعطين جسلعكًا‪.‬‬
‫‪ .5‬أكد وورجكل في سبتصف ووغيل شوولل مكبشو ستعطين‪.‬‬
‫‪ .7 .6‬أكد وورجكل ولقًا شوقد مكن ووجسلع سبنمين‪.‬‬

‫‪53‬‬
 .‫ أكد وورجكل أبد سبتصف ووغيل شمكبشو سرهقين جسلعكًا‬.9 .8
.‫ أكد وورجكل في سبتصف ووغيل ش د أبنك ووتعب ووجسلع‬.10
Obviously, all of the subjects gave the appropriate equivalent of the
sentence, particularly the elliptical nominal group “all” which denotes “
all the men” in this context. Indeed, we infer from the linguistic context
that “ all” must refer to “ all the men”. So an accurate equivalent to “all”
might be ‫ جسلعنم‬and the most acceptable translation of the sentence is that

of subject no.1.
.‫وقد أكد وورجكل في سبتصف ووغيل شمكبشو جسلعنم ستعطين‬

27. John was laughing and Jill crying. (Lobeck, 1995: 32)

The subjects gave ‫ مكبت تبمي‬, ‫ تبمي‬and ‫ فمكبت تبمي‬as equivalents to the

elliptical verbal group “crying” and the sentence was translated as:
.‫ مكن جشن لضحك شجيل مكبت تبمي‬.1
.‫ مكن جشن لضحك أسك جيل فمكبت تبمي‬.2
.‫ مكن جشن لضحك فلسك مكبت جيل تبمي‬.5 .4 .3
.‫ مكن جشن لضحك شجيل تبمي‬.6
.‫ جشن مكن لضحك شجيل مكبت تبمي‬.8 .7
.‫ جشن مكن لضحك في ووش ت ووذي مكبت تبمي جيل‬.10 .9
Obviously, all of the subjects, succeeded in providing a proper
translation to the sentence, particularly to the elliptical verbal group
“crying” which refers to “was crying” in this context. In fact, the
appropriate translation of the elliptical verbal group “crying” is ‫تبمي‬

because we can infer from the preceding sentence that the auxiliary verb
“operator” has been left out to avoid redundancy. Consequently, the most
acceptable translation of the sentence is that of subject no.6 because he
did not repeat the previously mentioned auxiliary verb ‫ مكن‬and translated

the sentence as:

54
 .‫مكن جشن لضحك شجيل تبمي‬

28. The cat won’t catch mice in winter. It will birds in summer. (Halliday & Hasan,
1976: 195)

The subjects gave ‫ شف تصطكد‬, ‫ تصطكد‬, ‫ تفعل‬, ‫ شف لصطكد‬and ‫تس ك‬

as equivalents to the elliptical verbal group “will” and the sentence was
translated as:
.‫ ون لس ك ووقط ووفئرون في وومتكء ولن تصطكدهك ووطيشر‬.1
.‫متكء شولبنك تس ك ووطيشر صلفكًا‬
‫ ون تس ك ووقطة بكوفئرون ًا‬.4 .3 .2
.‫ إتشد ووقطة وس كك ووفئرون في وومتكء شولن شف تصطكد ووطيشر في ووصيف‬.5
.‫ ون تصطكد ووقطة ووفئرون في وومتكء طل تفعل ذوك ووطيشر صلفكًا‬.6
.‫متكء شولبنك تصطكد ووطيشر صلفكًا‬
‫ ون تس ك ووقطة ووفئرون ًا‬.8 .7
.‫ ون تصطكد ووقطة ووفئرون في وومتكء شولن ووطيشر في ووصيف‬.9
‫ شف ون لصطكد ووقط ووفئرون في سش م وومتكء طل شف لصطكد ووطيشر في سش م‬.10
.‫ووصيف‬
Evidently, all of the subjects succeeded in providing the proper
equivalent to the elliptical verbal group “will” by rendering it into ‫شف‬

‫تصطكد‬, ‫تفعل‬ , ‫تصطكد‬ , ‫ شف لصطكد‬and ‫ تس ك‬. In fact, the linguistic

context in which the elliptical verbal group “will” occurs, suggests that it
must mean “will catch”. Indeed, the Arabic verbal group is basically
simple and the only combination which may be considered complex is
‫مكن‬, ‫ لمشن‬and probably a few others, e.g., ‫ مكد‬combined with the verb to

indicate past or future. So, in this case of ‫ ين‬and ‫ شف‬which are not

auxiliary verbs, but particles used to indicate futurity in Arabic, we

cannot keep ‫ ين‬and ‫ شف‬and omit the lexical verb ‫ تصطكد‬. We have to

keep the whole verb and futurity particle or omit both of them. In fact,
omitting the verb and the futurity particle is better than mentioning them,

55
 since they are recoverable from the linguistic context. Consequently, the
most acceptable translation of the sentence is that of subject no.9.
.‫ون تصطكد ووقطة ووفئرون في وومتكء شولن ووطيشر في ووصيف‬

29. I will gladly prepare the supper, if you will the breakfast. (Sanders, 1976: 302)

The subjects translated the elliptical verbal group “will” ‫ تعد‬, ‫ست‬

‫طتحضير‬, ‫ حضرت‬, ‫ تحضر‬, ‫ تحضر‬, ‫ تشوفق أغى تحضير‬, ‫ شف تقشم طتحضير‬and ‫شف‬

‫ تعد‬to supply the equivalent of the sentence as:

.‫ شف وأد ووعمكء ب رشر إذو سك تعد أبت ووفطشر‬.1

.‫ شف أحضر ووعمكء بمل رشر إذو ست طتحضير ووفطشر‬.2
.‫ أحضر ووعمكء ب رشر إذو حضرت ووفطشر‬.3
.‫ شف و شم طتحضير ووعمكء إن تحضر أبت ووفطشر‬.4
.‫ ألشن س رش وًار طتحضير ووعمكء ون تحضر ووفطشر‬.6 .5
.‫ أجنز ووعمكء ب عكدال إذو تشوفق أغى تجنيز ووفطشر‬.7
.‫ شف أحضر ووعمكء ب رشر ون شف تقشم أبت طتحضير ووفطشر‬.8
.‫ شف و شم بكأدود ووعمكء طرحكبة صدر إذو سك شف تعد أبت وإفطكر‬.10 .9
Obviously, most of the subjects succeeded in providing accurate
equivalents to the elliptical verbal group “will” which refers to “will
prepare” in this context. They also succeeded in retrieving the ellipted
lexical verb “prepare” which can be easily recovered from the preceding
clause. Two of the subjects inaccurately translated the elliptical verbal
group “will” as ‫ ست طتحضير‬and ‫ حضرت‬into Arabic. In fact, the particles

‫ ين‬and ‫شف‬ are used in Arabic to indicate futurity and they are only

used before present form of verbs. Consequently, the proper translation of

this sentence, particularly the elliptical verbal group “will” is that subjects
nos. 5 & 6 because they left out what can be recovered from what has
been mentioned before. The translation may be as:

56
 .‫ألشن س رش وًار طتحضير ووعمكء ون تحضر ووفطشر‬

30. Bill might write a play, and Sue might a poem. (Napoli, 1985: 283)

The subjects gave ‫ ربسكي تلتب‬and ‫ ربسك تلتب‬as equivalents to the

elliptical verbal group “might” and the sentence was translated as:
.‫ ربسك لمتب طيل س رحلة ش ش صيدال‬.3 .2 .1
.‫ سن ووسحتسل أن لمتب طيل س رحلة شربسك ش صيدال‬.4
.‫ ربسك لقشم طيل بمتكبة س رحلة شربسك تلتب ش صيدال‬.5
.‫ وربسك لقشم طيل طتأويف س رحلة ش ش صيدال‬.6
.‫ د لمتب طيل س رحلة أسك ش ربسك تلتب مع وًار‬.7
.‫ ربسك لمتب طيل بص س رحي شتلتب ش معر‬.9 .8
.‫ سن ووسؤسل أن لمتب طيل س رحلة ش ش ربسك صيدال‬.10
Evidently, all of the subjects succeeded in providing the proper
translation of the elliptical verbal group “might” which refers to “might
write” in this context. Nevertheless, two of the subjects inaccurately
translated “poem” into ‫ مع وًار‬and ‫ معر‬. In fact, the proper translation of the

sentence might be that of subjects nos. 1,2 and 3 because they avoided
redundancy and repetition by leaving out the superfluous elements which
can be retrieved from the preceding sentence. The sentence may be
rendered as:
.‫ربسك لمتب طيل س رحلة ش ش صيدال‬

31. Sylvia will prepare lunch and Alice might supper. (Quirk et al., 1972: 578)

The subjects translated the elliptical verbal group “might” as ‫ د تعد‬, ‫د‬

‫تحضر‬, ‫ ربسك تحضر‬, ‫ تحضر‬, ‫ ربسك تطنش‬, ‫ ربسك تقشم طتجنيز‬, ‫ ربسك تعد‬, ‫د تططخ‬

and ‫ ربسك‬to supply the equivalent of the sentence as:

.‫ تعد غفلك وومدوء ش د تعد وولس ووعمكء‬.1

.‫ تحضر غفلك وومدوء طيبسك د تحضر وولس ووعمكء‬.2

57
 .‫ شف تجنز يغفلك شجبة وومدوء شربسك تحضر وولس ووعمكء‬.3
.‫ يغفلك تحضر وومدوء شوولس تحضر ووعمكء‬.4
.‫ شف تطنش غفلك وومدوء شربسك تطنش وولس ووعمكء‬.5
.‫ تقشم غفلك طتجنيز وومدوء شربسك تقشم وولس طتجنيز ووعمكء‬.6
.‫ شف تقشم غفلك بكأدود شجبة وومدوء شوولس ربسك تعد شجبة ووعمكء‬.7
.‫ تحضر غفلك وومدوء شوولس ربسك ووعمكء‬.9 .8
.‫ شف تططخ غفلك وومدوء شوولس د تططخ ووعمكء‬.10
Most of the subjects succeeded in retrieving the ellipted lexical verb
“prepare” which represents the non-finite part of the verbal group “might
prepare”. Consequently, they succeeded in providing the proper
equivalent of the elliptical verbal group “might” which refers in this
context to “might prepare”. In fact, most of the subjects showed a
tendency to use superfluous elements in their translation of the elliptical
verbal group “might” as ‫ د تعد‬, ‫ د تحضر‬, ‫ د تططخ‬, ‫ ربسك تعد‬, ‫ ربسك تحضر‬, ‫ربسك‬

‫تطنش‬and ‫ ربسك تقشم طتجنيز‬. Thus, a proper equivalent of the elliptical verbal

group “might” may be that of subjects nos. 8 & 9 because they avoided
repetition in their translation of the elliptical verbal group “might” as ‫ربسك‬

into Arabic. Thus, a proper translation of this sentence may be:

.‫تحضر غفلك وومدوء شوولس ربسك ووعمكء‬

32. George will take the course and Bob might too. (Quirk & Greenbaum, 1973: 263)

The subjects gave ‫ ربسك طشب‬, ‫ ربسك لأخذه طشب ألضكًا‬, ‫ د لفعل طشب ذوك‬, ‫ربسك‬

‫ لمكرك طشب فله‬, ‫ د يبظم طشب ألضكًا‬, ‫ ربسك طشب مذوك‬, ‫ د لأخذ طشب فصل هش وآلخر‬, ‫ربسك‬

‫ لمترك طشب‬, ‫ د لأخذ طشب ووسبنكج‬,and ‫ ربسك طشب لفعل ذوك ألضكًا‬as equivalents to the

elliptical clause “Bob might too” and the sentence was translated as:
.‫ لمترك جشرج في دشرال د ور لةي شربسك طشب‬.1
. ‫ لأخذ جشرج وولشرسي شربسك لأخذه طشب ألضكًا‬.2

58
 .‫ لأخذ جشرج ووفصل وود ور ي ش د لفعل طشب ذوك‬.3
.‫ لأخذ جشرج ووسبنكج شربسك لمكرك طشب فله‬.4
.‫ يبظم جشرج وغلشرس ش د يبظم طشب ألضكًا‬.5
.‫ يتمرك جشرج في ووفصل وود ور ي شربسك طشب مذوك‬.6
.‫ لأخذ جشرج فصقًا د ور لكًا ش د لأخذ طشب فصل هش وآلخر‬.7
.‫ شف لمترك جشرج في وودشرال شربسك لمترك طشب‬.8
.‫ د لأخذ طشب ووسبنكج شولن جشرج لأخذه‬.9
.‫ لأخذ جشرج ووسبنكج شربسك طشب لفعل ذوك ألضكًا‬.10
One the whole, the subjects succeeded in providing the proper
equivalent of the sentence, especially the elliptical clause “Bob might
too” which refers to “Bob might take the course too” in this context. They
also succeeded in retrieving the ellipted propositional part of the clause
which consists of the lexical verb “take” and the nominal group “the
course” . Nevertheless, a lot of the subjects showed a tendency to use
redundant elements which can be easily retrieved from the linguistic
context in which they occur. Consequently, a proper equivalent to the
elliptical clause might be that of subject no.1 because he avoided
worthless repetition. Thus, the elliptical clause “Bob might too” can be
rendered as ‫ ربسك طشب‬and the proper translation of the sentence might be

as:
.‫لمترك جشرج في دشرال د ور لة شربسك طشب‬

33. Who was playing the piano? Peter was. (Sanders, 1976: 306)

The subjects translated the elliptical clause “Peter was” as ‫مكن طيتر‬,

‫ طيتر هش ووذي مكن لعزف‬, ‫ وقد مكن طيتر‬, ‫ وبه طيتر‬, ‫ طيتر‬, ‫ طيتر مكن لعزف‬and ‫مكن طيتر‬

‫ لعزف أغى ووطلكبش‬and the sentence was translated as:

59
 .‫ سن مكن لعزف أغى ووطلكبش ؟ مكن طيتر‬.1
. ‫ سن مكن لعزف أغى ووطلكبش؟ طيتر مكن لعزف‬.4 .3 .2
.‫ سن مكن لعزف أغى ووطلكبش؟ طيتر هش ووذي مكن لعزف‬.5
.‫ سن مكن لعزف أغى آوة ووطلكبش؟ وقد مكن طيتر‬.6
.‫ سن مكن لعزف أغى ووطلكبش؟ طيتر‬.7
.‫ سن مكن لعزف أغى ووطلكبش؟ وبه طيتر‬.9 .8
.‫ سن مكن لعزف أغى ووطلكبش؟ مكن طيتر لعزف أغى ووطلكبش‬.10
On the whole, the subjects could supply the proper equivalents to the
elliptical clause “Peter was” which means “Peter was playing the piano”
in this context. They also succeeded in retrieving the ellipted lexical verb
“playing” and the nominal group “the piano” which represent the
propositional part of the clause. Indeed, the appropriate equivalent of the
sentence, particularly the elliptical clause “Peter was” might be that of
subject no.7 who gave ‫ طيتر‬as equivalent to the elliptical clause “Peter

was” to avoid redundancy and superfluous elements. The translation of

this sentence may be :
.‫سن مكن لعزف أغى ووطلكبش؟ طيتر‬

34. Has she been crying? No, laughing. (Halliday & Hasan, 1976: 175)

The subjects translated the elliptical clause “laughing” as ‫وقد مكبت‬

‫ تضحك‬, ‫ وبنك مكبت تضحك‬and ‫ مكبت تضحك‬and the sentence was rendered as :

.‫ هل مكبت تبمي؟ مقي وقد مكبت تضحك‬.2 .1

.‫ هل مكبت تبمي؟ إي وبنك مكبت تضحك‬.4.3
.‫ هل مكبت تبمي؟ مقي مكبت تضحك‬.5
.‫ هل مكبت تبمي؟ إي طل تضحك‬.6
.‫ ألكبت تبمي؟ إ ي مكبت تضحك‬.7
.‫ هل مكبت تبمي؟ وم تلن تبميي طل مكبت تضحك‬.8
.‫ ألكبت تبمي؟ مقي طل مكبت تضحك‬.9

60
 .‫ هل مكبت تبمي؟ وم تلن تبميي طل تضحك‬.10
Evidently, all of the subjects succeeded in retrieving the ellipted
modal part of the clause which consists of the subject “she” and the finite
part of the verbal group “has been”. Consequently, they were able to
provide the proper equivalent of the sentence, particularly the elliptical
clause “laughing” which refers to “she has been laughing” in this context.
Nevertheless, the most appropriate equivalent of the elliptical clause
“laughing” might be that of subject no.6 who rendered it as ‫تضحك‬. Thus, a

proper translation of the sentence may be:

.‫هل مكبت تبمي؟ إي طل تضحك‬

35. If I wanted to collect bottles, I would. (Napoli, 1985: 281)

The subjects translated the elliptical clause “I would” as ‫ أجسع‬,

‫ شف أجسع‬, ‫ ولبت فعغت‬, ‫ وفعغت‬, ‫ وقست طجسعنك‬and ‫ وفعغت ذوك‬to supply the

equivalent of the sentence as:

.‫ أجسع ووقبكبي إذو مئت‬.1
.‫ شف أجسع ووقبكبي إذو رغطت‬.2
.‫ وش مكبت ودي وورغبة طجسع ووزجكجكت ولبت فعغت‬.3
.‫ وش مئت أن أجسع ووزجكجكت وفعغت‬.4
.‫ وش رغطت في جسع ووقبكبي وفعغت‬.5
.‫ وش أردت تجسلع ووزجكجكت وقست طجسعنك‬.8 .7 .6
.‫ إذو سك أردت جسع ووقبكبي ولبت فعغت‬.9
.‫ وش مكبت وي حكجة في جسع ووقبكبي وفعغت ذوك‬.10
Obviously, most of the subjects succeeded in providing the proper
equivalent of the elliptical clause “I would” by rendering it into ‫ وفعغت‬,

‫وقست طجسعنك‬, ‫ وفعغت ذوك‬and ‫ ولبت فعغت‬They succeeded also in recovering the

ellipted lexical verb “collect” and the nominal group “bottles” which
represent the propositional part of the clause. Indeed, we can infer from

61
 the linguistic context that the elliptical clause “I would” must mean “I
would collect bottles”. Nevertheless, two of the subjects inaccurately
translated “would” into ‫ أجسع‬and ‫ شف أجسع‬. Consequently, a proper

equivalent to the elliptical clause “I would” might be ‫ وفعغت‬because Arabic

equivalent of English complex verbal group “would collect” is a simple

verbal group which consists of one part, so the subject cannot leave one
part and keep the other. Thus, the subject has to repeat the ellipted lexical
verb in his translation in order to maintain the meaning. The proper
translation of this sentence might be that of subjects nos. 4 & 5.
.‫وش رغطت في جسع ووقبكبي وفعغت‬

.‫وش مئت أن أجسع ووزجكجكت وفعغت‬

36. Could you have been dreaming? I suppose, I could. (Sanders, 1976: 301)
The elliptical clause “I could” has been taken on by the subjects as
signifying ‫ وبي و تطلع‬, ‫ وبه بكسمكبي‬, ‫ وبه مكن بكسمكبي ذوك‬, ‫ وبه بك تطكأتي‬, ‫وببي‬

‫و تطعت‬, ‫ وببي مبت و تطلع‬and ‫ وببي كدر أغى ذوك‬and the sentence was translated

as:
.‫هل مبت تحغم؟ وأتقد وببي و تطلع‬.2 .1
.‫ ربسك مبت تحغم؟ وأتقد وبه بكسمكبي‬.3
.‫ هل سن ووسسمن وبك مبت تحغم؟ وأتقد وبه بكسمكبي ذوك‬.4
.‫ أسن ووسسمن وبك مبت تحغم؟ وأتقد وبه بك تطكأتي‬.5
.‫ ألبت تحغم؟ وفترض بكببي و تطعت‬.6
.‫ سن ووسحتسل وبك مبت تحغم؟ وأتقد وببي مبت و تطلع‬.7
.‫ وربسك مبت تحغم؟ أخسن وببي كدر أغى ذوك‬10,9,8
Evidently, all of the subjects failed to provide the proper equivalent
of the sentence, and particularly the elliptical clause “I could” which
denotes “I could have been dreaming” in this context. They also failed to

62
 retrieve the ellipted propositional part which consists of the remaining
part of the verbal group in this clause. In fact, none of the subjects depend
on the linguistic context when they translated the elliptical clause “I
could”. Thus, they translated “I could” inaccurately as denoting ability
into ‫ وببي و تطلع‬, ‫ وبه بكسمكبي‬, ‫ وبه مكن بكسمكبي ذوك‬, ‫ وبه بك تطكأتي‬, ‫ وببي و تطعت‬,

‫ وببي مبت و تطلع‬and ‫ وببي كدر أغى ذوك‬, whereas the proper equivalent of the

elliptical clause “I could” may be ‫وأتقد ذوك‬, ‫ أظن ذوك‬and ‫ مبت أحغم‬as the

linguistic context suggests. Consequently, the most acceptable translation

of the sentence might be as:
.‫هل مبت تحغم؟ وأتقد ذوك‬
.‫هل مبت تحغم؟ أظن ذوك‬
.‫هل مبت تحغم؟ أأتقد وببي مبت أحغم‬

37. I go for a swim every day. Do you? (Eckersley & Eckersley, 1960: 186)

The subjects gave ‫ هل تريد أن تأتي سعي‬, ‫ حقكًا‬, ‫ هل تأتي سعي‬, ‫ أبت مذوك‬,

‫أتذهب وغ بكحة أبت‬, ‫ فنل تفعل أبت ذوك‬, ‫ فنل تسكرس وو بكحة‬and ‫ هل تذهب‬as

equivalents to the elliptical clause “Do you” and the sentence was
translated as:
‫ هل تريد أن تأتي سعي؟‬.‫ أبك أذهب وغ بكحة مل يشم‬.2 .1
‫ حقكًا ؟‬.‫ أذهب وغ بكحة مل يشم‬.3
‫ هل تأتي سعي ؟‬.‫ أذهب وسسكر ة وو بكحة في مل يشم‬.4
‫ أبك أذهب إوى ووس بي مل يشم شأبت مذوك؟‬.5
‫ أتذهب وغ بكحة أبت ؟‬.‫ وذهب وغ بكحة يشسلكًا‬.6
‫ فنل تفعل أبت ذوك؟‬.‫ أبك أذهب وغ بكحة مل يشم‬.7
‫ فنل تسكرس وو بكحة أبت؟‬.‫ أسكرس وو بكحة يشسلكًا‬.8
‫ هل تذهب ؟‬.‫أذهب وغ بكحة مل يشم‬

63
 Half of the subjects failed to provide the accurate equivalent of the
elliptical clause “do you” which denotes “do you go for a swim every
day” in this context. They also failed to retrieve the ellipted elements
which represent the propositional part of the clause and they translated
the elliptical clause “do you” inaccurately into Arabic as ‫هل تريد أن تأتي‬

‫سعي‬, ‫ حقكًا‬and ‫ هل تأتي سعي‬. Nevertheless, the other half of the subjects

succeeded in supplying a proper equivalent to the sentence, particularly

the elliptical clause “do you” by rendering it into Arabic as ‫فنل تفعل أبت‬

,‫ أبت مذوك‬, ‫ هل تذهب‬, ‫ أتذهب وغ بكحة أبت‬and ‫ فنل تسكرس وو بكحة‬. Accordingly, a

proper equivalent of the elliptical clause “do you” is that of subject no.5
because he did not tend to use redundant elements which can be easily
recovered from the linguistic context and the translation of this sentence
may be as :
‫ شأبت مذوك ؟‬.‫أبك أذهب إوى ووس بي مل يشم‬

38. Joan will cook the meals today and Barbara may tomorrow. (Quirk et al., 1973:
262)
The subjects translated the elliptical clause “Barbara may tomorrow”
as ‫ ربسك تططخ طربكرال غدوًا‬, ‫ د تططخ طربكرال شجبكت يشم غد‬, ‫ ربسك تططخنك طربكرال غدوًا‬, ‫سن‬

‫ووسحتسل أن تقشم طربكرال طذوك غدوًا‬, ‫ تحضر طربكرال شجبة وومد‬, ‫ ربسك طربكرال غدوًا‬and ‫د تفعل‬

‫ طربكرال ذوك غدوًا‬and the sentence was rendered as:

.‫ تططخ جشون شجبكت ووطعكم وويشمي شوربسك تططخ طربكرال غدوًا‬.1

.‫ شف تططخ جشون ووشجبكت ونذو وويشمي طيبسك د تططخ طربكرال يشم وومد‬.4 .3 .2
.‫ شف لططخ جشن ووشجبكت وويشم شربسك تططخنك طربكرال غدوًا‬.5
.‫ وويشم تعد جشون ووشجبكت وومذوئلة شسن ووسحتسل أن تقشم طربكرال طذوك غدوًا‬.6
.‫ تحضر جشون ووشجبة في هذو وويشم ش تحضر طربكرال شجبة وومد‬.8 .7

64
 .‫ جشون تطنش شجبكت وويشم شبربكرال غدوًا‬.9
.‫ شف تطنش جشون شجبكت وومذوء ونذو وويشم ش د تفعل طربكرال غدوًا‬.10
On the whole, the subjects succeeded in providing the proper
equivalent of the sentence, especially the elliptical clause “Barbara may
tomorrow” which refers to “Barbara may cook the meals tomorrow” in
this context. Indeed, all of the subjects succeeded in recovering the
ellipted lexical verb “cook” and the ellipted nominal group “the meals”
but many of the versions suggested by the subjects involve superfluous
and redundant elements which can be retrieved from the linguistic
context. Consequently, the proper translation of the sentence is that of
subject no.9 who gave ‫ شربسك طربكرال غدوًا‬as equivalent to the elliptical clause

““Barbara may tomorrow” . Thus, the translation of this sentence may be:
.‫جشون تطنش شجبكت وويشم شربسك طربكرال غدوًا‬

39. Your are not trying very hard. I am. (Swan, 1995: 185)

The subjects rendered the elliptical clause “I am” as ‫ أسك أبك فأحكشل‬,

‫شولن أبك أحكشل‬, ‫ إإ وببي أ شم طذوك‬, ‫ مسك فعغت أبك‬, ‫ أسك أبك فأفعل‬, ‫ سثغي أبك‬, ‫أبك أحكشل‬

‫ بمل طك تي‬and ‫ أبك أطذل صكرر جندي‬to supply the equivalent of the sentence

as:
.‫أبت إتحكشل طجدلةي أسك أبك فأحكشل‬.1
.‫وبك إتطذل صكرر جندك شولن أبك حكشوت‬.2
.‫ وبك إتحكشل طجد إإ وببي أ شم طذوك‬.3
.‫ وبت وم تحكشل طجد مسك فعغت أبك‬.4
.‫ أبت إتحكشل طجد أسك أبك فأفعل‬.5
.‫ أبت إتطذل جندوًا سثغي أبك‬.6
.‫ أبك أحكشل بمل طك تي أسك أبت إتفعل‬.7
.‫ أبك أطذل صكرر جندي شأبت إتفعل ذوك‬.9.8
.‫ أبت إتحكشل بصشرال جكدال أسك أبك فأحكشل‬.10

65
 Evidently, all of the subjects failed to recover the ellipted elements
which represent the propositional part of the clause. Consequently, all of
them failed to supply the accurate equivalent of the sentence, particularly
the elliptical clause “I am” which refers to “I am trying very hard” in this
context. In fact, one can supply the accurate equivalent to the elliptical
clause “I am” by considering the linguistic context in which this elliptical
clause occurs. Thus, a proper equivalent of the elliptical clause “I am” in
Arabic may be ‫ أبك أحكشل‬and the sentence may be translated as:

.‫أبت إتحكشل طجدلة طيبسك أبك وحكشل‬

40. Mary was trembling and clutching my hand. (Close, 1975: 105)

The subjects gave ‫ تمطثت طيدي‬, ‫ تس مت طيدي‬, ‫ تحكشل ووتمطث طيدي‬, ‫تتس ك‬

‫طيدي‬, ‫ مكبت تتغسس يدي‬, ‫ شهي تقبض أغى يدي‬, ‫ س مت يدي بقشال‬, ‫ ستعغقة طيدي‬and ‫شهي‬

‫ تحكشل وإس كك طيدي‬as equivalents to the elliptical clause “clutching my

hand” and the sentence was translated as:

.‫مكبت سكري ترتجف شتمطثت طيدي‬.1
.‫مكبت سكري ترتجف شتس مت طيدي‬.2
.‫مكبت سكري ترتجف شتحكشل ووتمطث طيدي‬.3
.‫مكبت سيري ترتعش شتتس ك طيدي‬.4
.‫مكبت سيري ترتعد شمكبت تتغسس يدي‬.5
.‫ مكبت سكري ترتجف شهي تقبض أغى يدي‬.7 .6
.‫ وقد ورتجفت سكري شس مت يدي بقشال‬.8
.‫سيري مكبت ترتجف شستعغقة طيدي‬.9
.‫مكبت سكري ترتعد شهي تحكشل وإس كك طيدي‬.10
Obviously, most of the subjects succeeded in providing the proper
equivalent of the sentence, particularly the elliptical clause “clutching my
hand” which represents the propositional part of the clause and comprises
the non-finite part of the verbal group “clutching” and the nominal group

66
 “my hand” in this context. They also succeeded in retrieving the ellipted
modal part of the clause which consists of the subject “Mary” and the
finite part of the verbal group “ was clutching” which is “was” in this
sentence. Consequently, they accurately rendered the elliptical clause
“clutching my hand” as ‫ تحكشل ووتمطث طيدي‬, ‫ تتس ك طيدي‬, ‫ مكبت تتغسس يدي‬,

‫شهي تقبض أغى يدي‬, ‫ ستعغقة طيدي‬, ‫ شهي تحكشل وإس كك طيدي‬and ‫شهي تحكشل وإس كك‬

‫طيدي‬. In fact, most of the versions suggested by the subjects involve

redundant elements which can be left out to avoid repetition and prolixity.
Nevertheless, three of the subjects failed to provide the proper equivalent
of the elliptical clause because they inaccurately translated “clutching” as
‫تمطثت‬, ‫ تس مت‬and ‫ س مت‬into Arabic since the Arabic auxiliary verb “‫”مكن‬

does not come before lexical verbs indicating past tense, but it is used
before lexical verbs indicating present to refer to the continuous past.
Accordingly, the proper equivalent of the elliptical clause “clutching my
hand” might be that suggested by subject no.4 ‫ تتس ك طيدي‬and the sentence

might be translated as:

.‫مكبت سيري ترتعش شتتس ك طيدي‬
41. I can, and I will go. (Sanders, 1976: 306)

The subjects gave ‫ و تطلع‬, ‫ أ در‬, ‫ بك تطكأتي‬, ‫ لسمببي‬and ‫ أبك و تطلع‬as

equivalents to the elliptical clause “I can” and rendered the sentence as:
.‫ أ تطلع ش أذهب‬.3 .2 .1
.‫أ تطلع ش شف أذهب‬.4
.‫ أ تطلع ووذهكب ش أذهب‬.6 .5
.‫ أ در ش شف أذهب‬.7
.‫بك تطكأتي ش أرحل‬.8
.‫لسمببي ش شف أذهب‬.9

67
 .‫ أبك و تطلع ش أذهب‬.10
Most of the subjects failed to provide the proper equivalent of the
sentence, particularly the elliptical clause “I can” which refers to “I can
go” in this context. Two of the subjects succeeded in retrieving the
ellipted lexical verb “go” which represents in this sentence the
propositional part of the clause “I can go” . Consequently, they gave the
proper equivalent of the sentence, especially the elliptical clause “I can”
by rendering it into Arabic as ‫ و تطلع ووذهكب‬. Thus, a proper translation of

the sentence may be that suggested by subjects nos. 5 & 6.

.‫أ تطلع ووذهكب ش أذهب‬

68
 CHAPTER FIVE
Conclusions, Pedagogical Implications,
Recommendations and Suggestions
5.1 Conclusions:
The preceding chapters have been primarily concerned with
identifying the concept of “ellipsis” and investigating the problems
involved in the translation of elliptical constructions at the sentential
level. In what follows, we shall summarize the main conclusions arrived
at in this study:
1. Ellipsis is one of the cohesive devices which is very useful and
important since it shortens the message and makes the meaning easier
to grasp. It makes the structure of the sentence tighter, by avoiding the
repetition of the shared words and contents which are already obvious
from the preceding context. Ellipsis mainly depends on the notion of
“presupposition” where the interpretation of some elements in the
discourse is dependent on that of another. These elements are called
“co-referential elements” which instead of being interpreted
semantically in their own right, they make reference to something else
for their interpretation. Consequently, the reader must look elsewhere
for their interpretation. In written language, the interpretation of these
elements is mainly dependent on the linguistic context “co-text” in
which they occur and the relation between these elements is called
“endophoric” which in its turn subclassified into “anaphoric” and
“cataphoric”. The former means looking backward in the text for the
interpretation of these elements. Whereas, the latter means looking
forward in the text for their interpretation. In spoken language, the
interpretation of these elements is mainly dependent on situational

69
 context and the hearer must look outside the text for their
interpretation.
2. Elliptical constructions usually cause few problems in translation
when they occur in contextualized sentences because the linguistic
context determines their specific meaning.
This is clearly seen in the translation of sentences (1, 6, 7, 8, 10, 14,
15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 38 & 40)
3. Elliptical constructions may give rise to certain problems in
translation even in the presence of the linguistic context “co-text” i.e.,
if the translator does not take the linguistic context into consideration
as we have seen in the translation of sentences (3, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 13,
17, 23, 25, 36, 37, 39 & 41).
4. In spite of the fact that ellipsis is a universal feature of human
languages, yet languages differ in the means they use to realize this
phenomenon and in the extent to which they exploit it. In other words,
English elliptical constructions are not always translated into elliptical
constructions in Arabic and this explains the reason underlying some
errors made by some of the subjects. This is manifested in the
translation of the examples (3, 4, 11, 13, 29, 36, 39 & 41).
5. Elliptical constructions that have similar equivalents in Arabic
prove to be easier to translate than those which do not as is clear from
the translation of the sentences (1, 2, 6, 8, 11,13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19,
20, 21, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 37, 38 & 40).
6. The majority of the subjects are inclined to repeat what has been
left in their attempt to translate the elliptical constructions into Arabic.
This may be attributed to two reasons: firstly, these elliptical elements
or constructions do not have elliptical equivalents in Arabic as in the
case of nominal ellipsis, when the nominal possessives take on the
function of the noun head of the elliptical nominal group and in the

70
 case of verbal ellipsis when the lexical verb is omitted and its
function is taken on by the modal auxiliaries “will” and “shall”.
Secondly, the subjects may think that by repeating what has been left
out or unsaid, but understood, their translation will be more effective
and informative. In fact, the subject usually inserts redundant lexical
or syntactical categories as definitions for SL constructions which he
thinks are vague for the TL reader, and this often happens when an SL
lexical item is borrowed into the TL and transferred as a loan-word.
7. In the light of these general results, it has been concluded that the
majority of the subjects faced little difficulty in translating elliptical
constructions; that is most of them were able to infer what has been
ellipted on the basis of what was present in the preceding context. It
may be concluded that verbal ellipsis is the easiest type of ellipsis to
retrieve; clausal ellipsis comes next, and then nominal ellipsis.
5.2 Pedagogical Implications and Recommendations:
This study has investigated “ellipsis” which is one of the most
complicated phenomena in the act of communication, since it has two
functions: informative and stylistic. The former refers to the effective role
in the act of communication where it is very important to avoid repetition
and superfluous elements, whereas the latter is concerned with the
cohesive style. Thus, due to the importance of ellipsis to language
production efficiency, one must employ this phenomenon in his every
day life formal or written situations to show clear mastery of the language
whether it is native or non-native. It is hoped that the findings of this
thesis may provide those who are concerned with the teaching of English
with some insight into the areas which require greater emphasis from
earliest stages of the teaching and learning process.
These findings may also provide the teacher with information
necessary for the preparation of remedial teaching programmes to help

71
 their students to avoid errors and overcome the difficulties facing them in
their attempt to translate elliptical constructions and communicating in
English. In fact, the students must have more experience in recovering
elliptical elements by teaching them ellipsis over the different courses
they take during their four academic years in the Translation Department.
Finally, the findings of this thesis may also be of value to those who
are concerned with syllabus design and textbook writing.

5.3 Suggestions for Future Research:

The areas in which future research is suggested are as follows:
1. A comprehensive contrastive study of ellipsis in English and
standard Arabic is recommended to find out to what extent the various
types of ellipsis in both languages differ or coincide.
2. Further research is recommended to investigate the problems
caused by ellipsis in spoken language with reference to simultaneous
translation.
3. Since the study presents a description and analysis of ellipsis on a
purely syntactic basis, a semantic study seems to be an interesting
project.

72
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Linguistic Theory, Vo. 3. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, pp. 403-419.
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76
 ‫الخالصة‬

‫ذذ‬ ‫ذ ذ نر ذ ذ‬ ‫ذذل‬ ‫ذذ‬ ‫الح ذذهو عذ ذ ن ا ذذا ر ذذه ال لا ذذا ال لرذ ذ اللذ ذ لل ذذلعق‬
‫ال ذ‬ ‫ذ‬ ‫لذذل ذق الحذذهو للا ذذل اقي ذذلل للحما ذ ال ذ ل رلرللذذا ذ‬ ‫اللرللذذا ال ا ذ‬
‫ره أ ل ال الق الملئر باه ال لاا الر ل ف ل ص‪.‬‬ ‫الر ل ‪ .‬ع‬ ‫الرح‬
‫ذ ذذلعا الح ذ ذذهو‬ ‫الائ لذ ذ ذ اللذ ذ ذ لل ذ ذ ذ‬ ‫ذ ذذش الر ذ ذذل‬ ‫ل ذ ذذذو الذ االذ ذ ذ ولذ ذ ذ لحذا ذ ذذذ‬
‫يذلا الار ذ ‪ .‬رذل‬ ‫)‪ (ellipsis‬لاار األاذ اا الرحه ذ )‪ (elliptical constructions‬ن ذ‬
‫عها‬ ‫ض األ يل‬ ‫الرلااراه م ه‬ ‫اقل لل الل لا‬ ‫ل ذو الذاال ول ال حث‬
‫الرال ‪.‬‬
‫لفلذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذذاض الذ اال ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ اه لاار ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ الل اا اذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذذل الرحه ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ل لرذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذذذ ن ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ الل ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ لا‬
‫ذذ‬ ‫)‪ .(context-dependent‬رذ ذذل لفلذ ذذاض أه الل اا اذ ذذل الرحه ذ ذ ر ذ ذذه أه ل ذ ذ ر ذ ذذل‬
‫اللاار ذ لا ذ ن ل ذذليماه صاذذا األا ذ ااه ل ذ اق اام ذ الذذهاه ق رل ذ ه الل ذ يا الللر ذ ن ذ‬
‫ال الل ال ر ل‪ .‬لقضل ول هلا لفلاض الذاال اه ل س ع للا ثر ل ا للق باه لعا‬
‫ا ه ر ه الل ا ول لاارذ ر للذ ل ل اا اذل الرحه ذ وها‬ ‫ال اب‬ ‫اق اام ال‬ ‫الحهو‬
‫لذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ لا اقذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ الح ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذذل‬ ‫ر ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذذل أ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذذه الرل ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذذااق ب ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذذا اقنل ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذذلا اللذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ لا ال ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ ذ‬
‫)‪.(Linguistic- Situational Context‬‬
‫اللذ ذ‬ ‫لاا ذذلا يب ذ ذ الر ذ ذ‬ ‫رلذ ذ اذ ذ ‪ .‬ذذاض الفاذ ذ األ‬ ‫لمذ ذ الذ االذ ذ ذ ذ‬
‫لل ل ل ذذل الذ اال ذ الفاض ذ لد ال ذذذو رذذه عذذهال الذ اال ذ لقضذذل ول ذ حذذذ ذعل ر ا ذذل رلذل ذذل‬
‫اق اام ‪.‬‬ ‫ال‬ ‫أعرال ل‪ .‬رل مذق ناضلن لرل لل نه لعا الحهو‬
‫مذ ذذذق ذ ذذض الل ذ ذذلامش الر ذ ذ اا ل ل ليذ ذذل )‪(Communication‬‬ ‫أرذ ذذل الفا ذ ذ الثذ ذذل‬
‫اق اام ‪.‬‬ ‫ال‬ ‫نالقل ل للحهو‪ .‬رل لل اض عها الفا األ اع الر ل ف ل حهو‬
‫ال ذ ال اب ذ أ ذ اع الحذهو‬ ‫أرل الفا الثللث لل اض رل لل نه لعا الحهو‬
‫عهال ال ‪.‬‬
‫الائ ل ذ الل ذ ل ذذا ن ذذذ لاار ذ الل اا اذذل الرحه ذ‬ ‫ذ الر ذذل‬ ‫م حذذث الفا ذ ال اا ذ‬
‫ال اب ‪.‬‬ ‫للاارل ل ول ال‬ ‫للئ نر‬ ‫رلل ى الار ل اض الل ا ول‬ ‫ن‬
‫م ذ ق الفا ذ ال ذذلرس ذذاض ال لذذلئل الل ذ ل ا ذ د ولا ذذل الذ اال ذ أثذذا ل ذذا ال لذذلئل ن ذ‬
‫ذذاض‬ ‫ذذض الل ا ذ لد للال ذ ال ذ ‪ .‬ل ل ذ الذ اال ذ‬ ‫لذذذامس الحذذهو ل ي ذ لقضذذل ول ذ‬
‫ر ض ن ل‪.‬‬ ‫هاد ا‬ ‫ح ث رللمب‬ ‫ض الرملاحلد ح‬

‫‪77‬‬
‫مشاكل ترجمة التراكيب اإلنكليزية‬
‫المحذوفة إلى اللغة العربية‬

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‫في الترجوت‬

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