Uh, You, Hey, I’m Talking Here!

Posted on December 15, 2022 by JMN
Scribal gestures.’ayyuhā-n-nāsu — O people! yā ’ayyuhā-l-maliku — O king! ’ayyuhā-l-mar’aẗu — O woman! ’ayyatuhā-l-mar’aẗu — O woman! (again); yā ’ayyuhā-n-nafsu — O spirit! yā ’ayyuhā-l-^iru — O caravan! ’ayyuhā-l-laḏīna ‘āmanū — O you who believe! (Examples from Wrights’ Grammar)

ḥarfu-n-nidā’ — “the particle of calling out,” (exclaiming, direct address). It establishes a “vocative dependency” with the noun that follows. That noun, according to certain rules, will have either a nominative or an accusative case ending.

I like to think of the vocative particle as a clamoring word: Listen up!

(c) 2022 JMN — EthicalDative. All rights reserved

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About JMN

I live in Texas and devote much of my time to easel painting on an amateur basis. I stream a lot of music, mostly jazz, throughout the day. I like to read and memorize poetry.
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