Simple Present Tense in Al A?sha?s Mu?allaqah: A Syntactic and Semantic Study

Simple Present Tense in Al A?sha?s Mu?allaqah: A Syntactic and Semantic Study Abstract This study aim at investigating the temporal possibilities of the simple present tense in Arabic within certain poetic structures of Al A?sha?s well-known poem which was classified as one of the best classic of Arabic Mu?allaqat. The researcher found out that simple present in Arabic gains many possible meanings and uses according to its different linguistic contexts in poetry. For instance, using the simple present helps the poet express certain poetic topics like: boasting (personal and communal), flirting and love adventures, in addition to describing certain social behaviors like drinking wine, and threatening the enemy. Moreover, analyzing the poet?s use of the simple present helped the researcher form a clearer image of the poet?s psychological buildup and presents a critical psychological analysis of the previous mentioned poetic topics. Thus, the researcher concluded that the simple present in Arabic poetry gains different meanings and usages other than its original syntactical and semantic meanings. For example, Al A?sha uses the simple present to depict past events just as a means to escape his harsh present time conditions. Another semantic and syntactic possibility of the simple present is that Al Asha uses it in communal and personal boasting to perpetuate and immortalize his tribe?s glory and noble characteristics. This way he shows that these qualities are everlasting and renewable and not just part of their past history, a mission that the past tense incapable of achieving. Key Words: Simple present, Time, Meaning, structural contexts.