Variation in Negation Patterns of Verbless Clauses in Ammani Arabic

This study aims to examine the extent which alternation between common negation patterns of verbless clauses in Ammani Arabic, namely [mu] and [miʃ], is socially constrained. Gender, age, level education region (West Amman vs. East Amman) were investigated this regard. Twenty-five hours audio-recorded sociolinguistic interviews with 32 speakers who born raised conducted. After using computer software GOLDVARB X (Sankoff et al. 2005), we propose that [miʃ] conditioned. The most significant social factor gender. variant found be a solid sign femininity. second whose effect correlated assumption young speakers, unlike old prefer less-complex forms. Education also found, yet lesser extent, significant. West contrast people [mu]. Although finding arguably unpredicted as viewed more prestigious (therefore it would preferred by wealthier dwellers), nonetheless consistent demographic situation Amman. mostly inhabited Jordanians descended from Palestinian regions pattern sentences manifests rather than [miʃ]. Keywords: Language Variation Change, Verbless-Sentences Negation, Age, Education, Region, Arabic.