The negative particles lā and wala in Bedouin dialects of Palestine and Jordan

This paper attempts to shed light on the use of the negative particle lā in Bedouin dialects spoken in Palestine and Jordan (of the Arabian Peninsula type), drawing on results of previous studies and recent fieldwork. Although generally marginalised in all contemporary Arabic varieties, lā still maintains various usages, especially in Bedouin dialects of the Najdi group. Fieldwork data from Bedouin dialects of Palestine (West Bank) and Jordan, reveal that lā , apart from its common usage in the negative imperative and in negative coordination structures, is also attested in other contexts, while different types of wala appear with several functions. This paper suggests that the traditional negative lā and some of its variants are mainly encountered in Arabic varieties that exhibit more conservative features, such as some Bedouin varieties.