Position changes the intended scope of the same words.
Arabic expressionIntended meaningClassical term
كُلُّ ذَلِكَ لَمْ يَكُنْNone occurred‘Umum al-salb
لَمْ يَكُنْ كُلُّ ذَلِكَNot all occurredSalb al-‘umum
The first proposition entails the second, but the second does not necessarily entail the first. Denial of every member is stronger than denial of the entire conjunction. This is a case in which word order can determine a logical distinction rather than merely add elegance.
Opening interactive controls...
Al-Taqdim wa al-Ta’khir: Word Order and Rhetorical Purposes
Position changes the intended scope of the same words.
Arabic expressionIntended meaningClassical term
كُلُّ ذَلِكَ لَمْ يَكُنْNone occurred‘Umum al-salb
لَمْ يَكُنْ كُلُّ ذَلِكَNot all occurredSalb al-‘umum
The first proposition entails the second, but the second does not necessarily entail the first. Denial of every member is stronger than denial of the entire conjunction. This is a case in which word order can determine a logical distinction rather than merely add elegance.