A puzzle related to superlative modification in definite relative clauses in Jordanian Arabic

This paper addresses a puzzle involving two modes of superlative modification in definite relatives in Jordanian Arabic: the so-called (A)ttributive and (G)enitive superlatives. We show that under the low interpretation of the definite relative clause, both modes of superlative modification exhibit an asymmetrical behavior: while the A-superlative is ambiguous between the absolute and relative readings, the relative reading is blocked in G-superlatives. To resolve the puzzle, we propose a compositional analysis based on the late merger of the definite relative which generates the absolute/relative ambiguity in A-superlatives and at the same time it blocks the relative reading in G-superlatives.