Arabic-L:LING:New Dissertation on the Arabic Linguistic Tradition

[Dilworth Parkinson]

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Arabic-L: Sat 04 Jul 2009
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1) Subject:New Dissertation on the Arabic Linguistic Tradition

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1)
Date: 04 Jul 2009
From:myavrum at ysu.am
Subject:New Dissertation on the Arabic Linguistic Tradition

Dear All,
A new dissertation (in German) on the development of morphological and
semantic Analyses in the Arabic Linguistic Tradition (from Sibawaih to
al-Astarabadhi) came out few weeks ago (the author is Marat Yavrumyan).

A free access under this link:
http://opus.ub.uni-bayreuth.de/volltexte/2009/568/

Following is the Abstract of the Dissertation:
---

Arabic-Muslim culture is distinguished by the interest of scientific
thinking towards the realities of Arabic. In the complex of sciences,
which was called al-‛uluwm al-arabiyya (Arabic sciences) and was
presented as a unity of disciplines (Koranic studies, Islamic law,
lexicography, metrics etc.) based on Arabic and a conceptual system
developed in Arabic, a linguistic constituent was discernible from the
very beginning. In the course of time and within a specific
historic-cultural context it stood apart and today is known as the  
Arabic
linguistic tradition.
Today the historical discussion of Arabic linguistic tradition is in no
need of independent justification; the presentation of theoretical
positions of the Arabic medieval grammarians is still relevant. This
brings up the issue whether or to what extent it is preferable to
critically interpret them in the light of new systems and methods of
linguistic description. Such an approach allows the concepts of the  
ALT to
be understood with greater clarity.
The adequate perception and interpretation of research on the Arabic
linguistic tradition as well its modern linguistic methodological base
remains one of the current issues in the study of Arabic linguistics.
Successful research in recent years in this sphere gives the possibility
of a principally new approach for both the individual problems of the
tradition as well as its general logic.
“The Arabs […] said what they wanted to say, but it might not be what we
wanted to hear; nor did they always say it in the way we are accustomed
to. Our task is not to think everything out for them but to find out  
what
they thought and how.”: Within the context of such an approach to the
problem this study aims to adequately present and interpret the methods
and fundamental conceptions of morphological and semantic analysis in  
the
Arabic linguistic tradition and is based on the studies of Arab
grammarians such as Sibawaih (d. 180/793), az-Zamakhshari (d. 538/1144),
Ibn Yaish (d. 643/1245) and al-Astarabadhi (d. 688/1286).
To begin the study a brief presentation of general structure of the
linguistic tradition is offered. Then basic concepts and methodological
solutions are presented (aSl, far‛, samaa‛, qiyaas etc.) and
the research framework is developed (morphological and semantic
description of verbal base, word derivation).
Thereafter the morphological analysis of the linguistic tradition is
presented in terms of word-form (kalim) modelling (tamthiyl) and word  
base
(binaa’) and grouping of the description classes (as classification).  
The
modelling constituents are discussed in detail (wazn, aSl, binaa’, faa’
al-fi‛l, ‛ain al-fi‛l, laam al-fi‛l etc.).
This is followed by a consideration of the morphological units used  
(Harf
aSliy, Harf zaa’id, taD‛iyf, muftariq, mujtami‛, az-zawaa’id
al-arba‛ etc.) and the functional-structural types of word base
description (al-gharaD min az-ziyaada, ziyaada li-ma‛naa, ilhaaq).
The methodological solutions necessary for a classification of stems are
considered in terms of the inner logic of the system. These are  
presented
as a dynamic-causal classification with an open-ended data source during
the early period of the tradition, and as a derivative classification  
with
closed sets of data at the later period, after the early 4th/10th  
century.
The semantic analysis of the tradition is presented as an enumeration of
semantic components, which are presented as a metalanguage of semantic
description. Then the study forms the word stock of this metalanguage,
followed by the discussion of the question whether these components are
composite or minimal (yuwDaH bi-hi al-ashyaa’). A separate theme for
discussion is semantic markers (mughaalaba, takhfiyf, takthiyr, ilaaj
etc.) and the conceptions of semantic multiplicators (ziyaada/nuqSaan
etc.).
The lexical-semantic groups of verbs (‛amal, al-khiSaal,
al-‛ilal wa-l-aHzaan, za‛za‛at wa-taHarruk, aS-Sawt)  
and
the so-called word-formation meanings of the tradition (Sayyara,  
adkhala,
ja‛l, tasmiya, ta‛riyD, Saara SaaHib, wajada (li-), salb  
etc.)
are distinguished.
A list of terminology, with brief explanations, used in the ALT is also
briefly presented in a Glossary.


-- 
Dr. Marat Yavrumyan
"Semitic and Arabic Linguistics" MA-Program
Department of Arabic Studies
Yerevan State University
1 Alex Manoogian Street
0025, Yerevan

Tel./Fax: +374 (0) 10 573330
e-mail: myavrum at ysu.am

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