The Arabic Language

Further reading
For the theories of the Arabic grammarians, Carter (1981) is recommended as 
a first introduction. This book is a commentary on a late grammatical treatise 
by Ibn ʾĀjurrūm (d. 723/1323), the 
ʾĀjurrūmiyya
, and its notes touch on virtu
-
ally every aspect of Arabic grammar. Its counterpart for morphology is Åkesson’s 
(2001) translation and commentary of another late treatise, the 
Marāḥ al-ʾarwāḥ
by ʾAḥmad ibn Masʿūd (end of the seventh/thirteenth century). A general survey 
in Arabic of the history of the Arabic grammatical tradition is Ḍayf (1968); 
handbook treatment is in Sezgin (1984); for shorter accounts see Carter (2007) 
and Owens (2007). A synthetic view of the theories of the grammarians is given by 
Bohas, Guillaume and Kouloughli (1990) and Versteegh (1997a). A lucid analysis 
of the phonological and (morpho)phonological principles of the Arabic grammar
-
ians is Bohas and Guillaume (1984), one of the best studies of the Arabic theory 
of grammar. For the grammarians’ methodological presuppositions, see the 
commentary on az-Zajjājī’s 
ʾĪḍāḥ
(Versteegh 1995), and Suleiman’s (1999) study 
of argumentation in grammar. The thorny question of the comparison between 
Arabic grammar and modern Western linguistics is dealt with admirably by Owens 
(1988). On the notion of ‘underlying level’ in Arabic grammar, see Versteegh 
(1994). The place of semantics in the Arabic linguistic tradition is discussed in 
Gully (1995) and Versteegh (1997b). On the role of pragmatics in the linguistic 
tradition see the articles collected in Larcher (2014).
On Sībawayhi’s theory of grammar, there is a large literature. A general intro-
duction to his work is found in Carter (2004). The text of the 
Kitāb
was published 
by Derenbourg (2 vols, Paris, 1881–9, repr. Hildesheim, 1970), which formed the 
basis for both the Bulaq edition (2 vols, A.H. 1316, repr. Baghdad, n.d.) and the 
edition by ʿAbd as-Salām Muḥammad Hārūn (5 vols, Cairo, 1966–77). There is an 
older German translation by Jahn (2 vols, Berlin, 1895–1900, repr. Hildesheim, 
1961). Sībawayhi’s grammatical system is analysed by Mosel (1975); Marogy 
compares his syntactic theory with modern linguistic theory (2010). An index 
of his grammatical terminology was compiled by Troupeau (1976); a number of 
terminological issues in the 
Kitāb 
is discussed in the collection of articles by Levin 
(1998). For the status of the 
Kitāb
as one of the first published books in Arabic, 
see Schoeler (1989a). The early textual history of the 
Kitāb
and its reception are 
dealt with by Humbert (1995) and Bernards (1997); its place within the context of 
Arabic grammatical theory is analysed by Baalbaki (2008).
Special mention should be made of a few studies on methodological issues: 
Bohas (1981, 1985) deals with the phonological argumentation of the Arabic 
grammarians; Ayoub and Bohas (1983) treat the Arabic grammarians’ analysis of 

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The Arabic Linguistic Tradition 
125
sentence structure; the problem of the declension of the plural and dual endings 
is discussed by Versteegh (1985). Ermers (1995) analyses the application of the 
Arabic linguistic model to the grammar of Turkic languages, which have an 
entirely different structure from Arabic. On the syntax of the sentence see Peled 
(2009).
On the phonetic/phonological theories of Sībawayhi, see Al-Nassir (1993); on 
Arabic phonetics in general, see Bravmann (1934); on the interpretation of the 
notions 
majhūra
/
mahmūsa
, see Fleisch (1958) and Blanc (1967). Ibn Jinnī’s theories 
are dealt with by Bakalla (1982). There is an extensive literature on the nature of 
Arabic 
ḍād
: see, for example, Cantineau (1960: 54–6), Steiner (1977) and Versteegh 
(1999). On the pronunciation of the 
qāf
and the split between /q/ and /g/, see 
Blanc (1969).
About the development of lexicography in Islam, see Haywood (1965) and Wild 
(1965; about al-Ḥalīl ibn ʾAḥmad); handbook treatment is in Sezgin (1982); a short 
survey in Seidensticker (2008); for the most recent treatment of the history of 
lexicography see Baalbaki (2014).

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