(c) The "ism" in the Arabic Grammatical Tradition: Reflections on Its Origin and Meanings
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5617/jais.6124Abstract
This article aims to present an overall reconstruction of the debate on the definition and etymology of Arabic ism (‘noun’, ‘substantive’), by discussing and comparing texts from the Arabic linguistic tradition. The first part deals with the definition of the grammatical element and its functions, while the second is fully dedicated to the examination of the etymological issues, focusing on the two assumed roots of derivation for ism (namely s-m-w and w-s-m). The arguments are presented through the collation of the opinions of the relevant Arabic grammarians, examining both the wider debate between the early grammatical schools of Baṣra and Kūfa (2nd/8th–3rd/9th centuries), and the reports of the arguments as described by later scholars.
Key words: Arabic linguistic tradition, Arabic grammar, Arab grammarians, Root, Philosophy of language
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