The Historical Development of Arabic Linguistic Thought: From Sibawayh to Contemporary Linguistics / التطور التاريخي للفكر اللغوي العربي: من سيبويه إلى اللسانيات المعاصرة
Keywords:
Arabic linguistic though, Sibawayh, Arabic grammar, Arabic linguistic tradition, historical linguisticsAbstract
This study examines the historical development of Arabic linguistic thought from the foundational work of Sibawayh to contemporary linguistics. The study aims to trace the major intellectual transformations in Arabic linguistic scholarship, identify the central concepts and methodological developments that shaped its evolution, and examine the relationship between the classical Arabic linguistic tradition and modern linguistic approaches. A historical-analytical and documentary research design was employed, drawing on primary and secondary sources related to Arabic grammar, phonology, morphology, lexicography, semantics, and modern linguistics. The collected data were analyzed thematically and comparatively to identify patterns of continuity, transformation, and reinterpretation across different historical periods. The findings indicate that Arabic linguistic thought developed through three interconnected stages: foundation, expansion, and reinterpretation. The foundational stage was characterized by the establishment of grammatical principles, particularly through Sibawayh’s systematic analysis of Arabic structure. The expansion stage involved the development of phonological, morphological, lexical, and semantic studies by subsequent scholars, including Ibn Jinnī. The reinterpretation stage emerged through interaction with modern and contemporary linguistic theories, including structural, generative, and functional approaches. The study concludes that the Arabic linguistic tradition represents a dynamic intellectual heritage that should not be viewed as a closed historical system, but as a valuable foundation for dialogue with contemporary linguistic scholarship.
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