The Arabic Language

by Versteegh, Kees

• ISBN13: 9780748614363
• ISBN10: 0748614362
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: Columbia Univ Pr

Summary

This general introduction to the Arabic Language, now available in paperback, places special emphasis on the history and variation of the language. Concentrating on the difference between the two types of Arabic - the Classical standard language and the dialects - Kees Versteegh charts the history and development of the Arabic language from the earliest beginnings to modern times. The reader is offered a solid grounding in the structure of the language, its historical context and its use in various literary and non-literary genres, as well as an understanding of the role of Arabic as a cultural, religious and political world language. Intended as an introductory guide for students of Arabic, it will also be a useful tool for discussions both from a historical linguistic and from a socio-linguistic perspective. Coverage includes all aspects of the history of Arabic, the Arabic linguistic tradition, Arabic dialects and Arabic as a world language. Links are made between linguistic history and cultural history, while the author emphasises the role of contacts between Arabic and other languages. This important book will be an ideal text for all those wishing to acquire an understanding or develop their knowledge of the Arabic language.

Table of Contents

Preface
List of Figures and Maps
The Development of the Study of Arabic	p. 1
Arabic as a Semitic Language	p. 9
The Earliest Stages of Arabic	p. 23
Arabic in the Pre-Islamic Period	p. 37
The Development of Classical Arabic	p. 53
The Structure of Classical Arabic in the Linguistic Tradition	p. 74
The Emergence of New Arabic	p. 93
Middle Arabic	p. 114
The Study of the Arabic Dialects	p. 130
The Dialects of Arabic	p. 148
The Emergence of Modern Standard Arabic	p. 173
Diglossia and Bilingualism	p. 189
Arabic as a Minority Language	p. 209
Arabic as a World Language	p. 226
Bibliography	p. 241
List of Abbreviations	p. 263
Index	p. 266
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.