معاجمِ عربیہ : مفاہیم ، اصول اور اقسام۔۔۔ تاریخی مطالعہ

Abstract

Soon after the promulgation of Islam and the mass conversion of non-Arabs to the new religion, the need was felt for a systematic study of the Arabic language to maintain a correct reading and interpretation of the Qur’an by both Arab and non-Arab Muslims, and to make it easy for non-Arab Muslims to learn Arabic. That need was immediately satisfied by the appearance of scholars devoted to the systematic observation, collection and registration of the linguistic phenomena in Arabic on their various levels. The history of lexicography is one of trial and error, but lexicon is as old as writing itself. The Sumerians’ signs on clay tablets constitute, perhaps, the world’s first classified vocabularies. The Assyrians’ coming to Babylon stimulated lexicography there. Ta’lif al-Mu‘ajim al-‘Arabiyyah, the equivalent of which in English is Arabic lexicography takes its root from a’jama which means to make clear. It is defined as the art or practice of writing or compilation of Arabic lexicons or dictionaries. This paper presents a historical study of Terminology of Arabic lexicography and its various types as well as discussion regarding the principles of Lexicography. This reading would help the scholars of Linguistics and Literature to be acquainted with the fundamentals of Arabic lexicography and its historical evaluation.