The Arabic language / Kees Versteegh.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Versteegh, C. H. M., author.

Language:

Arabic

English

Subjects (All):

Arabic language.

Arabic language--Usage.

Arabic language--History.

History.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

xix, 410 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

Edinburgh : Edinburgh University Press, 2014.

Summary:

A new edition of an acclaimed introduction to the Arabic language, This introductory guide charts the history and development of the Arabic language from the earliest beginnings to modern times. Concentrating on the difference between the two types of Arabic - the classical standard language and the dialects - the author clearly explains the structured the language, its historical context and its use in various literary and non-literary genres. Readers will gain an understanding of the role of Arabic as a cultural, religious and political world language and develop tools to discuss the language from a historical linguistic and a sociolinguistic perspective. Key Features: Covers all aspects of the history of Arabic, the Arabic linguistic tradition, Arabic dialects, sociolinguistics and Arabic as a world language, Makes links between linguistic history and cultural history, Emphasises the role of contacts between Arabic and other languages, New to this edition, Additional chapters on the structure of Arabic; bilingualism; and Arabic pidgins and creoles, A full explanation of the use of conventional Arabic transcription and IPA characters, An updated bibliography, All chapters have been revised and updated in light of recent research Book jacket.

Contents:

1 The Study of Arabic in the West 1

2 Arabic as a Semitic Language 10

3 The Earliest Stages of Arabic 26

4 Arabic in the Pre-Islamic Period 42

5 The Development of Classical Arabic 60

6 The Structure of Arabic 85

7 The Arabic Linguistic Tradition 107

8 The Emergence of New Arabic 126

9 Middle Arabic 152

10 The Study of the Arabic Dialects 172

11 The Dialects of Arabic 192

12 The Emergence of Modern Standard Arabic 221

13 Diglossia 241

14 Bilingualism 259

15 Arabic as a Minority Language 276

16 Arabic Pidgins and Creoles 299

17 Arabic as a World Language 313.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9780748645275

0748645276

0748645284

9780748645282

OCLC:

872980196