The papers collected in this volume cover topics from the theoretical perspectives on Semitic linguistics to the practical application of philological methods to various texts. Michael G. Carter opens with some deliberations on Arabic linguistics in its Islamic context. Jan Retso reinvestigates the question of the origins of Arabic dialects. Werner Arnold offers some glimpses of the Arabic dialects in the Tel Aviv region. Janet Watson, Bonnie Glover Stalls, Khalid al-Razihi and Shelagh Weir describe aspects of Razihit, a language variety spoken in north-west Yemen. Sven-Olof Dahlgren presents some statistics on sentential negation in Quranic Arabic. Rosmari Lillas-Schuil deals in-depth with the stylistic . gure hendiadys in Biblical Hebrew. Geoffrey Khan sheds new light on compound verbal forms in north-eastern Neo-Aramaic. Kjell Magne Yri examines the grammaticalization of nouns as postpositions in Amharic. Lutz Edzard analyzes various types of compound formations in Modern Semitic. Pernilla Myrne offers some thoughts on the gender-specific use of sexual vocabulary by women in Classical Arabic. Judith Josephson investigates the Hellenistic heritage of the zan diqa 'heretics'. Gunvor Mejdell gives an overview of the use of the vernacular in modern Egyptian literature. Finally, Tetz Rooke looks at cross-cultural issues in connection with translation problems from Arabic into European languages.

First published in 1981 and this edition in 1984, Arabic Culture: Through its Language and Literature aims to present a bird’s eye view of its subject. It is intended for non-specialist student of Arabic, especially those who have not yet mastered the language and are therefore not able to read about Arabic literature in its original sources. It covers the linguistic origins of Arabic dialects and history and includes chapters on Arab linguistic scholarship and the development of the Arabic script. It also deals with all aspects of Arabic literature, from pre-Islamic poetry to major Arab literary figures, from the Arabian Nights to modern Arab Poetesses, from proverbs to literary criticism.

Today, the notion of 'diglossia' occupies a prominent place in sociolinguistic research. Since the 1960s, when the dominant sense of 'diglossia' was the complementary sociofunctional distribution of two varieties of the same language, the term has been applied -- often controversially -- to a growing number of diverse sociolinguistic situations. As a consequence of this extension of the scope of the concept, in combination with an increasing interest in the relationship between the role of language and the social structure, the number of publications in this field has risen exponentially over the last decades. However, despite the growing importance of the notion, up till now there was no adequate bibliography devoted to diglossia, while coverage in other bibliographies does not do justice to the number of works actually published in this area. This first comprehensive bibliography of the subject includes almost 3,000 entries; although the time span covered is 1960-1990, the book includes several dozens of entries from before 1960 and also a substantial number of very recent publications from the period 1990-1992. The selection of items has not been restricted to a specific definition of diglossia: all available publications in which the term (or one of its offsprings) appears have been included; moreover, when considered appropriate, some material relevant to the subject has been added even though the term is not explicitly used. The usefulness of the bibliography has been enhanced significantly by six indexes: (1) index of languages, (2) diglossia in literature, (3) historically oriented works, (4) pedagogically oriented works, (5) theoretical works, and (6) theses and dissertations.

The Translation Movement of the Abbasid Period, which lasted for almost three hundred years, was a unique event in world history. During this period, much of the intellectual tradition of the Greeks, Persians, and Indians was translated into Arabic—a language with no prior history of translation or of science, medicine, or philosophy. This book investigates the cultural and political conflicts that translation brought into the new Abbasid state from a sociological perspective, treating translation as a process and a product. The opening chapters outline the factors involved in the initiation and cessation of translational activity in the Abbasid period before dealing in individual chapters with important events in the Translation Movement, such as the translation of Aristotle’s Poetics into Arabic, Abdullah ibn al-Muqaffa’s seminal translation of the Indian/Persian Kalilah wa Dimna into Arabic and the translation of scientific texts. Other chapters address the question of whether the Abbasids had a theory of translation and why, despite three hundred years of translation, not a single poem was translated into Arabic. The final chapter deals with the influence of translation during this period on the Arabic language. Offering new readings of many issues that are associated with that period, informed by modern theories of translation, this is key reading for scholars and researchers in Translation Studies, Oriental and Arab Studies, Book History and Cultural History.

Arabic-English-Arabic-English Translation: Issues and Strategies is an accessible coursebook for students and practitioners of Arabic-English-Arabic translation. Focusing on the key issues and topics affecting the field, it offers informed guidance on the most effective methods to deal with such problems, enabling users to develop deeper insights and enhance their translation skills. Key features include: A focus on Arabic-English translation in both directions, preparing students for the real-life experiences of practitioners in the field In-depth discussion of the core issues of phraseology, language variation and translation, legal translation and translation technology in Arabic and English translation Authentic sample texts in each chapter, taken from a variety of sources from across the Arabic-speaking world to provide snapshots of real-life language use Source texts followed by examples of possible translation strategies, with extensive commentaries, to showcase the best translation practices and methodologies A range of supporting exercises to enable students to practise their newly acquired knowledge and skills Inclusion of a wide range of themes covering both linguistic and genre issues, offering multidimensional perspectives and depth and breadth in learning List of recommended readings and resources for each of the topics under discussion Comprehensive glossary and bibliography at the back of the book. Lucid and practical in its approach, Arabic-English-Arabic-English Translation: Issues and Strategies will be an indispensable resource for intermediate to advanced students of Arabic. It will also be of great interest to professional translators working in Arabic-English-Arabic translation.

In the Arab world, people belong to kinship groups (lineages and tribes). Many lineages are named after animals, birds, and plants. Why? This survey evaluates five old explanations – “totemism,” “emulation of predatory animals,” “ancestor eponymy,” “nicknaming,” and “Bedouin proximity to nature.” It suggests a new hypothesis: Bedouin tribes use animal names to obscure their internal cleavages. Such tribes wax and wane as they attract and lose allies and clients; they include “attached” elements as well as actual kin. To prevent outsiders from spotting “attached” groups, Bedouin tribes scatter non-human names across their segments, making it difficult to link any segment with a human ancestor. Young’s argument contributes to theories of tribal organization, Arab identity, onomastics, and Near Eastern kinship.

This book is an edited collection that examines how urbanization is causing language change in major Arab cities.