SOAS Research Online

A Free Database of the Latest Research by SOAS Academics and PhD Students

[skip to content]

Shah, Mustafa (2003) 'Exploring the Genesis of Early Arabic Linguistic Thought: Qur'anic Readers and Grammarians of the Baṣran Tradition (Part II).' Journal of Qur'anic Studies, 5 (2). pp. 1-47.

[img]
Preview
Text - Draft Version
Download (7MB) | Preview
Alternative Location: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25728108

Abstract

While Part I of this article examined the role played by Kufan readers and grammarians in the genesis of Arabic linguistic thought, furnishing a synopsis of issues such as origins, features, and influential individuals, Part II focuses upon a similar treatment of the contribution made by Basran readers and grammarians to the development of this tradition. The article will outline Basran readers’ attempts to devise and implement improvements to orthography, vowel markings and diacritics. It will also gauge the extent to which endeavours therein were gradually augmented by a profoundly theoretical approach to linguistic aspects of the collation, authentication, and articulation of Quranic readings. A survey of this formative period will propose that while the service of scripture is the distinguished objective of early Baßran linguistic activity, the accentuation of abstract considerations in approaches to scripture presages not only a shift in this tradition’s focus, application, and design, but it also marks the emergence of the first pioneering grammarians who place Arabic linguistic thought on an altogether insular plane, composing literature which reflected the new perspective, while preparing the ground for the contributions of Sibawayhi and his many peers.

Item Type: Journal Article
SOAS Departments & Centres: Legacy Departments > Faculty of Languages and Cultures > Department of the Languages and Cultures of the Near and Middle East
ISSN: 14653591
DOI (Digital Object Identifier): https://doi.org/10.3366/jqs.2003.5.2.1
Date Deposited: 07 Apr 2014 15:34
URI: https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/18321

Altmetric Data

Statistics

Download activity - last 12 monthsShow export options
Downloads since deposit
6 month trend
828Downloads
6 month trend
481Hits
Accesses by country - last 12 monthsShow export options
Accesses by referrer - last 12 monthsShow export options

Repository staff only

Edit Item Edit Item