Introduction to the Arabic Language (Why it's unique)

The Arabic language is a unique language, and has many special and unique features which make it suitable for it to convey; many meanings in few words, subtleties, emphasis and powerful imagery through speech alone. If God was to convey a message to mankind, it would be through a language which is easy to learn, and has the highest form of expressiveness. Arabic is that language by which Allah communicated His final Message to mankind.

What is the Arabic language?

Arabic is an ancient Semitic language, believed to be over 2000 years old. So it has had a lot of time to develop, and enrich its meanings and linguistic beauty. Some say it – the language- has been inspired and preserved miraculously in its pure form. It has stayed firm and pure to its roots, meaning that words and their meanings which were said over 1,400 years ago are still preserved and documented for us uptill this day. Unlike many other languages where words change meanings every few generations, and the meaning of the original word is lost. An example in the English language today is the word 'wicked' which meant 'evil' last generation, but in this generation it means 'good.' It may be that 2 generations ahead, 'wicked' may only be recognized as meaning 'good', possibly making future readers of the language confused.

How is Arabic Structured?

Arabic works with a triliteral root system, which means that most words are made of 3 Root Consonant letters, and other 1 and 2 letter words with different meanings surrounding that word. Very few words are based on 4 letter roots and even fewer on 5 letter roots. It is then for the reader to use his knowledge of the language to separate and distinguish between the letters to understand which letter means what.

How does Arabic language work?

Arabic 3 Consonant lettered words are usually 'Descriptions'. These Descriptions will then fit into Patterns and Contexts for Objects. For example; the word 'sayyaarah'  سَيَّارَة  means 'Car'. But in reality, it comes from:

1. The root meaning of the 3 Root Letters:  Siin-Ya-Ra (س ي ر ) = Meaning: 'Travelling through Movement.'

2. Pattern  فَعَّالَة which is a pattern used for jobs, hobbits etc. and doing things again and again, regularly, frequently etc. Car travels again and again, regularly, frequently. The ة at the end is also sometimes used to increase intensity further. The pattern فعّال (as well as فَعَّالَة) give the sense of doing something repeatedly to the extent that it becomes a habit, a profession, or the like . فَعَّالَة due to additional ة of intensity in some words has increased intensity. To give another example, رحّالة means globetrotter (someone who travels repeatedly). Notice that here too the duplication of the 2nd root letter has indicated upon the duplication in the meaning.

What makes it even more exciting is that the Arabic language has one of the richest sets of Vocabularies in the world, probably more than any other language. (For example: the Arabs have over 1000 words just for describing the Camel, and over 60 different words for Love!) And the amazing bit is - every word has its own shade of meaning, so two words could be similar, but they both would have a slightly different implication in meaning.

Arabic has no unnecessary words in it:

Arabic is extremely concise i.e. A sentence of 7 words in English can be said in just 7 letters of Arabic!

Example;

English: 'Both groups are at war with each other.'

Arabic: يُحَارِبُون yu-Haarib-oon. [ يُحَارِبُون on the Arabic verbs scale.]

(Note: vowels are not included as 'letters' in Arabic language since they can be omitted and the word is still readable.)

Conclusion:

• Arabic language is based on a Triliteral (3) Root letter system, i.e. most of the roots are of 3 letters with   only few words having more than 3 letters in their roots.
• Each Noun (Object) is in fact mostly based on a 3 letter 'Describing word' and a pattern, and if an Object matches a certain Description, the Object is called by that Descriptive word. i.e. Sayyaarah سَيَّارَة means [Description:] 'that which frequently/regularly Travels' (= Car [Noun]).
• Arabic language is Pure to its Roots, and words can be traced back to their Origins from over 1,400 years ago through Lexicons.
• Arabic is one of, or the biggest Vocabulary filled language in the world.
• Arabic is directly to the point and a concise language, conveying long sentences from another language into just a few words of Arabic.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014