The Phonetic Term in "Lisan al-Arab": A Study in Concepts and Applications

Abstract

This study addresses the topic of the phonetic term in the Lisan al-Arab dictionary by Ibn Manzur, considering it as a cognitive field that reflects the intersection of language with phonetic and linguistic sciences in the Arab heritage. The research is based on the hypothesis that Ibn Manzur did not establish a fully integrated terminological system in phonetics, but rather acted as a conscious transmitter of the heritage of al-Khalil, Sibawayh, and other masters of Arabic, employing these terms within his lexical material and including a small number of entries that may represent qualitative additions. The study aims to enumerate the phonetic terms found in the dictionary, analyze their concepts and contexts, and observe how they are employed in explanations, examples, and references, in addition to comparing them with what was reported by earlier Arabic linguists. It relies on a descriptive-analytical approach, supplemented In approaching these terms by tracing them within the entries of the dictionary and analyzing their meanings and sources. The importance of the study lies in highlighting the phonetic dimension in a vast heritage dictionary, revealing Ibn Manzur’s awareness of the specificity of scientific terminology, and its relation to other linguistic sciences such as Qur’anic readings, tajwid, and grammar. The study also seeks to answer fundamental questions, such as: Did Ibn Manzur treat phonetic terms as precise scientific concepts or as general linguistic expressions? How accurate was he in transmitting and using them? Did he contribute new insights to the phonetic field? Accordingly, this research contributes to enriching terminological and linguistic studies by linking the heritage dictionary to Arab phonetic knowledge and clarifying its impact on preserving and transmitting terminology to subsequent generations.