The Technical Definition In Al-Badri's Commentary On Ibn Mu'ti's Alfiyya Between Theorizing And Systematizing/ التعريف الاصطلاحي في الشرح البدري على ألفية ابن معطي بين التنظير والتقعيد

Mustafa Razooqi Mustafa, Mustafa Kamil Ahmed Owaied

Abstract


This study examines the methods of technical definition employed by Abū Ḥafṣ in Al-Sharḥ al-Badrī ʿalā Alfiyyat Ibn Muʿṭī, focusing on the relationship between theoretical formulation and the systematization of Arabic grammatical terminology. Using a descriptive-analytical method, the study identifies and classifies the techniques used to define linguistic and grammatical concepts. The findings reveal that Abū Ḥafṣ treats terminology as a systematic instrument for clarifying concepts and establishing grammatical rules, rather than merely as a collection of labels. His approach combines the selective adoption of earlier scholarly definitions with the formulation of original definitions. The analysis identifies eight definitional techniques: definition by essence, self-referential definition, etymological origin, characteristic, association, formal features, contrast, and conditions. These techniques demonstrate that Abū Ḥafṣ employs varied strategies according to the nature of the concept being explained, and that more than one technique may be used within a single definition. The findings also reveal several limitations, particularly the use of circular definitions that explain a term through the same concept and therefore provide insufficient clarification. Furthermore, the study finds that terminological disagreement persisted among grammatical schools even when technical definitions had reached an advanced stage of development. Abū Ḥafṣ’s approach thus reflects both the systematic development of Arabic grammatical terminology and the continuing challenges of achieving conceptual precision and terminological consistency. The study highlights the need for critical evaluation of inherited definitions, standardized terminological criteria, and a unified digital glossary to improve accuracy, accessibility, and pedagogical effectiveness.

Keywords


Technical Definition; Arabic Grammatical Terminology; Al-Badrī Commentary; Ibn Muʿṭī’s Alfiyya; Definitional Methods; Terminological Standardization

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