Linguistic Anomaly A Morphological Study in Al-Shatibi's Al-Maqasid al-Shafiyyah Correction of Verbs, Plural Formation and Hamzah Elision As A Model/ الشذوذ عن النِّظامُ اللسانيّ دراسةٌ صرفية في المقاصدِ الشّافيةِ للشاطبيِّ تصحيح الأفعال وبناء الجموع وحذف الهمز أُنموذجا

Abstract

This study investigates manifestations of linguistic anomaly in the book Al-Maqasid al-Shafiyyah fi Sharh al-Khulasa al-Kafiyyah by Imam Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi (D 490 AH), through an analytical morphological approach focusing on three applied issues as case studies: the correction of verbs, plural formation, and the elision of hamzah. The research proceeds from the hypothesis that what is traditionally classified as anomalous in morphological studies does not necessarily constitute an arbitrary deviation from rules; rather, it often represents a partial regularity governed by precise pragmatic and linguistic purposes. The study aims to uncover al-Shatibi's methodology in addressing morphological phenomena that deviate from analogical norms, and to elucidate the foundations he adopted in interpreting them—balancing oral transmission (samā‘) and analogy (qiyās), considering phonetic lightness, avoiding phonological heaviness, and achieving semantic clarity. The analysis reveals that al-Shatibi does not treat anomaly as a marginal element within the morphological system; instead, he engages with it as an integral part of a linguistic structure governed by a delicate equilibrium between rule and usage. Furthermore, the study highlights that the phenomena of verb correction, plural formation, and hamzah elision-though seemingly exceptional to general rules-demonstrate the flexibility of the Arabic linguistic system and its capacity to accommodate morphological diversity without compromising its communicative function.