Arabic Colloquial Words of Classical Origin: Between Stability and Linguistic Change/ الألفاظ العامية العربية ذات الأصل الفصيح بين الثبات والتغيير اللغوي

Nihad Khalaf Hamad Khalaf, Raghad Jihad Abd Hussein

Abstract


This study aims to highlight colloquial words of classical Arabic origin by observing and analyzing two main trajectories for these words: the trajectory of stability (i.e., their retention of their original form and meaning with continued use in colloquial Arabic) and the trajectory of change (i.e., their subjection to phonological, morphological, or semantic transformations that obscured their apparent connection to Classical Arabic). The goal of the study was to prove the linguistic continuity between Classical and Colloquial Arabic, refute the idea of a complete disconnect between them, by uncovering the classical roots of colloquial words, classifying the patterns of linguistic change they underwent, and analyzing the linguistic, social, and historical factors underlying this change or stability. The study adopted a descriptive analytical methodology by collecting a sample of colloquial words from their natural environment, then tracing their origins in ancient Arabic dictionaries, and analyzing the relationship between the colloquial form and the classical form. The study concluded that a large percentage of common colloquial words are originally classical words, confirming the unity of origin for the Arabic language at its different levels, and that linguistic change is a natural law of languages. These words were affected by various patterns of change, most notably: phonological change (such as substitution, metathesis, and shortening/lightening), and semantic change (such as evolution of meaning, specialization, or generalization). It also found that the factors for stability often return to the frequent daily use of words related to everyday life, proverbs, and wise sayings, which preserved them from oblivion.

Keywords


Colloquial; Classical Origin; Words; Linguistic Change; Stability

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.18860/ijazarabi.v9i4.41425

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