Table Of ContentPreface; List of Figures and Maps; Note on Transcription and Glossing; 1. The Study of Arabic in the West; 2. Arabic as a Semitic Language; 3. The Earliest Stages of Arabic; 4. Arabic in the Pre-Islamic Period; 5. The Development of Classical Arabic; 6. The Structure of Arabic; 7. The Arabic Linguistic Tradition; 8. The Emergence of New Arabic; 9. Middle Arabic; 10. The Study of the Arabic Dialects; 11. The Dialects of Arabic; 12. The Emergence of Modern Standard Arabic; 13. Diglossia; 14. Bilingualism; 15. Arabic as a Minority Language; 16. Arabic Pidgins and Creoles; 17. Arabic as a World Language; Bibliography; List of Abbreviations; Index.
SynopsisCovering all aspects of the history of Arabic, the Arabic linguistic tradition, Arabic dialects, sociolinguistics and Arabic as a world language, this introductory guide is perfect for students of Arabic, Arabic historical linguistics and Arabic sociolinguistics. Concentrating on the difference between the two types of Arabic - the classical standard language and the dialects - Kees Versteegh charts the history and development of the Arabic language from its earliest beginnings to modern times. Students will gain a solid grounding in the structure of the language, its historical context and its use in various literary and non-literary genres, as well as an understanding of the role of Arabic as a cultural, religious and political world language. New for this edition: additional chapters on the structure of Arabic, Bilingualism and Arabic pidgins and creoles; a full explanation of the use of conventional Arabic transcription and IPA characters; an updated bibliography and all chapters have been revised and updated in light of recent research., Concentrating on the difference between the two types of Arabic--the classical standard language and the dialects--Kees Versteegh charts the history and development of the Arabic language from its earliest beginnings to modern times. The reader is given a solid grounding in the structure of the language, its historical context and its use in various literary and non-literary genres, as well as an understanding of the role of Arabic as a cultural, religious and political world language., An introductory guide for students of Arabic language, Arabic historical linguistics and Arabic sociolinguistics.