Landmarks in Linguistic Thought Volume III: The Arabic Linguistic Tradition (History of Linguistic Thought) [Paperback]

Kees Versteegh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 4, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0415157579 | ISBN-13: 978-0415157575 | Edition: 2nd

Landmarks in Linguistic Thought Vol 3 is devoted to a linguistic tradition that lies outside the Western mainstream, namely that of the Middle East.
The reader is introduced to the major issues and themes that have determined the development of the Arabic linguistic tradition. Each chapter contains a short extract from a translated `landmark' text followed by a commentary which places the text in its social and intellectual context. The chosen texts frequently offer scope for comparison with the Western tradition. By contrasting the two systems, the Western and the Middle Eastern, this book serves to highlight the characteristics of two very different systems and thus stimulate new ideas about the history of linguistics.
This book presumes no prior knowledge of Arabo-Islamic culture and Arabic language, and is invaluable to anyone with an interest in the History of Linguistics. Kees Versteegh is currently Professor of Arabic and Islam at the Middle East Institute of the University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands. His publications include The Explanation of Linguistic Causes (1995),Ed. Arabic Outside the Arab World (1994)

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About the Author

Kees Versteegh is Professor of Arabic and Islam at the Middle East Institute of the University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands. His publications include The Explanation of Linguistic Causes.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 2nd edition (June 4, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415157579
• ISBN-13: 978-0415157575
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,295,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overview of traditional Arabic linguistic thought, May 12, 2003

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Thomas Emerson (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Landmarks in Linguistic Thought Volume III: The Arabic Linguistic Tradition (History of Linguistic Thought) (Paperback)

Versteegh provides a thorough and very readable overview of traditional Arabic linguistic thought from its origins in Qur'anic exegesis in the 8th century CE through the use of Arabic linguistic theory in the description of other languages in the 14th century CE. Each chapter in the book begins with a translation of a representative document or fragment, followed by a commentary placing the text in its historical frame of reference and constrasting the ideas with those of other (period) scholars and modern linguistic theory. These are presented in chronological order, building on the previous as the theories evolved.

The collection does not assume a strong knowledge in Arabic or Western linguistic thought, though this can of course be useful. It provides a springboard for further exploration of Arabic linguistic study and makes an excellent reference when reading more specialized works.

One of the more interesting sections is Chapter 4, "The Debate Between Logic and Grammar." Here Versteegh describes the intersection of the Greek and Arabic linguistic traditions, and the heated debates that occured in Baghdad during the 10th century CE. This clearly illuminates the differences between the traditions, as well as showing the 'politics of language' and the impact of language on national and religious identity.