الاشتقاق في اللغة العربية: أنواعه، دلالاته، وأثره في تنمية المعجم العربي

Derivation in the Arabic Language: Its Types, Meanings, and Role in the Development of the Arabic Lexicon

Abstract

This article focuses on the topic of derivation (ishtiqāq) in the Arabic language, which is one of the most important tools that contribute to the growth and expansion of linguistic meaning. The study begins by explaining that language was created to enable communication between people. For this purpose, each word must be assigned a specific meaning that expresses a human need.

As time and civilizations progressed, new needs emerged that required more precise linguistic expression. This led humans to develop linguistic tools such as derivation, composition, synonymy, and others. Among these tools, derivation is considered one of the most esteemed disciplines in the Arabic language because it helps us understand the origins of words and distinguish between root and derived forms.

Derivation is defined as the process of forming one word from another while maintaining a relationship in meaning and original root letters, but with a change in form. This process enables the generation of numerous words from a single root. For example, from the root "ḍaraba" (to strike) we get: ḍārib (striker), maḍrūb (struck), yaḍrib (he strikes), iḍrib (strike!).

Derivation is classified into four types:

1. Minor derivation (al-ishtiqāq al-aṣghar): The most common type, where words share the same root letters in the same order and similar meanings — e.g., kataba, kātib, maktūb.
2. Major derivation (al-ishtiqāq al-akbar): Where some root letters and meanings are shared, but not in the same order.
3. Greater derivation (al-ishtiqāq al-kabīr): Words share the same root and meaning, but without a fixed sequence.
4. Compounding derivation (al-ishtiqāq al-kubbār or an-naḥt): A new word is formed by merging parts of two or more words, like basmala from bismillāh.

The article emphasizes that derivation is not merely a linguistic phenomenon; rather, it forms a fundamental structure of the Arabic language, playing a crucial role in its development and serving as a major source for generating scientific and technical terms. Some scholars argue that derivation should remain within the traditional auditory framework passed down from the early Arab linguists, and that modern analogy (qiyās) should only be applied when there is a strong scientific need, as recognized by the Arabic Language Academy.

In conclusion, derivation is a remarkable feature of the Arabic language. It enriches the language with vocabulary, makes it highly expressive and adaptable, and enables it to accommodate modern scientific and cultural advancements.

Keywords: emphasizes . derivation.linguistic .fundamental.crucial .serving .generating .argue .framework. linguists, analogy .