Foundations of Grammatical Theory: From Establishment to Criticism

Abstract

Ancient linguists dedicated themselves to preserving their linguistic heritage by collecting linguistic records from Arab tribes whose Arabic was considered pure. This work, however, was not undertaken arbitrarily or carelessly; it was based on established principles and methods that linguists relied upon to codify the rules. The foundational task of these language scholars was to identify the major features of linguistic phenomena, beginning with determining the times and places from which refined, pure, and unblemished Arabic could be obtained, free from dialectical errors and regional accents.

Linguists worked with utmost diligence and remarkable precision. They also mapped the tribal sources, focusing on the six tribes whose language combined solidity, smooth structure, and refined imagination, free from foreign influence. They relied on the speech of desert Arabs, avoiding urban dialects, as the latter were often marred by accent and lacked clarity and eloquence. This reflects the scientific rigor with which linguists sought to safeguard the language from loss and corruption. A group of linguists ventured into the authentic Arab deserts to collect linguistic records, including poetry and prose, and then proceeded to the second stage: comparison and analogy with reliable sources known for their eloquence and clarity. This was followed by deriving and rationalizing grammatical rules based on correct and classical Arabic, moving from limited examples to abundant ones.

Through this process, foundational principles interwove to create a precise scientific system for accurately preserving the linguistic corpus, without error or ambiguity. Nevertheless, these principles were later subjected to critique by modern scholars, each according to his knowledge and understanding. From this perspective, the present study seeks to answer the following questions: What are the precise scientific foundations of grammatical theory? And what critiques have been directed at it by later scholars?**

النحو، النّظرية، التّأصيل، المنهج، العلميّة.

Grammar; Theory; Foundation; Method; Scientific Approach

مرزوق فاتح .

Marzouk Fateh

المركز الجامعي ميلة

University Center of Mila