ARABIC LINGUISTICS

This is one of the core courses of the Near and Middle East curriculum of the Corso di Laurea "Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and Mediterranean Africa".
The course aims to acquaint students of Arabic with the rich Arabic linguistic tradition, also in its interactions with other disciplines (including philosophical-religious ones), within the broader framework of the intellectual history of pre-modern Arab-Islamic civilisation. The texts presented and discussed during the lectures will thus constitute a key to the knowledge of the intellectual landscape of this civilisation in its various articulations.

The course aims to provide students with knowledge and methodological tools in the area of textual analysis and the interpretation of the intellectual and ideological scope of texts of a predominantly linguistic nature. The course will make learners aware of the implications of the numerous discussions on the Arabic language, its nature and structures, and stimulate their ability to reflect on and interpret texts within a broad framework of intellectual history.

Knowledge of standard Arabic. Notions of general linguistics are welcome.

-Brief outline of the Arabic linguistic tradition: history, theoretical principles, main trends and interactions with other disciplines.
-Linguistics and Qur'anic exegesis
-Lexicography: origins, methods, tools (with practical exercises)
-The emergence of grammar: myths and reality
-Logic-grammar debate and the comparison with Greek civilisation
-Grammar between didactics and theoretical speculation
-The birth of language: linguistics and dogma
-An alternative view: the refutation of grammar in the Andalusian context
-Arabic and the 'other' languages in comparison

Bohas, Georges; Guillaume, Jean-Patrick; Kouloughli, Djamel, The Arabic Linguistic Tradition, Georgetown University Press, 2006 (ed. or. Routledge, 1990)
Versteegh, Kees, The Arabic linguistic tradition, Routledge 1997

Arabic texts will be uploaded in the course Moodle space.

The oral examination will consist of an interview on the topics covered in class. The use of appropriate language and grammatical terminology in Arabic will be particularly appreciated.

Frontal teaching; lectures; seminar activities

Italian

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