The Beginning of Phonological Terminology in Arabic

Arabic lexicography has been recognized as one of the most productive linguistic traditions, certainly among the early linguistic attempts at language codification. Arab linguists developed their phonetics, morphology, syntax, and lexicon in tandem and a harmonious symbiosis. One can say that they found all aspects of language as part of the integrated whole and wove them into their analyses in a manner that reveals their study and mastery of the language in its wholeness. Since this paper is limited to a small area of Arabic language studies, it will not be possible to go into detail about the intricacies of how the Arabs developed their lexica. It is sufficient to say that this study is about the beginnings of this tradition, and its focus is the work of two prominent members of the Baṣran School of Linguistics who have left us sufficient evidence to warrant a comment on their contribution to the lexicon of phonology in Arabic. They are al-Ḫalīl and Sībawayhi.