Linguistic approaches in the Al-Jim dictionary by Abu Amr Al-Shaibani: an applied study

Abstract

Linguistic investigation encourages involvement with practical methods of linguistic inquiry, especially in the field of lexicography. It presents viewpoints that are inclined towards both theoretical and practical approaches to the comparison and analysis of various aspects, including phonetics, morphology, syntax, and their interrelations with lexicography. This contemporary linguistic standpoint enhances linguistic examination with a modern outlook, a perspective that we will employ in the examination of the lexicon "Al-Jim" authored by Abu Amr Al-Shaibani. The linguistic formulations of the author exhibit unique characteristics influenced by the content he gathered in this significant lexicon. He conserved and recorded the variations in dialects, followed the development of words and their interpretations, contrasted the usage of terms across different Arab clans, and presented meticulous morphological and derivational assessments. These endeavors have rendered "Al-Jim Lexicon" a noteworthy resource for scholars in linguistic research, appropriate for practical linguistic investigations utilizing contemporary linguistic methodologies. Additionally, lexicons, as a whole, possess dynamic linguistic qualities that progress alongside scholarly exploration and its function in providing the intended information to the audience. The link between linguistics and lexicography originates from the reader's comprehension and engagement with the text, as the text transforms through continuous reading and understanding. Therefore, linguistics assumes a critical role in scrutinizing the text and conveying its significance to the reader.