Arabization
ELAN 453
Chapter 4: Methods of Arabization
At present, there are five major methods of Arabization: Derivation, Blending, Engendering,
compounding, and Translation. The most important and recurrent n use is derivation in relation
to the attempts made by the LAs and other official institutions of Arabization in the Arab World.
First Method: Derivation
Derivation is "to take a word from another word on the condition that the two are similar in
pronunciation, meaning, alphabet, but different in form" (e.g. (اقرأread (imperative)) is derived
from (يقرأto read) which is from (قرأread (past)) which is in turn from (قراءةreading) (see Al-
Ghalayeeni, 1998: 208). Also, it is " to change the same original root into different forms which
express intended meanings that cannot be expressed otherwise" (see Shaheen, 1986: 260).
Derivation is three main types: األكب
ر (االشتقاقthe largest derivation ( الكبب
ر (االشتقاقthe large
derivation; and the small / simple derivation (or analogical derivation(| and our focus will be on
C 7
the third type: Simple Derivation.
The basic (or small) derivation is based on deriving words by analogy to, and extension
of the three-letter root, (فاعلfa'ala). It is described as the simple declension of Arabic language.
New words are derived accordingly. o
Methods of Derivation of New scientific Terminologies
1. Derivation from existing roots
a. Full sense derivation مقصف
b. Figurative semantic extension هاتف،سيارةfroma figure Car Cell
Phone
I
c. Derivation of instrument names ، دباسة،غسالة
d. Impromptu derivation شطبة ر
e. Abstract new derivations تسوس،انشقاقات
Elka
f. Adjectival Relational suffix (الصناع ّ)ية
O ي المصدر
o o
رأسمالية،شيوعية
2. New Derivation through translation or paraphrase
o Backformation: New verbal derivatives from concrete nouns تلفز،كهرب
3. Derivation through metathesis زوج،جوز
4. Derivation through root modification لطم، لكم
Second method: Blending The outcome is = New term Two or more
Blending is literally 'chiseling words out' in Arabic. It is the formation of one new word out of
some letters of two or more different, basically unrelated words. Thus, blending involves taking
parts of these words to form a shorter single word on the basis of carefully ordered letters
merged together. The outcome of this merger is a new term
called 'blend' ) (منحوتةwhose parts of meaning are relevant to the original constituent words.
1. Verbal blending
It consists in the formation of a verb out of a group of words (a short nominal or verbal
sentence).
2. Adjectival blending T
بسمل، حوقل
It is composed of the formation of adjectives out of two words which complement one
another to reflect some kind of connotation, or intended emphasis.
برمائ
ي ،أسمال
ي ر
3. Nominal blending
The formation of a new noun out of two complementary words.
حوقلة
4. Relational blending
It is a formation of an adjectival noun which expresses the relation of somebody, or
something to two different schools, places, etc.
• Adjectival blends: please refer to the book for examples of these sections pgs.
155-159
• Nominal blends
• Verbal blends
• Prefixed blends
HII m
Third Method: Compounding Two words each
Compounding is one of the major methods of Arabization employed vastly today by the
LAs and all other institutions and individuals involved in the process. Compounds are
usually two words each, combined together in their full forms in one ( )المركباتsingle
term. No parts of either of the two constituent words of a compound are dropped.
ر
１. Mixed compounding التكيب المزج
so
A mixed compound originally consists of two words united in one,
• Prefixation الفقاري، الإرادي
• Suffixation حمض الخليك، سكروز
ر
２. Predicative compounding التكيب اإلسنادي
It is composed of two or more separate words which form one proposition and have a
subject-predicate relationship. جاد الحق
ر
３. Genitive compounding التكيب اإلضاف
This type of compounding is probably the most popular and widely used in Arabization
now. Genitive compounds are two words each that have a genitive case المضاف و
المضاف إليه
شبه سائل، شبه صحراوي
Fourth method: Engendering Favourite + most di cult
Engendering( اإلحياءor Revival ) is one of the major sources of Arabization. It involves
coining new scientific terms that are of Arabic origin. This makes it probably the most
favorable method. Yet, it might be the most difficult process to realize. More than one
strategy is used to carry revival through in practice .
1. Development of the meaning of words
With the passage of time, many words develop a drastic, or partial change of meaning. Some of
them undergo a change of letters and sounds; others change in form and structure; yet others
change meaning entirely; and still others retain their original meaning but acquire an additional
meaning, both of which survive in language.
صحيفة،مثل طعن
2. Change of word specification
Some words were traditionally classified as positive or non-specified, but later on they
changed specification into negative, and vice versa. Examples include:
استعمار، غزوة
3. Semantic extension
Some scientific terms have been formed through the semantic extension of their old
meanings into new meanings. Examples:
انقالب،تصلب
4. Figurative semantic extension
This type of semantic extension is based on borrowing the general idea of an old word
and applying it metaphorically by assimilation to a new scientific term.
جوال،سيارة
5. Replacement of words
Some words before Islam were replaced by other Islamic ones. Further, over time, many
replacements occurred, especially nowadays. In the process, the new replacements
underwent a change of bias (i.e. into positive, negative or vice versa), semantic field or
popularity. Here are illustrative examples. :
احتالل------فتوح----حرب
6. Generalization
With the passage of time, some terms of specific reference have been developed into
terms of general reference. Here are examples: علماء،علم
oSpecification
الصحابة
7. Foreign influence
Recently, Arabic Language has been under a great influence and pressure from foreign
languages, especially English, the international language and the language of science and
technology. This influence has been reflected by a huge number of borrowings of two major
types in particular for reasons of easiness, smoothness and popularity: (1) new terms and word
combinations translated literally into Arabic (a and b); and (2) replacement of old terms with
newly borrowed terms from English (the rest in the list). Examples include:
( (الوسطmedium): for مناخ/ محيط/ (بيئةmilieu / setting / climate / circle)
8. Change of meaning and proximity principle
Proximity principle is a kind of semantic extension (see above) based solely on the
similarity between new meaning to the old one in shape, or content, in terms of
concrete-abstract relationship . Examples:
فأرة، تمشيط،أسنان
Fifth Method : Arabization through translation: Full modern neologisms
1. individual terms خرسانة،تضخم
2. collocational expressions, معالجة المعلومات
ر
3. loan words or calques [either transferred بارومب or naturalized (بطارية
