The Arabic Language

Description

By (author) Kees Versteegh; By (author) Versteegh Kees

Short /annotation:
An introductory guide for students of Arabic language, Arabic historical linguistics and Arabic socio-linguistics. It covers various aspects of the history of Arabic, the Arabic linguistic tradition, Arabic dialects and Arabic as a world language. It makes links between linguistic history and cultural history.

:
This is an introductory guide for students of Arabic language, Arabic historical linguistics and Arabic socio-linguistics.New for this edition: a new chapter on the structure of Arabic; a new chapter on Pidgin and Creole varieties; and, data has been updated throughout in light of recent research. Concentrating on the difference between the two types of Arabic – the classical standard language and the dialects – Kees Versteegh charts the history and development of the Arabic language from its earliest beginnings to modern times. The reader is given a solid grounding in the structure of the language, its historical context and its use in various literary and non-literary genres, as well as an understanding of the role of Arabic as a cultural, religious and political world language. It covers all aspects of the history of Arabic, the Arabic linguistic tradition, Arabic dialects and Arabic as a world language. It makes links between linguistic history and cultural history. It emphasises the role of contacts between Arabic and other languages.

Biographical note:
Kees Versteegh is Professor at the University of Nijmegen.