Groundbreaking Arabic language dictionary unveiled at UAE International Book Fair

 

Participants during a conference held on the sidelines of the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair in Sharjah, UAE on Nov 8, 2024. [Caroline Chebet, Standard]

A groundbreaking dictionary documenting the evolution of the Arabic language has been launched in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Named the ‘Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language’, this extensive project spans 17 centuries of linguistic development across 127 volumes.

The dictionary was unveiled at the Sharjah International Book Fair, one of the world’s largest, held at the Sharjah Expo Center. This eleven-day event features over 400 literary activities, including workshops, poetry readings, and book signings.

While introducing the dictionary, the Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, emphasized its goal of promoting the Arabic language, its literature, sciences, and history.

Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Arabic Language Academy on Nov 8, 2024. [Caroline Chebet, Standard]

“I bring the good news to the Arab world of its Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language and am pleased to announce a new scholarly project, the Comprehensive Arabic Encyclopedia, which will cover sciences, literature, arts, and prominent figures,” he said.

He explained that the dictionary aims to reconnect the Arab world with its legacy of scientific, artistic, and literary achievements while also fostering cultural awareness and strengthening Arabic globally.

“For seven years, supporters of the Arabic language worked tirelessly, collecting linguistic resources, preserving classical poetry, documenting grammar, and recording cultural narratives,” he said.

The dictionary's coverage includes classical Arabic poetry, language from the Quran and Hadith, as well as contemporary language from media and social discourse.

“The Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language is a landmark in compiling our linguistic heritage, covering vocabulary, poetry, and linguistic references from classical to modern Arabic,” he added.

Linguists involved in the dictionary’s creation hailed it as a transformative accomplishment.

Dr Mohamed Safi Al Mosteghanemi, Secretary General of ALA and Executive Director of the Corpus on Nov 8, 2024. [Caroline Chebet, Standard]

Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Arabic Language Academy, noted that the corpus traces Arabic vocabulary from its earliest roots in pre-Islamic times to the present day.

"The 127-volume corpus is a pioneering effort that captures the evolution of the Arabic language, providing a linguistic and cultural treasure for current and future generations," he said.

The project, which involved 780 contributors, including editors, reviewers, supervisors, and administrators from major Arab institutions, documents 14 million Arabic words and traces the language’s development over 17 centuries.

Despite earlier efforts to document Arabic comprehensively, challenges and lack of technology hindered success.

“Unlike general dictionaries that define words, the Historical Corpus traces the evolution of Arabic terms from their earliest inscriptions and manuscripts over the centuries,” explained Dr. Mohammed Safi Al Mosteghanemi, Executive Director of the Corpus.

The comprehensive documentation that led to the completion of the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language was a seven-year endeavor, launched initially in December 2016.