Sarf In Short

Sarf

in

Short

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تغ اهلل اشمح اشد

اظشف

ح) investigates the behaviour of the word اظشف (1) (اى individually i.e. not in

relation to other words (اخ (و in the sentence (ح (اج . More specifically, it

investigates the ح from the perspective of its formal structure and the changes اى

that affect that structure either to give rise to different meanings or ease the overall pronunciation of the word.

(2) The ح :in Arabic is of three types اى

(a) the االع (noun which includes adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, etc.) e.g. ؿاة

(student), سعاح (letter, message), ل (pen), etc.

(b) the افؼ (verb) e.g. ورة (wrote), ىرة (write, will write) and اورة (Write!)

(c) the اذشف (particle) e.g. (used to convert statements into questions), ,(in) ف (did not), etc.

(3) The اذشف and those of the االع and افؼ which resemble the اذشف structurally,

semantically and functionally (such as the ائش اء اإلشاسج , اؼ , ؤع ىطىحاألع اء ا ,

اء االعرفها اء اششؽ , ؤع اظشف etc.) do not form part of the subject-matter of , ؤعbecause of the fact that their rigid structures are not amenable to the type of

changes that is commonly studied in اظشف . Hence, اظشف only deals with the افؼ and the االع and more specifically those among them that do not bear any

structural, semantic or functional resemblance to the اذشف.

:can be divided into three sections اظشف (4)

(a) ,(Morphology of the Verb) طشف افؼ

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(b) and (Morphology of the Noun) طشف االع

(c) ؼا واالع also called ,(Morphology of the Verb and Noun together) طشف افؼ

شرشن" "اظشف ا (Shared Morphology i.e. the Morphology common to the Verb and

Noun).

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طشف افؼ

(5) investigates the طشف افؼ :from seven perspectives افؼ

(a) the time of the occurrence of the action

(b) the number of األدشف األطح (number of root letters)

(c) the presence or absence of ؤدشف ػح (weak letters, namely: the اىاو , the األف and the ااء ) among the root letters

(d) intransitivity and transitivity

(e) the presence or absence of the افاػ (doer / subject of the verbal sentence)

(f) flexibility and inflexibility (i.e. rigidity) (g) intensification or non-intensification

(6) The first perspective: the time of the occurrence of the action

The افؼ from this perspective is divided into three categories:

(a) اػ which denotes the occurrence of the action in ,(past tense / perfect) افؼ ا

the past, like: "ورة" (wrote),

(b) ؼاسع which denotes the occurrence ,(present or future tense / imperfect) افؼ ا

of the action in the present or future tense, like: "ىرة" (write/s or will write), and

(c) شفؼ األ (verb of command / imperative), which denotes the request for the

occurrence of the action in the future, like: "اورة" (Write!)

(7) The second perspective: the number of األدشف األطح (number of root

letters)

The افؼ from this perspective is divided into two categories:

(a) "ورة" :comprising three root letters, like فؼ which is a ,(triliteral) اثالث (wrote)

(b) "ددشج" :comprising four root letters, like فؼ which is a ,(quadriliteral) اشتاػ

(rolled) Each of these two categories is sub-divided into two more categories.

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Thus, the :is sub-divided into اثالث

(i) جشد ا which is any ,(naked / divested triliteral) اثالث divested and stripped of ثالث

any additional letters such that it only consists of root letters, like: "خشج" (went out),

"فشح" (was happy), " "دغ (was good), etc. and

(ii) ضذ ا which is any ,(increased / augmented triliteral) اثالث whose root form ثالث

is increased by the addition of up to three letters, like: "ؤخشج" (put out, threw out),

"ذخشج" (graduated), "اعرخشج" (took out, extracted), etc.

Likewise, the :is sub-divided into اشتاػ

(i) جشد ا which is any ,(naked / divested quadriliteral) اشتاػ divested and ستاػ

stripped of any additional letters such that it only consists of root letters, like: "ددشج"

(rolled), " إ "ؿ (put at ease), etc. and

(ii) ضذ ا which is any ,(increased / augmented quadriliteral) اشتاػ whose root ستاػ

form is increased by the addition of up to two letters, like: "ذذدشج" (was rolled),

" إ "اؿ (was at ease), etc.

(NB! For more details see the Appendix 1 at the end of the book)

(8) The third perspective: the presence or absence of ؤدشف ػح (weak letters,

namely: the اىاو , the األف and the ااء ) among the root letters


(a) اظذخ (sound / strong), which is a فؼ whose root letters are free from ؤدشف ػح (weak letters), and consists of three types:

(i) اظذخ اغا (super sound / strong), which is a طذخ that is free from ارؼؼف (doubling i.e. have two identical root letters) and ض having one of the root letters) اه

as a ضج ), like: "ورة" "خشج" , , etc.

(ii) ؼؼف ؼاػف/ اظذخ ا ا (doubled strong), which is a طذخ that has two

identical root letters, like: "ذ" (extended, lengthened), "صضي" (quaked, shook), etc.

(iii) ىص ه that has one of the root طذخ which is a ,(hamzated strong) اظذخ ا

letters as a ضج , like: " "ؤو (ate), "عإي" (asked), "لشؤ" (read), etc.

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(b) ؼر whose root form constitutes at least one of the three فؼ which is a ,(weak) ا

:and comprises four types ؤدشف اؼح

(i) ثاي which is a ,(quasi-sound) ا ؼر whose first root letter is a دشف ػح (weak

letter), like: " "وط (reached, arrived), "ثظ" (was dried), etc.

(ii) األجىف (hollow), which is a ؼر whose second root letter is a دشف ػح , like: "لاي"

(said), "تاع" (sold), etc.

(iii) االض (defective), which is a ؼر whose last root letter is a دشف ػح , like: "دػا"

(called, invited), " "س (threw, cast), etc.

(iv) افف (two-folded), which is a ؼر whose first and third root letters or second and

third root letters are from the ؤدشف اؼح , like: "ول" (protected, safeguarded), "وػ"

(comprehended, fathomed), "ىي" (intended), "سوي" (reported, narrated), etc.

(9) The fourth perspective: intransitivity and transitivity


(a) االص (intransitive), which is a فؼ whose action is confined to the افاػ (doer /

subject of a verbal sentence) and not transferred directly onto a فؼىي ت (direct

object), like: "فشح" (was happy), "جظ" (sat), etc.

(b) رؼذ but is افاػ whose action is not confined to the فؼ which is a ,(transitive) ا

transferred directly onto a ف ػىي ت , and further comprises three types:

(i) فؼىي وادذ ب رؼذ :like ,(transitive to one direct object only i.e. singly transitive) ا

"ورة" in for example: "ورة صذ اشعاح" (Zayd wrote the letter),

(ii) رغ ا فؼى ب د (transitive to two direct objects i.e. doubly transitive), like: " "ظ

in for example: "صذ خاذا وشا "ظ (Zayd thought Khalid to be noble / generous), and

ـ" "ؤػ in "ـ صذ خاذا وراتا "ؤػ (Zayd gave Khalid a book), and

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(iii) فاػ ب ثالثح رؼذ :like ,(transitive to three direct objects, i.e. triply transitive) ا

" "ؤػ in for example: "صذا خاذا وشا ػ "ؤػ (Ali informed Zayd that Khalid is noble

/ generous), and "ؤسي" in "غإح عهح اة ا ذسط ا "ؤسي ا (The teacher made the

student see the problem as being easy)

Some scholars add a third category, namely: that which is neither الص nor رؼذ , and

comprises verbs such as " "وا and its sisters and "واد" and its sisters.

(10) The fifth perspective: the presence or absence of the افاػ (doer / subject

of the verbal sentence)


(a) ث ا ؼى (active form of the verb), which is a فؼ whose افاػ is mentioned

(even in the implied and implicit sense) in the sentence and not dropped, like:

"ورة" in "ـاب اة اخ "ورة ا (The student wrote the letter),

"ىرة" in "ـاب اة اخ "ىرة ا (The student is writing the letter), and

"اورة" in " ["ؤد]اورة [Write (you)]

(b) جهىي ث is not افاػ whose فؼ which is a ,(passive form of the verb) ا

mentioned (not even in the implied and implicit sense) in the sentence, that is, it is dropped from the sentence, leaving a vacuum which is normally filled by the

فؼىي ت :like ,(direct object) ا

"ورة" in "ـاب "ورة اخ (The letter was written) and

"ىرة" in "ـابىد "ب اخ (The letter is being written)

(11) The sixth perspective: flexibility and inflexibility (i.e. rigidity)


(a) رظشف :which is of two types ,(flexible) ا

(i) ارظشفارا (fully-flexible), which is a فؼ that exists in all three states of the افؼ , that is: the اػ ؼاسع the , ا ش and the ا :like , األ

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اػ ؼاسع ا ش ا Meaning األ

to write, record اورة ىرة ورة

To hit, beat, strike اػشب ػشب ػشب

(ii) االض ارظشف (semi-flexible), which is a فؼ that exists in only two of the three

states, that is: the اػ ؼاسع and the ا ؼاسع only, or the ا ش and the ا :only, like األ


to be on the verge, almost, nearly ىاد واد

to continue ضاي( ا) صاي( ا)

to leave, abandon دع ذع to leave, abandon رس زس

(b) ذ :that exists in only one of the three states, like فؼ which is a ,(rigid) اجا


not ظ

hopefully ػغ

shouts, makes a noise هؾ

!Come ذؼاي اخ Give!

(12) The seventh perspective: intensification or non-intensification


(a) اوذ emphatic) ى ارىوذ اثمح that has either the فؼ which is a ,(corroborated) ا

(of corroboration اى non-emphatic) ى ارىوذ اخففح of corroboration) or the اى

suffixed to it.

(b) اوذ that does not have the فؼ which is a ,(non-corroborated) غش ا

.suffixed to it ى ارىوذ اخففح or the ى ارىوذ اثمح

In the case of the اػ .is disallowed ى ارىوذ the suffixing of the ا

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In the case of the ش سته" :is optional, like ى ارىوذ the suffixing of the األ "واػثذ

[Worship your Lord (in the emphatic sense)], "واػثذ سته" [Worship your Lord (in the

non-emphatic sense)], etc.

In the case of the ؼاسع :is either ى ارىوذ the suffixing of the ا

(i) necessary, which is when the ؼاسع denotes the future and is in the affirmative ا

in an oath construction with the ) ال امغ ,of oath) not being separated from it اال

like: "ح اما ى "واهلل ثؼث (By Allah! We will be raised on the Day of Resurrection),

﴿ ى ؤطا ﴾ذاهلل إوذ (By Allah! I will play a trick on your idols), or

(ii) close to being necessary, which is when the ؼاسع is preceded by the ا

conditional " "ب (meaning “if”) that is assimilated into the additional "ا" so as to form

ا" "ب , like: "فإد اجخ ا ذجرهذ "ب (If you really work hard, then you will be successful),

or

(iii) often, which is when the ؼاسع particle of request) ؤداج ؿة is preceded by an ا

such as command, prohibition, supplication, gentle or urgent request, wishing,

inquiring), like: ﴿اظ ا ؼ اهلل غافال ػ وال ذذغث ى ﴾ا (Do not think that Allah is

unmindful of what the wrongdoers are doing)

(iv) rare, which is when the ؼاسع "ال" is preceded by the negative ا or the additional

"ا" , like: ﴿ ىا ظ از خاطحواذمىا فرح ال ذظث ﴾و (And guard yourselves against a

severe punishment which will not only afflict the wrongdoers …)

(v) very rare, which is when the ؼاسع " is preceded by ا " or an ؤداج جضاء (conditional word) other than "ا "ب (and it makes no difference whether it is in the

position the اششؽ or جىاب اششؽ ) and is found mostly in poetry, like:

ظ تأئة ف ه ذثمف

* ثح شاف لر ت ؤتذا ولر

Whosoever you find of them will not return - ever - and killing Banu Qutaybah is a healing

(vi) disallowed, which is when one of the conditions for the necessary corroboration

is violated, like: " ى "واهلل ال فخ اظا (By Allah! The wrongdoers will not be

successful)

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طشف االع

(13) :also from seven perspectives االع investigates the طشف االع

(a) the stripping or addition of additional letters (b) rigidity (non-derivation) and derivation (c) masculinity and femininity (i.e. gender) (d) the type of ending (e) number (f) diminution (g) relation and ascription (14) The first perspective: the stripping or addition of additional letters

The االع from this perspective is divided into two categories:

(a) جشد divested and stripped of any اع which is an ,(naked or divested) ا

additional letters and comprises three types:

(i) جشد اثالث "سج" :like ,(trilateral naked) ا (man), "فشط" (horse, mare), etc.

(ii) جشد اشتاػ "جؼفش" :like ,(quadriliteral naked) ا (Ja’far, brooklet), " "دس (dirham),

etc.

(iii) اع جشد اخ "عفشج" :like ,(quinqueliteral naked) ا (quince), etc.

(b) ضذ that can be increased up to اع which is an ,(increased or augmented) ا

seven letters by the addition of additional letters to the root form and comprises numerous forms, some of which are illustrated in the following table:

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The Increased / Augmented Form Root Form Additional Letter(s)

Triliteral Root

األف the فه (someone understanding) فاؼشوب (beaten, coined) بػش the امل and اىاو غرغه (someone finding something easy) عه the اغني , امل and اراء اراء , اغني , مهضج اىط the خشج (extracting, taking out) اعرخشاج

and األف

Quadriliteral Root

ذدشج (someone rolling something) جددش the امل رذدشج (something being rolled) جسحد the امل and اراء and , اى , مهضج اىط the دشج (gathering, assembling) ادشجا

األف

Quinqueliteral Root

غث غث (the of a well in Jannah) ع ااء the عصضفى (jujube, linden tree) صضف the اىاو

ااء the صجث (ginger) صجث (15) The second perspective: rigidity and derivation


(a) ذ that is not derived from anything and اع which is an ,(rigid / non-derived) اجا

comprises two types:

(i) اع ازاخ or -that is not only non اع which is an ,(concrete noun) اع اؼ

derivative but also none of the derived nouns is derived from it, and refers to an entity or essence the nature of which is that it can be qualified and described by

highlighting a quality or attribute in it, like: "سج" (man), "فشط" (horse, mare), and

(ii) ؼ even though it is non-derivative – all – اع which is an ,(abstract noun) اع ا

derivatives are derived from it and is thus appropriately called the ظذس ultimate) ا

source); moreover, it denotes the qualities, states and actions that inhere in entities and essences and which make it possible for the latter to be qualified and described,

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like: "اي "ج (beauty), "دغ" (goodness), "تاع" (whiteness), "غؼة" (anger), "وراتح"

(writing), "جىط" (sitting), etc.

[Thus, if something possesses the quality of اي you can say that it is اج ج

(beautiful), or if someone is in a state of اغؼة (anger) you can say that he is غؼثا

(angry) or if someone performs the action of اىراتح (writing) you can say that he is

[.etc ,(someone writing) واذة

(b) شرك ظذس that is formed from the اع which is an ,(derivative) ا on a specific ا

pattern or patterns to indicate the particular manner in which the quality, state or action is related to someone or something (i.e. a vague entity or essence), and comprises seven types: [someone / something + quality / state / action = derivative]

(i) شرك which is an ,(active participle) اع افاػ ظذس formed from the اع on a ا

specific pattern to indicate that someone or something is performing the action

indicated by the ظذس "واذة" :in a non-permanent sense, like ا (someone writing),

" "لائ (someone or something standing), "غافش" (someone traveling), etc.

(ii) فؼىي شرك which is an ,(passive participle) اع ا ظذس formed from the اع on a ا

specific pattern to indicate that someone or something is the object receiving the

action indicated by the ظذس "ىرىب" :like , ا (something written), "غرخشج"

(something taken out or extracted), etc.

(iii) شثهح )اظفح ا افاػ (تاع (descriptive noun), which is an شرك formed from the اع

ظذس on specific patterns to indicate that someone or (of an intransitive verb) ا

something is the bearer or possessor of the quality indicated by the ظذس and is not ا

confined to any particular tense but rather stretches from the past into the

continuous present, like: " "ج (beautiful), " "دغ (good), "ؤتغ" (white), "غؼثا"

(angry), etc.

(iv) شرك which is an ,(comparative or superlative form) اع ارفؼ formed from اع

the ظذ سا on the pattern of " "ؤفؼ to indicate that someone or something is

surpassing something or someone-else in a shared quality which is denoted by the

ظذس .e.g , ا "ؤج (more beautiful), " "ؤدغ (better), "ؤغؼة" (angrier), etc.

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(v), (vi) ىا وا ا ا اض which are ,(nouns of time or place) اع شرما ا formed اع

from the ظذس ,on specific patterns to indicate the time or place in which the action ا

denoted by the ظذس "ششق" :is occurring, like , ا and "ؿغ" (time or place of the

rising of the sun), "غشب" (time or place of the setting of the sun), "ذخ" (entry),

"خشج" (exit), etc.

(vii) اع اح (noun of tool or instrument), which is an شرك ظذس formed from the اع اon the patterns of "فؼ" "فؼح" , or "فؼاي" to indicate the tool or instrument with

which the action indicated by the ظذس "ثشد" :is accomplished, like ا (file), "ىغح"

(broom), "فراح" (key), etc.

(16) The third perspective: masculinity and femininity (i.e. gender)


(a) زوش (masculine), like: "سج" (man), "جث" (mountain), "ل" (pen), etc.

(b) اث (feminine), which is of two types:

(i) م اث which is an ,(real) دم that denotes a female whether amongst human اع

beings or animals, like: "ح "فاؿ (Fatimah), "صة" (Zaynab), "شؤج "ا (woman), "ـح "ل

(female cat), etc.

(ii) جاص (metaphorical), which is an اث that does not denote a female اع

whether amongst human beings or animals but because of having been used as

اث by the ancient Arabs it has acquired the status of اث , like: "ظ "ش (sun),

"ؤسع" (earth), "ػ" (eye, spring), etc.

The اث :also comprises three more categories ا

(i) زوش whose meaning is اع which is an ,(feminine in form only) فظ but whose

form is feminine due to having one of the اخ ارإث suffixed (signs of femininity) ػال

to it, like: "ضج "د (Hamzah), "ذح "ؿ (Talhah), "صوشا" (Zechariahs), etc.

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(ii) ؼى (feminine in meaning only), which is an اع whose meaning is اث but

whose form is زوش due to it not having one of the اخ ارإث :suffixed to it, like ػال

"ش" (Maryam, Mary), "صة" (Zaynab), "ذ" (Hind), etc.

(iii) ؼى و اث that is اع which is an ,(feminine in both form and meaning) فظ in

both form and meaning, like: "ح "فاؿ (Fatimah), " "ع (Salma), "اء "ؤع (Asma), etc.

The اخ ارإث :are two in number ػال

(i) the شتىؿح because it is joined or close at its اراء i.e. the joined or closed) اراء ا

ends), like: "دغح" (Hasinah), "ح "فاؿ (Fatimah), "ػائشح" (Aishah), etc.

(ii) the األف , which is either مظىسج (shortened), like: "دغ" (Husna), " "ع

(Salma), etc. or ذودج (lengthened), like: "دغاء" (Hasna), "اء "ؤع (Asma), etc.

Remark: Even though it is not customary in اظشف to go into a similar classification

for the زوش زوش I have thought it in order to treat the , ا .in a similar fashion ا

Thus, the زوش زوش can either be ا : in meaning and in form like " "ػ , " "ج , etc. or

in meaning only like "ضج "د (Hamzah), "ذح "ؿ (Talhah), etc. or

in form only, like "وراب" (book), "ل" (pen), etc.

(17) The fourth perspective: the type of ending

The االع from this perspective is divided into five categories:

(a) مىص preceded اء that terminates in a اع which is any declinable ,(defective) ا

by a وغشج (i.e. -" " ), like: " "اماػ (the judge), " اػ "ا (the past), etc.

(b) مظىس ؤف that terminates in an اع which is any declinable ,(shortened) ا(whether it is written as an actual ؤف or a dot-less اء ) preceded by a فرذح (i.e. -"ا"

or -"ي" ), like: "اؼظا" (stick), "افر" (the young lad), etc.

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(c) ذود which ؤف that terminates in an اع which is any declinable ,(lengthened) ا

is extended by a ضج (i.e. -"اء" ), like: "شاء "د (red fem.), "طذشاء" (desert), "وغاء"

(type of cloth or clothing), "بشاء" (creating, producing, establishing), etc.

(d) تاظذخ or واو terminating in a اع which is every declinable ,(quasi-strong) اشث

"و "- .i.e) عىى preceded by a اء and -" " ), like: "ى "د (sweet), " "ظث (deer), etc.

(e) اظذخ (strong), which is every declinable اع that does not terminate in any of

the four previous endings, like: "وراب" (book), "سج" (man), etc.

(18) The fifth perspective: number (singular, dual and plural)

The االع from this perspective is divided into three categories:

(a) فشد that denotes a single masculine or feminine اع which is any ,(singular) ا

object, like: "ؿاة" (one male student), "ؿاثح" (one female student), etc.

(b) ث that denotes two masculine or feminine objects by اع which is any ,(dual) ا

suffixing the األف and اى (i.e. -" "ا in the case of اشفغ ) or the ااء and اى (i.e. -" " in the case of اظة and اجش ) to the singular form, like:

– ؿاثا (two male students) ؿاث

– ؿاثرا (two female students) ؿاثر

(c) غ that denotes three or more masculine or feminine اع which is any ,(plural) اج

objects and comprises two types:

(i) غ ارظذخ ح or ج غ اغال which is when the singular form remains ,(sound plural) ج

intact and unbroken when forming the plural form and which in turn comprises two types:

زوش اغا غ ا that denotes three or اع which is any ,(sound masculine plural) ج

more males by suffixing the اىاو and اى (i.e. -" "و in the case of اشفغ ) or the

"- .i.e) اى and ااء " in the case of اظة and اجش ), like:

ؽ – ؿاثى اث

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اث اغا غ ا that denotes three or اع which is any ,(sound feminine plural) ج

more females by suffixing the األف and اراء (i.e. -"اخ" ) to the singular form after

dropping the رذشوح ث ا "ؿاثاخ" :like ,(of femininity اراء vowelled) ذاء ارإ (three or

more female students)

(ii) غ ارىغش which is when the singular form changes when ,(broken plural) ج

forming the plural form and which in turn comprises two types:

ىع امح which are plural forms that denote three to ten ,(plurals of paucity) ج

objects and comprise four forms:

"ؤشهش" (months) (sing. "شهش" ؤفؼ ( ذج" "ؤػ (pillars, columns) (sing. "ىد "ػ ؤفؼح (

"ؤلفاي" (locks) (sing. " "لف ؤفؼاي ( "فرح" (young lads) (sing. "فر" فؼح (

ىع اىثشج which are plural forms that denote eleven to an ,(plurals of multitude) ج

infinite number of objects, and comprise the following forms:

"عف" (ships) (sing. "ح "عف فؼ ( "شهة" (gray) (sing. "ؤشهة" فؼ (

"تغاج" (tyrants, oppressors) (sing. "تاؽ" فؼح ( "طىس" (pictures, images) (sing. "طىسج" فؼ (

"شػ" (sick people, patients) (sing. "شغ" فؼ ( "لىب" (hearts) (sing. "ة "ل فؼىي (

"تذاس" (seas) (sing. "تذش" فؼاي ( "ػثش" (lessons) (sing. "ػثشج" فؼ (

ا" "غ (young lads, servants) (sing. " "غال فؼال ( "ؤشماء" (wretched, villain) (sing. " "شم ؤفؼالء (

ح" "ػ (workers, labourers) (sing. " "ػا فؼح ( اع" "ل (people severing or cutting) (sing. "لاؿغ" فؼاي ( "لؼثا" (sticks, branches) (sing. "لؼة" فؼال (

"فح" (elephants) (sing. "ح "ف فؼح ( اء" "ػ (scholars, learned people) (sing. " "ػا فؼالء (

16

"ششد" (fugitive, stray, defectors) (sing. "شاسد" فؼ ( " "دسا (dirhams) (sing. " "دس فؼا ( ش" "دا (dinars) (sing. "داس" ػاف (

ـ امىب واثذاس ػثش شػــــ افح ؤج اع لؼثا ل

ف اغثغ واؼشش اره ىػه ج

* * *

اشهة اثغاج طــىس ف اغفـــــــح ألشماء ػ اه غ

اء ػ ـواؼ رهـــــــــ سد و

In the grey ships the tyrants are images of sick-hearted people while the seas are lessons Their children work for the wretched, cutting off branches because the elephants And the scholars are astray and the final of their plurals ends finishes in the seventeenth (position)

NB! In the final analysis the division of the غ ارىغش غ امح into ج غ اىثشج and ج is ج

not a crucial one as the two types of plural are often interchangeable, such that there is no hard-and-fast rule stating that the one has to be used rather than the other. Often just one of the two types exist per noun in which case it can be used for either type. (19) The sixth perspective: diminution


(a) ظغش that denotes the diminutive of the original اع which is any ,(diminutive) ا

:from which it is formed, and comprises three forms االع

"فظ" (small fels) (diminutive of "ظ "ف فؼ ( "دسه" (small dirham) (diminutive of " "دس فؼؼ ( ش" "د (small dinar) (diminutive of "داس" فؼؼ (

(b) ىثش ظغش from which the االع which is the original ,(original non-diminutive) ا is ا

formed, like:

ظ" "ف (fels, small coin)

" "دس (dirham, silver coin)

"داس" (dinar, golden coin)

17

(20) The seventh perspective: relation


(a) غىب اء اغة that has the اع which is any ,(relative noun) ا (i.e. the ااء of

relation and ascription, that is: "" ) suffixed to it in order to show that the االع bearing that ااء is related to the original االع before the suffixing of the اء اغة , like:

" "ظش (Egyptian) from "ظش" (Egypt),

" "بعال (Islamic) from "اإلعال" (Islam),

" "ى (Meccan) from "ىح" (Mecca),

" "ذ (Medinan, civil, municipal, urban) from "ذح "ا (Medina, city), etc.

(b) غىب ب before the suffixing of the االع which is the original ,(noun related to) ا

"ظش" :like , اء اغة "اإلعال" , "ىح" , and "ذح "ا in the previous examples.

18

شرشن اظشف ا

شرشن (21) from the perspective of the االع and افؼ investigates both the اظشف ا

changes that affect their structures – changes which facilitate the overall pronunciation of the word. The most important of these changes are the following

three: اإلدغا (assimilation, merging), اإلػالي (changes involving weak letters) and

.(substitution, replacement) اإلتذاي

is when the first of two identical letters is assimilated into the second so اإلدغا (22)

as become one emphatic letter. Thus, instead of pronouncing them twice they are pronounced once only. The following are some of the important rules pertaining to

: اإلدغا (a) When two identical letters meet and the first of them is unvowelled and the second vowelled, then the first is assimilated into the second becoming one emphatic letter, like:

"ذ" which was originally "ذد" on the pattern of " "فؼ , the first of the two .i.e) اذاال

two Dals) is assimilated into the second becoming "ذ" .

(b) When two vowelled identical letters meet in one word and they are preceded by another vowelled letter, then the first of them is first unvowelled and then assimilated into the second becoming one emphatic letter, like:

"ذ" which was originally "ذد" on the pattern of " "فؼ , the first of the two .i.e) اذاال

two Dals) is then unvowelled becoming "ذد" and then assimilated into the second

becoming "ذ" .

(c) When two vowelled identical letters meet in one word and they are preceded by an unvowelled letter, then the first of them is first unvowelled by transferring its vowel to the preceding unvowelled letter and then assimilated into the second becoming one emphatic letter, like:

ذ" " which was originally "ذد " on the pattern of " "فؼ , the first of the two اذاال(i.e. two Dals) is unvowelled by transferring its vowel to the preceding unvowelled

ذد" becoming ا " and then assimilated into the second اذاي becoming "ذ " .

(d) When two identical letters meet and the first of them is vowelled and the second unvowelled and they are preceded by an unvowelled, then it is optional for the first of the two identical letters to be unvowelled by transferring its vowel to the preceding unvowelled letter, such that two unvowelled letters meet and to escape the meeting of two unvowelled letters the second of them is vowelled either with:

19

a وغشج (due to it being the primary اذشوح used for the meeting of two unvowelled

letters),

فرذح (due to it being the lightest of the three اذشواخ ), or

the اذشوح corresponding the previous اذشوح , like:

ذ" " ذ" , " or "ذ " which was originally "ذد " on the pattern of " فؼ " ,

the first of the two is optionally unvowelled by transferring its vowel to the اذاال

preceding unvowelled ذد" becoming ا " and then the two unvowelled اذاالmeet and to escape their meeting the second is vowelled either with a فرذح , وغشج or

the ح ح that corresponds to the اذشوح which is the اؼ on the preceding اؼ , اthus becoming either "ذ " ذ" , " or "ذ " .

(e) When the second of two identical letters has the رذشن ش اشفغ ا " .i.e) ػ "خفؼ ,

" افؼ "ذ , " فؼ "ذ , " فؼ "ذ , " "فؼ and " "افؼ ) suffixed to it, then assimilation of the first

into second is disallowed, like: "ذدخ" ا" , "ذدذ , " "ذدذ , " "ذدذ , " "ذد and "ذدا" .

:is a type of change that affects weak letters as regards اإلػالي (23)

transforming one weak letter into another, like: "دػا" and "لاي" in which the األف in both cases was transformed from a واو as their original forms were "دػى" and

"لىي" respectively,

unvowelling the weak letter either through dropping the vowel completely or

transferring it to an unvowelled letter before it, like: "ذػى" in which the اىاو was

unvowelled by dropping the ح "ذػى" as the original form was اؼ , and like: "مىي"

in which the اىاو was unvowelled by transferring the ح اماف to the unvowelled اؼbefore it at the original form was "مىي" , and

dropping the weak letter, like: " "ل in which the اىاو was dropped due to the

meeting of two unvowelled letters as the original form was "الىي" , and then the

ح was unvowelled by transferring the اىاو اماف to the preceding unvowelled اؼbecoming "الىي" and the result is that the ضج اىط is dropped and two

unvowelled letters meet, namely: the unvowelled اىاو and the unvowelled اال , and to escape this meeting the weak letter which is the unvowelled اىاو is

dropped, thus becoming " "ل .

20

The following are some of the most important rules pertaining to اإلػالي :

(a) When the اىاو or ااء is vowelled and preceded by a letter bearing a فرذح , it is

transformed into an ؤف (and it does not matter whether the األف is written as one or

as a dot-less اء ), like: "دػا" which was originally "دػى" , and "لاي" which was originally

"لىي" or " "س which was originally " "س and "تاع" which was originally "تغ" , all of

which are on the pattern of " "فؼ but because the اىاو and ااء is vowelled and

preceded by a letter bearing a فرذح , they were transformed into an ؤف . The original

form of the األف can be determined from the ؼاسع ظذس and/or the افؼ ا for , ا

example:

"دػا" "ذػى" – "دػىج" –

"لاي" "مىي" – "لىال" –

" "س – " "ش ا" – "س

"تاع" غ" – "ث ؼا" – "ت

(b) When the اىاو is unvowelled and occurs after a وغشج , it is transformed into a اء , like: "ؼاد " which was originally "ىػاد" , and "ضا " which was originally "ىصا" , but

because the اىاو in each case is unvowelled and occurs after a وغشج , it is

transformed into a اء . The original form of the ااء can be determined from the افؼ اػ ظذس and/or the ا :for example , ا

"وػذ" "ؼذ" – "وػذا" –

" "وص – " "ض "وصا" –

(c) When the ااء is unvowelled and occurs after a حع , it is transformed into a واو ,

like: " "ىل which was originally " م " , and "ىعش" which was originally "غش " , but

because the second ااء in each case is unvowelled and occurs after a ح it is , ػ

transformed into a واو . We know the original form of the اىاو to be a اء because of

the اػ " being ا "ؤم and "ؤغش" respectively and the ظذس of the root form being ا

"ام" and "اغش" respectively.

(d) When the األف (which is always unvowelled) occurs after a وغشج , it is

transformed into an unvowelled اء , like: "ظاتخ" which was originally "ظاتاح" , but

21

because the األف occurs after a وغشج , it is transformed into an unvowelled اء . We

know that the ااء was originally an ؤف because "ظاتخ" is the plural of "ظثاح" and

the plural is formed from the singular.

(e) When the األف (which is always unvowelled) occurs after a ح it is , ػ

transformed into an unvowelled واو , like: "ذ "شى which was originally "ذ "شا , but

because the األف occurs after a ح We . واو it is transformed into an unvowelled , ػ

know that the اىاو was originally an ؤف because "ذ "شى is the passive form of "ذ "شا

which is the active form, and the passive form is formed from the active form.

(f) When the اىاو occurs at the end of a word after a وغشج , it is transformed into a

" like , اء "سػ which was originally "سػى" , but because the اىاو occurs at the end

after a وغشج , it is transformed into a اء . We know that the ااء was originally a واو

because the ظذس "سػىا" is ا and the popular view is that the افؼ is derived from

the ظذس . ا

(g) When the اىاو and the ااء meet and one of them precedes the other in bearing a

is always going to be اىاو then the ,(i.e. the first of them is unvowelled) عىى

transformed into a اء , like: "عذ" which was originally "عىد" on the pattern of "فؼ" ,

but because the اىاو and the ااء meet and the first of them is unvowelled, the اىاو is

transformed into a اء . We know that the second of the double and emphatic ااء was

originally a واو because of the ؼاسع "غىد" being ا .

(h) When the اىاو occurs at the end of a word and it is the fourth letter and upwards ,

then it is transformed into a اء [and it does not matter if the ااء is subsequently

transformed into an ؤف according to rule (a) or not], like: "ؤج" which was originally

"ؤجى" , but because the اىاو occurs at the end and it is the fourth letter, it is

transformed into a اء , which in turn is transformed into an ؤف (but written as a dot-

less اء ) according to rule (a).

(i) When the اىاو or the ااء occurs at the end of a word after a vowelled letter, then

their اذشوح is dropped if it is a ح ذذػى " :like ,( فرذح but retained if it is a) وغشج or a ػ "ب ااد which was originally " "ذذػى ب ااد , but because the اىاو of "ذذػى" bears

a ح " of ااء and the ػ "ااد a وغشج and both these letters occur after a vowelled

22

letter, the ح are dropped. This also applies ااء on the اىغشج and the اىاو on the اؼ

to " ػ اجا اماػ "مؼ which was originally "ا مؼ ػ اجا "ماػ .

(j) When the second root letter (also called the “ ح" ػ اى ) is a vowelled weak letter

(i.e. a vowelled واو or اء ) and occurs after an unvowelled strong letter, then the

.of the second root letter is transferred to the unvowelled strong letter اذشوح

Thereafter, if the second root letter (which is the اىاو or ااء ) is not the

corresponding sister letter of the اذشوح that was transferred to the unvowelled strong

letter before it, then the second root letter is transformed into the corresponding

sister letter of the transferred اذشوح . This is like:

"مىي" which was originally "مىي" ,

"غ "ث which was originally "ثغ" ,

" "م which was originally " "مى which then became " "مى and then finally " "م ,

"خاف" which was originally "خىف" which then became "خىف" and then finally

"خاف" .

(k) When two unvowelled letters meet and one of them is a weak letter, then it is dropped, like:

" "ل which was originally "الىي" which then became "الىي" , then "لىي" and then

finally " "ل ,

"تغ" which was originally "اتغ" , which then became "غ "ات , then غ "ت and then

finally "تغ" ,

"د "ؤل , which was originally "د "ؤلا (but even before this it was "د "ؤلى , which

then became "د "ؤلى and then "د "ؤلا , and then finally "د "ؤل .

(l) When the افؼ is naked triliteral starting with a واو (which is referred to as

ثاي واو" جشد "ثالث ) on the pattern of " "فؼ (whether it is originally on that pattern

or not), then the اىاو is dropped from the ؼاسع ش the , ا ظذس and the األ and the ا

latter case it is compensated for by adding a شتىؿح :like , ذاء

" "ظ which was originally " "ىط

" "ط which was originally " "اوط

23

"طح" which was originally "وط" .

.is a change that involves the substitution of one letter for another اإلتذاي (24)

The following are some of the most important rules pertaining to اإلتذاي :

(a) When the اىاو or the ااء occurs at the end of a word after an additional ؤف , then

it is substituted for by a ضج , like:

"دػاء" which was originally "دػاو" ( because it is from "دػا" "ذػى" – ),

"تاء" which was originally " "تا (because it is from "ت" – " "ث )

(b) When the اىاو or the ااء occurs after the األف of " "فاػ (i.e. the of the اع افاػ

first form), then it is substituted for by a ضج , like:

" "لائ which was originally "لاوي" (because it is from "لاي" "مىي" – ),

"تائغ" which was originally "تاغ" (because it is from "تاع" غ" – "ث )

(c) When the افاء (i.e. the first root letter) of " "افرؼ is a واو or a اء , then it is

substituted for by a ذاء which is then assimilated into the اراء of " "افرؼ , like:

" "اذظ which was originally " "اوذظ which then became " "اذرظ and then finally

" "اذظ (because it is from " "وط – " "ظ ),

"اذغش" which was originally "ارغش" which then became "اذرغش" and then finally

"اذغش" (because it is from "غش" غش" – " ).

(d) When the افاء (i.e. the first root letter) of " "افرؼ is a ثاء , then it is substituted for by

a ثاء and the first اثاء is then assimilated into the second, like:

"اثإس" which was originally "اثرإس" which then became "اثثإس" and then finally "اثإس" .

(e) When the افاء (i.e. the first root letter) of " "افرؼ is a داي , a اير or a صا , then the

" of اراء "افرؼ is substituted for by a داي , like:

"ادػ" which was originally "ادذؼ" which then became "اددػ" and then finally

"ادػ" ,

24

"اردوش" which was originally "ارذىش" which then became "اردوش" (also permissible

for "اردوش" are: "اروش" and "ادوش" ),

"ش "اصد which was originally "اصذهش" which then became "ش "اصد .

(f) When the افاء (i.e. the first root letter) of " "افرؼ is a طاد , a ػاد , a اءؽ or a ظاء ,

then the اراء of " "افرؼ is substituted for by a ؿاء , like:

"ـف "اط which was originally "اطرف" which then became "ـف "اط ,

"ـشب "اػ which was originally "اػرشب" which then became "ـشب "اػ ,

"اؿغ" which was originally "غ "اؿر which then became "غ ـ "اؿ and then finally

"اؿغ" ,

" ـ "اظ which was originally " "اظر which then became " ـ "اظ (also permissible

for " ـ "اظ are: " "اظ and " "اؿ )

(g) When two ضذا meet in one word, and the first of them is vowelled and the

second unvowelled, then the second is substitute for by a ذ letter of) دشف

prolongation) which is the corresponding sister letter of the preceding دشوح , like:

" "آ which was originally " "ؤؤ

" "ؤو which was originally " "ؤئ

ا" "ب which was originally "ا "بئ .

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Sarf In Short