الاشتقاق وأثره في تطور اللغة العربية

Derivation and its Impact on The Development of The Arabic Language

الملخص

It can be said that the artificial noun (or artificial derivation) is the easiest and most flexible means for expressing all newly emerging meanings and the vast and ever-expanding body of scientific knowledge. It is a productive form, adaptable to various weights and structures, and offers a broader scope for expressing scientific and technical realities in the modern age.

All we need to do is take any word of any kind and append it with a doubled yaa (ي) and a ta’ marbuta (ة) in a way that makes it easy to pronounce and acceptable in usage. There is no alternative but to accept this form when no substitute exists, as seen in words like ideology (إيديولوجية), physics (فيزيائية), pharmacy (صيدلانية), chemistry (كيماوية), autocracy (أوتوقراطية), and many others. Due to the strong need for this form to express various philosophical concepts and artistic disciplines, the Arabic Language Academy deemed it to be a standard derivation and issued the following decision: "If a noun is to be derived from a word, a nisba suffix (ياء النسب) and a ta’ marbuta (التاء) should be added to it."

Derivation (ishtiqaq) is a defining characteristic of the Arabic language. As it is said, "Languages are not merely their vocabulary and words; rather, they are their styles and structures. This is what distinguishes one language from another. By preserving a language’s styles and structures, we preserve the language itself. As for words and expressions, they naturally change, evolve, and renew from one era to another in response to new environments and influences. Some old words may disappear and be replaced by newer ones from another language that has interacted with it. The original language then assimilates these words while maintaining its own essence. Therefore, no one should claim that the inclusion of new words turns the language into an entirely different one."

No one has the right to make such a claim because the unique structure of a language remains intact. The language adapts and integrates foreign words into its linguistic framework.

I conclude with a perspective from some linguists—one that may be particularly relevant to our discussion. They argue that derivation is a powerful force in the growth and expansion of a language. However, it is traditionally a heard phenomenon, constrained by specific historical periods and particular groups of speakers. We cannot arbitrarily apply this force today, extracting new roots or manipulating linguistic materials in ways that even native speakers of the language did not recognize. Unless, of course, civilization, intellect, and knowledge evolve so that they break free from old constraints and surpass established linguistic norms.