Abstract
ARAP DİL BİLGİNLERİNİN ANLAMBİLİM ALANINA KATKILARI
This study examines the contributions of Arab linguists to the field of semantics and offers a comparative analysis of semantic thought in both Western and Eastern traditions. In the West, semantics emerged later than other subfields of linguistics such as phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexicography. The abstract and multilayered nature of meaning has made it difficult to clearly delineate the boundaries of semantics, thus delaying its development as an independent scientific discipline. In contrast, in the Arab linguistic tradition, discussions concerning the relationships between expression (lafz), meaning (maʿnā), signification (dalāla), and context (siyāq) date back to the early centuries and constitute a conceptual foundation that anticipated modern semantic studies. The conceptual framework developed by Arab linguists not only enriched Arabic language studies but also contributed significantly to the broader field of linguistic philosophy and semantics.
The study employs a qualitative research method, utilizing documentation and comparative analysis techniques for data collection and interpretation. The findings indicate that there existed a mutual interaction between Eastern and Western linguistic traditions; however, meaning-centered approaches originated earlier within the Arab linguistic heritage. In this respect, the study aims to provide a broader perspective on the historical development of semantics and to highlight the pioneering role of Arab linguists in shaping this discipline.
Keywords
Linguistics, Semantics, Meaning, Arabic Language, Arabic Linguists
