The Cause of Preventing Ambiguity in Arabic Grammar: A Study of the 'Structures' Section in Al-Muheet fi Aswat al-Arabiyyah wa Nahwiha wa Sarfiha by Muhammad Al-Antaki
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Abstract
This research examines the grammatical cause of preventing ambiguity ('Illat Amn al-Labs) in Arabic grammar in the book Kitab Al-Muhit fi Aswat al-'Arabiyyah wa Nahwiha wa Sarfiha by Muhammad al-Antaki. In addition to covering the core elements of the grammatical curriculum, this section of the book reflects the author’s profound interest in grammatical meanings. Al-Antaki enriched the text with grammatical justifications (Ta'lil), debated opinions, gave preferences, and meticulously investigated subtle semantic distinctions.Due to the prevalence of preventing ambiguity among the grammatical causes ('Ilal) upon which grammatical rulings are established in the book, we chose to investigate it in this study. A language that is free from complexity, devoid of ambiguity and confusion, and accessible and intelligible in daily communication is the ultimate objective of its speakers. Consequently, grammarians paid great attention to this cause, utilizing it as a foundational premise and a tool for their rulings.Given the frequent reliance on this cause in grammatical investigations, and its impact on various structural components, such as diacritics, letters, word order, and scattered rulings throughout the chapters, this study is structured into four main sections, preceded by an introduction and followed by a conclusion. The first section explores preventing ambiguity through diacritics (Al-Harakah); the second addresses preventing ambiguity through letters (Al-Harf); the third examines preventing ambiguity through word order (Al-Tartib); and the fourth investigates preventing ambiguity through morphological formulation (Al-Siyaghah). The conclusion highlights the most significant findings and recommendations deemed worthy of publication and dissemination.The study outlines each grammatical issue as viewed by traditional grammarians, followed by Al-Antaki’s perspectives on what is prohibited due to the fear of ambiguity, or permissible when safety from it is secured. To achieve this, the study adopts the descriptive-analytical approach.
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