Even the Arabic words used for ritual worshipping. For example “Salat” “prayer” comes from the root ص ل ي meaning to connect , which is the core meaning of prayer is to connect with God. Zakat “ the obligatory charity “ comes from root ز ك ي meaning to rise, and to be pure , which implies the spiritual effects of Zakat on believer’s heart.
Examples are many ! Thank you for this beautiful article.
oh my gosh i skimmed this article and it is beautiful- communicates so many thoughts i’ve had about language shaping thought and worldview, and also the genius of the Arabic language and the way it forces you to acknowledge relationships and connections !!!! I AM RETURNING TO ANALYSE YOUR EVERY WORD !!!
Beautiful article Zahra, thank you. My Arabic teacher always says “in Arabic, less is more”. While living in Palestine last year, never was this so true. At a children’s centre, the kids presented us with a bilingual book. I read the Italian portion while my friend read the Arabic version, and she would typically get through the same passage in half the time. That is, until I began speed reading, sending the kids into fits of laughter…
I made me think of, that I recently learned that the word insān (human) have overlapping root letters with the word nisyān meaning forgetfulness (please correct me if I'm wrong), but it makes me think that the vessel human is forgetful and the soul rūḥ is the one that remembers.
Thank you for reading! I believe the trilateral root for Insan is ء-ن-س (u-n-s), meaning familiarity and comfort in familiarity. How beautiful is that! The root of ‘human’ or ‘humanity’ (إنسانية) is a shared intimate familiarity. It’s a lexical insistence on collectivism.
I didn't know that either, really remarkable that so much lexicality in the Arabic language can represent and tell about the human experienced existence, thank you for replying and sharing it!
Thanks Zahra. As ever, your analysis is refreshing from a human point of view. That the Arabic language brings depth of meaning to anyone speaking it. I love how French has deeper layers of meaning, due to more unspoken nuances known to the French. It illuminates poetry. English needs to be strangely juxtoposed to tear meaning out of it with poetics.
arabic structure is beautiful. but i wouldn't say unique. 'relate' comes from latin 'carry back'. so it has weight built in. only started use in 15th c as transitive.
q-l-b to turn, flip is a better example.
>to capture exactly what you mean with words is much more precisely done in Arabic
This also happens when i am speaking my native language “hausa” the way it is said changes the meaning of the word entirely. I haven’t spoken arabic in such a long time but i still understand some words only i can’t reply in the right grammar.
Masha Allah, wonderful article. I'd like to read more about this, I have heard that Abderrahmane Taha has written quite a lot on this, so has Sheikh Attas. Have you read those works, and would you mind sharing more readings on this. Allah yubarikk feeki.
@sarahaziza's memoir The Hollow Half addresses how the three-letter root structurally links seemingly disconnected concepts.
Hebrew relies on this convention as well. I'm not enough of a linguist or historian to know how far back the structure goes, but I assume it is long before the written language was 'revived' in the service of identity-formation in the colonial project with which it is associated.
Trying to make meaning of these building blocks has always been fruitful and fun.
Even the Arabic words used for ritual worshipping. For example “Salat” “prayer” comes from the root ص ل ي meaning to connect , which is the core meaning of prayer is to connect with God. Zakat “ the obligatory charity “ comes from root ز ك ي meaning to rise, and to be pure , which implies the spiritual effects of Zakat on believer’s heart.
Examples are many ! Thank you for this beautiful article.
Arabic really allows for so much wisdom in so few words. Thank you!
This is beautiful
oh my gosh i skimmed this article and it is beautiful- communicates so many thoughts i’ve had about language shaping thought and worldview, and also the genius of the Arabic language and the way it forces you to acknowledge relationships and connections !!!! I AM RETURNING TO ANALYSE YOUR EVERY WORD !!!
Glad to hear it and thank you for reading!!
Beautiful article Zahra, thank you. My Arabic teacher always says “in Arabic, less is more”. While living in Palestine last year, never was this so true. At a children’s centre, the kids presented us with a bilingual book. I read the Italian portion while my friend read the Arabic version, and she would typically get through the same passage in half the time. That is, until I began speed reading, sending the kids into fits of laughter…
How incredible, thank you for sharing! And “less is more” truly is the case in Arabic.
So beautiful, thank you for writing it.
I made me think of, that I recently learned that the word insān (human) have overlapping root letters with the word nisyān meaning forgetfulness (please correct me if I'm wrong), but it makes me think that the vessel human is forgetful and the soul rūḥ is the one that remembers.
Such a vast and beautiful language.
Thank you for reading! I believe the trilateral root for Insan is ء-ن-س (u-n-s), meaning familiarity and comfort in familiarity. How beautiful is that! The root of ‘human’ or ‘humanity’ (إنسانية) is a shared intimate familiarity. It’s a lexical insistence on collectivism.
I didn't know that either, really remarkable that so much lexicality in the Arabic language can represent and tell about the human experienced existence, thank you for replying and sharing it!
Thanks Zahra. As ever, your analysis is refreshing from a human point of view. That the Arabic language brings depth of meaning to anyone speaking it. I love how French has deeper layers of meaning, due to more unspoken nuances known to the French. It illuminates poetry. English needs to be strangely juxtoposed to tear meaning out of it with poetics.
Thank you Jeff and well said 🙏🏻
arabic structure is beautiful. but i wouldn't say unique. 'relate' comes from latin 'carry back'. so it has weight built in. only started use in 15th c as transitive.
q-l-b to turn, flip is a better example.
>to capture exactly what you mean with words is much more precisely done in Arabic
agreed.
Fair point and thank you for reading 🙏🏻
easily one of the most thought provoking pieces, absolutely loved itt
This also happens when i am speaking my native language “hausa” the way it is said changes the meaning of the word entirely. I haven’t spoken arabic in such a long time but i still understand some words only i can’t reply in the right grammar.
This article is much more than simply good writing: it’s a philological masterpiece!
Masha Allah, wonderful article. I'd like to read more about this, I have heard that Abderrahmane Taha has written quite a lot on this, so has Sheikh Attas. Have you read those works, and would you mind sharing more readings on this. Allah yubarikk feeki.
This is brilliant!
@sarahaziza's memoir The Hollow Half addresses how the three-letter root structurally links seemingly disconnected concepts.
Hebrew relies on this convention as well. I'm not enough of a linguist or historian to know how far back the structure goes, but I assume it is long before the written language was 'revived' in the service of identity-formation in the colonial project with which it is associated.
Trying to make meaning of these building blocks has always been fruitful and fun.