The Arabic Language - Tapa dura

This is an introductory guide for students of Arabic language, Arabic historical linguistics and Arabic socio-linguistics. New for this edition: a new chapter on the structure of Arabic; a new chapter on Pidgin and Creole varieties; and, data has been updated throughout in light of recent research. Concentrating on the difference between the two types of Arabic - the classical standard language and the dialects - Kees Versteegh charts the history and development of the Arabic language from its earliest beginnings to modern times. The reader is given a solid grounding in the structure of the language, its historical context and its use in various literary and non-literary genres, as well as an understanding of the role of Arabic as a cultural, religious and political world language. It covers all aspects of the history of Arabic, the Arabic linguistic tradition, Arabic dialects and Arabic as a world language. It makes links between linguistic history and cultural history. It emphasises the role of contacts between Arabic and other languages.

Kees Versteegh is Professor at the University of Nijmegen.