Reviewed by Mousa A. Btoosh, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University

For a little over three and a half decades, Jaroslav Stetkevych’s cogently argued book has always been among the most cited books and primary sources for students and scholars with an interest in Arabic. This well-written and lucid book offers an integrative analysis of a number of central topics related to various levels of lexical, semantic, structural, and stylistic developments of the modern Arabic literary language.

The present re-issuing of this important book consists of six chapters framed by two forewords, an introduction, a preface, a section entitled ‘Definitions and projections’, a bibliography, and an index. In the introduction, William R. Polk sheds light on the historical, political, and linguistic situation of the Arabs and the Arabic language during the Golden, Dark and the Awakening Ages. In the context of the history of Arabic, Polk states that the relationship between Islam and Arabic is inseparable: ‘religion was as much the conveyor of the language as the language was the conveyor of religion’ (xvi). Ch. 1, ‘The analogical method of derivation (Al-Qiyās)’ (1–47), introduces the reader to the basic concepts, forms, and pioneer figures of analogy and derivation. The chapter focuses on three forms of derivation: the simple derivation, the large derivation, and the largest derivation. Ch. 2, ‘The formation of compound words (Al-Naht)’ (48–55), examines the four classes of Al-Naht as a rich source of lexical creation in Arabic.

Ch. 3, ‘The assimilation of foreign words (Al-Ta‛rib)’ (56–65), tackles one of the most important factors contributing to the modernization and development of Arabic, namely, Arabization. To this end, the author sheds light on a number of views and attitudes of lexicographers and grammarians towards Arabization. Ch. 4, ‘Semantic development’ (66–78), presents three inspirational ideas: (i) new meanings tend to be extension of the basic ideas of words; (ii) analogy is a major source for both lexical creation and semantic development; and (iii) semantic extension is made by general openness of meaning.

Ch. 5, ‘Attempts at a simplification of the grammar’ (79–94), thoroughly revises the different theoretical and practical attempts devoted to the simplification of Arabic grammar. Irrespective of the minor differences, most Arabic scholars assert the importance of the simplification process of Arabic grammar. In addition to fundamental factors that have contributed to the stylistic developments of modern Arabic, Ch. 6, ‘Foreign modes of expression (Ta‛rīb al-’ Asālīb)’ (95–113), reviews the previous studies on Arabic stylistic development and presents four major categories of stylistic borrowings.

The final section, ‘Definitions and projections’ (114–23), is devoted to some controversial issues concerning lexical and stylistic developments of the modern Arabic literary language. Furthermore, the section answers and clarifies four major points related to Arabic, language and thought. and the cultural context of language.

It is pretty rare to find a book on Arabic that is as thought-provoking and innovative as The Modern Arabic literary language: Lexical and stylistic developments. In short, this book is an invaluable aid to the study of Arabic.