The Term Lahn and Its Synonyms in Lisan Al-Arab: An Applied Study

Abstract

This study explores the term Lahn (grammatical error) and its synonyms in Lisan al-Arab, focusing on linguists' evaluations of texts deemed to deviate from classical Arabic rules. By consulting linguistic references, it examines the criteria used to identify errors and their presence in the speech of both the general public and the elite. The research consists of an introduction, a preface, two main sections, and a conclusion. The preface defines the study’s terms. The first section addresses grammatical errors in public speech, focusing on general issues and the hamza. The second section examines errors in elite speech, covering three areas: errors in prophetic hadiths, poetry, and the speech of linguists and jurists. The conclusion highlights that grammatical errors have been part of Arabic since pre-Islamic times. Many anomalies once considered errors were later accepted by language academies due to their basis in Arabic’s dialectal diversity. Most errors noted in Lisan al-Arab were drawn from earlier linguists’ judgments, which Ibn Manzur largely transmitted without alteration. Occasionally, he offered his opinion but often presented these views neutrally.