Dr. Ali Al-Qasimi: The Making of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language

Abstract

This article reviews Dr. Ali Al-Qasimi’s book The Making of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language, presenting it as a scholarly work that seeks to ground the Arabic historical dictionary project and clarify its theoretical and practical foundations. The review discusses the book’s multi-chapter structure, beginning with the distinction between general dictionaries and historical dictionaries, then tracing the development of historical dictionaries in other languages, previous attempts to prepare a historical dictionary of Arabic, and the methodological and scholarly difficulties that have faced such efforts. It also highlights the book’s treatment of linguistic corpora, dictionary entries, etymology, definitions, arrangement of materials, and the types of information a historical dictionary should provide. The review further notes the importance of heritage and modern sources in tracing the development of words and meanings. It concludes that the book’s value lies in combining lexicographical expertise with practical planning, offering a workable vision for an Arabic historical dictionary that serves researchers in language, literature, history, and civilization.