From convention to meaning: The journey of words and the evolution of their meanings

Abstract

The Arabic language is among the most profound living languages ​​in its capacity to absorb the semantic shifts that occur to its words over time. Every word carries within it a long history of usage and application, reflecting the interaction of the Arab people with their environment, culture, and society. Hence the importance of studying the conventional use of words; linguistic convention is one of the most significant factors that has contributed to transferring words from their original meanings to new meanings that suit the social and intellectual development a nation undergoes.

Studying the impact of convention on the evolution of meaning helps the researcher understand how meanings are formed in the collective consciousness, and how a word moves from its sensory or original meaning to a social, cultural, or metaphorical one. For example, the word "shatir" originally denoted cunning and deceit, but modern convention has transferred it to a meaning of praise and intelligence. Similarly, words like "zarif," "muthaqqaf," and "saafir" have changed their meanings over time. Due to the importance of this aspect;  This research sought to identify and analyze a number of words that have undergone semantic evolution through customary usage, drawing upon reliable sources from linguistic texts and both classical and modern dictionaries.

Semantic evolution in the Arabic language is an inherent characteristic and a fundamental principle. Like all other languages, Arabic is subject to change in its various elements: vocabulary, syntax, sounds, and meanings. This makes it, like a living organism, subject to development and renewal. However, the levels of language differ in this growth and evolution; they are not all the same. This growth varies across levels in terms of their receptiveness to change, its degree, and its speed from one era to another.