المصـطلح النَّحـويّ معالم النشأة والصيرورة

Abstract

This study examines the grammatical term as a cognitive and methodological instrument that contributed to the formation of Arabic grammatical thought and the development of its conceptual framework. It seeks to trace the stages through which grammatical terminology evolved, from its early emergence to its eventual stabilization and standardization. The study focuses particularly on the phenomena of variation and inconsistency that accompanied grammatical terminology during its formative stages, as reflected in the differences among grammatical schools, the diversity of scholars’ approaches to naming and defining terms, and the influence of the broader intellectual and scientific development of the Arabic linguistic tradition.The research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, drawing upon representative examples from classical grammatical sources in order to investigate the causes behind the multiplicity of terms referring to a single concept, as well as the plurality of meanings associated with certain grammatical terms. It further examines the impact of such variation on the interpretation and formulation of grammatical issues.In addition, the study discusses the major factors that contributed to the stabilization of grammatical terminology in later periods, including the spread of pedagogical works, the growing tendency toward systematization, and scholars’ efforts to unify the terminological framework of Arabic grammar.The study concludes that the development of grammatical terminology was not a random phenomenon, but rather a natural outcome of the evolution of Arabic linguistic thought. Moreover, the stage of variation and multiplicity played a significant role in enriching grammatical discourse and expanding its conceptual horizons before eventually leading to a relative degree of terminological stability within the Arabic grammatical tradition.