Description: This comprehensive work presents a compelling and much needed synthesis of linguistic theories, considering both the historical development of Arabic, and its modern structure and usage. In charting the development of Arabic, Vertseegh provides a detailed picture of the richness, diversity, and complexity of the language, paying close attention to the difference between literary or classic Arabic -- the language of the Qur'an and literature, codified in the eighth century and surviving largely unchanged to this day -- and the many dialects spoken throughout the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and Africa. Versteegh describes Arabic's three main dialects: Arabic proper, typified by the archaic dialects of the Bedouins of the Arabian Peninsula; Eastern dialects spoken in Iraq, Syria, and Egypt; and Latinized dialects spoken in Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria.

Bringing together linguistic and cultural history while exploring Arabic's many contacts with other languages, Versteegh brings into focus the full breadth of Arabic's influence as a cultural, religious, and political language. This book will be an invaluable resource for students and scholars of Middle East studies or linguistics.

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