How to study Dictionaries
and Lexicons?
A dictionary is
simply a book that contains a list of words and their meanings that are or were
commonly in use. A lexicon doesn't define the words. A
lexicon in linguistics is the entire inventory or set of language lexemes. A
lexeme [concept] is the smallest unit of a language that bears some
meaning. In Arabic language the smallest unit is the root word from where the chains
of derivatives emerge to form the branches or the family of that root word
which contains the essence of root in all of them.
Dictionary is a
list of vocabularies that individuals know or use regularly. Dictionary is
different from lexicon because vocabulary is about what an individual or group
of people uses, in addition to that the vocabularies keeps on growing whereas
lexicon is strictly based on the language itself.
A lexicographer
or a lexicologist is a compiler or writer of a dictionary; a student of the
lexical component of language. Lexicographer compiles information based on etymology
or origin of the word. There are many lexicographers having different views on
the meanings of single word; that’s the reason why we find range of meanings
for a single word. The work of a good lexicographer is to provide an idea or
concept or a hint the meaning of the word and it is the job of the student to
deduce or pick the correct essence of the word using his/her own power of
deduction that connects with the context and makes sense to his/her overall
understanding.
When a
translator undertakes the job of translating any book of foreign or old
language he has to come across various meanings of a single word. If he does
not have the overall idea of the theme of the book his job becomes more
difficult. Right themes are the vital key for correct interpretation of any
book or message otherwise any amount of grammar or knowledge of linguistic is
of no use.
Deducting the
correct meaning from the range of meanings needs a lot of common sense, only bookish
knowledge is not sufficient. Deduction of the meanings is to derive a logical conclusion
based on the context of the subject and not on preconceived assumptions.
Translation must be purely done on the merit or on the basis of the context. To
deduce the meaning is to figure something out based on the overall information
that we already understand. Those who are simple readers may or may not
understand the reason of explanation or tafseer of that particular word. Some of
them may search in for reference books or lexicons or seek their scholar’s help
for the confirmation of their understanding of that particular word but they
will never apply their own mind or common sense because they are conditioned
not to think independently. Cult mentality is the main enemy of using our own
common sense. Such people will always require crutches of reference books and
guides as they insist on the exact meaning of what the lexicographer had
entered in the lexicon. One must understand lexicographers are humans and they
also have their limitations, plus decoding an old language is not at all easy.
How to Use
Context to Determine the Meaning of Words:
Often, using
the context is the only way to figure out the meaning of the word as it is used
in the sentence, passage, or chapter. Sometimes we don’t get a clear idea of
the meaning of the word from dictionaries or lexicons alone. We need to have a
deep overall understanding of the content we are translating.
One way of
looking at ways of interpreting meaning from a text is to think in terms of
what is often called context. However, this is a rather woolly term, applied by
different people to different things in different disciplines and rather
inconsistently at that, so we can further break it down into:
The co-text: the
linguistic environment of an unknown item, such as its place in the sentence or
the morphemes of which it is composed. What is co-text? An unknown word
surrounded by particular words or passage within the text that provides the structure
to build the context and helps to determine the meaning of that unknown word in
the sense of the context.
The context:
what Scott Thornbury calls the “physical and temporal setting” in which
discourse occurs and which requires knowledge of its purpose, knowledge of participants
and the knowledge of the format of the text whether it is written or spoken or
written in theophany style.
As nouns the
difference between context and co-text is that context is the
surroundings, circumstances, environment, background or settings that
determine, specify, or clarify the meaning of an event or other occurrence
while co-text is the text that surrounds the node, or word of interest
or a key word in the context.
A further way
of looking at how this text might be interpreted is to examine different processes
which readers employ when they try to comprehend something. The process
involves use of linguistic clues present in the text, lexicons and the themes.
The process of comprehension also involves using existing schemata (world
knowledge) to aid comprehension and treating text as a whole, rather than a
series of individual words understood in myopic manner. But for some applying
world knowledge to understand the book Quran is a taboo or not acceptable
because of the cult mentality or tunnel vision.
The preceding
discussion has focused on an example of what’s often called “deducing meaning
from context” or “inferring lexical meaning” or other similar appellations.
This is a commonly discussed sub skill in the teaching of reading and one
you’ll find a few Delta background essays on. It’s also something you can help
your learners develop in by working on it in class, showing them how to do it
and providing practice in order to help them become more autonomous readers who
don’t need to translate every word they don’t know. They are more concerned
about the sense and essence of the matter and have the greater tolerance for
vagueness. But there are some learners who only read to increase their
knowledge of vocabularies. However, when we interpret the meaning of a text,
there’s much more going on above the level of the individual word.
For example see
how I do translation of Quranic verse - 2:185
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ
الَّذِيْ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ
The month of
Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an [114 chapter book],
a guidance for the people / mankind and clear proofs of guidance and criterion –
Traditional understanding
Suppose the key
words in this sentence is Shahru Ramadan – شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ
The traditional
meaning of shahru is month and the meaning of Ramadan is 9th
month of Islamic Calendar.
Yes these
meanings are present in Modern Arabic Dictionaries as well as in the classical
Arabic Lexicon so what is wrong in it. These are the most popular meanings and
established meanings and grammatically also it seems to be okay but does the
sentence make sense for a thinking mind?
One may ask
what is so special or important in this month that the entire 114 chapter holy
book was revealed in it. Why not any other month? Is it not important for a
thinking mind to know within the context the connection between the phrase Shahru
Ramadan and the book of guidance & criterion meant for the entire mankind?
Does it not look absurd that the entire mankind has to learn and understand the
book Quran? Do we not need to ponder upon it as this Al-Quran is connected with
the entire mankind? This 114 chapter book is in Arabic language then why is it
meant to be necessary for the entire mankind? Again does it make sense? Do the
people living in African, Indian, Amazon and Australian Jungles need to learn
Arabic language in order to understand 114 chapter book? Are we not missing
something important and big? Is this not the reason that Muslims want to preach
the book Quran to the entire world and convert them to Islam when the truth is
they themselves have not understood its core message? Is it not important to
know or we can leave the understanding as it is? The explanation of this small
sentence in 2:185 can fill an entire book.
When the reader
is not satisfied with the logic behind this verse he will search for
alternatives. Here comes the role of lexicons, dictionaries and grammar.
2:185 - شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيْ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ
مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ
The root word
of شَهْر
is – شهر -
The range of
meanings of shahr and its derivatives are - made it apparent,
conspicuous, manifest, notorious, notable, commonly known or public,
celebrated, renowned, notorious, infamous. In modern Arabic shahr in form ii
verb signifies he paraded an offender as a public example. This word is also
connected with month, new moon. Mashoor مشهور
is famous, celebrated, renowned, notorious, famed, eminent – shaheer شهير is
renowned, noted, lustrous, prominent – shaurat شهره signifies fame -الاشتهار
is the appearance, conspicuousness, manifestness, notable, publicity etc
– الاشهران means the drum or the banner – The phrase
shahr saifhu - شهر سيفه also signifies
taking out sword from scabbard or he drew his sword and raised it over the
people - There are many more meanings, those who
are interested may refer to the lexicons.
Sometimes
lexicographers give illustrative examples as clues and hints to understand the
essence of the word more clearly but sadly some people take that illustration
as literal meaning of that word.
The basic meaning of
Shahr and its derivatives is manifestation. The lexicographer
illustrated an example to express that drawing the sword from the scabbard to
raise the sword to its people is the sign of manifestation. But a much
respected translator Dr. Qamarzaman made a grave mistake by deriving the
meaning of war and sword from the word shahru. He ignored the Arabic meaning
for sword given by the same lexicographer and in the same context as saif [سيف].
Ironically his blind devotees are citing it as one of the lexicon meaning of
Shahru [شهر]. I just have pity for such arrogant followers; instead of
correcting his mistakes they are ready to criticize or fight with others.
By assuming the meaning
of shahr as a situation of war Dr. Qamarzaman not only twisted the
meaning but totally change the complexion of peaceful message of the book
Quran. War and aggression takes us nowhere even if it is done to establish
peace on Earth. Every person has his own version of peace. To impose our
version of peace is to seed of hate and division of humanity.
Now understanding the
essence of Ramadan:
The root word of رَمَضَانَ is –رمض
The range of meanings
of ramz - رمض and its derivative are -
Almost all the
lexicons that I referred agree that the basic meaning of رمض is related to
heat, burning a derivative of word رَمَضَانَ – The earth or the ground became
vehemently heated = رمضت الارض – our day became intensely hot = رمض يوما
– Ramiz رمض - said of a man, he had his feet burnt or affected by heat of
the sun – رمضت عينه – his eyes became hot, so that it almost burned – according to
TA his inside became vehemently hot due to fasting [Fr, K], hot by reason of
intense thirst [Fr, TA] – cultivation of land
[L,TA] – رمضت من الامر = I was distressed and disquiet by
the reason of things or affair, I grieved for it – ارتمض signifies he was distressed or disquieted
by reason of such a thing – ترميض
[S,A,K] – signifies causing to burnt by heat or giving pain due to
tardiness -رمض الغنم – he pastured the sheep or goat on
the vehemently heated ground – kindled the fire upon the stones / hot ashes for
the purpose of cooking the flesh = رمض اللحم – Making the
blade knife or blade sharp by beating it between two smooth stone = رمض الموصى
= beat the razor between two stones that it may become thin or sharp – الترمض
= heaving of soul or being agitated by the tendency of vomit = غشيان النفس - رمضة = process of
rubbing…
The basic idea of the
word ramz - رمض is that it signifies heat, fire, burn, kindle but when I write
friction or combustion for the sake of explanation, the so called expert
linguists or dumb people will cry Oh from where you got these meanings it is
not even mentioned in the list of meanings. They will not understand that
friction and combustion are only extended examples meant for explanation and
are the part of heat process as rubbing of two stones or sharpening of knives.
Again to justify the
meaning of shahru as war like situation Late Dr. Qamarzaman twisted another
important word Ramadan by ignoring the basic meaning of رمض – ramz which basically signifies heat, friction,
burn, fire and kindle due to some action. But again the illustration given as
example of generation of heat due sharpening of the blades between the two
stones is taken literally as the meaning of Ramadan that is “sharpening
the blade of a sword”. I have not seen such blatant misuse of lexicons to
justify the theme of establishing the “Kingdom of God on Earth” commonly
known as Nizam e Rabbubiyat.
Now the question is can
we not use modern words to describe our current understanding of the book Quran?
Do we have to stick to the exact words of ancient lexicographers who compiled
classical lexicons roughly between 1066 C.E - 1768 C.E with limited
resources at their disposal –
For example if I take
the meaning of nazil as down loading then the same linguist experts will
accuse me of twisting meanings of the book Quran. Such people who stick to the
exact lexicon meanings and are blind to its spirit are harming the message of
the book Quran tremendously.
Sometimes
lexicographers give illustrative examples as clues and hints to understand the
essence of the word more clearly but sadly some people take that illustration as
literal meanings.
The actual objective
of Ramadan is to sharpen the intellect, give pain to the brain or pass through
the tough times. We cannot achieve anything without the touch of abrasion or
heat. Kindle or ignition of knowledge occurs due to the tedious process of
sharpening of intellect done between the grinding stones of grief and the
intense desire to come out of that grief and anxiety. In such situation the
Quran is revealed or downloaded to those agitated minds that are ready to
receive guidance and criterion.
Although a good lexicon enter all the possible
entries so it is obvious that they will also include the popular meaning of
Ramadan رَمَضَانَ that is 9th month of Islamic calendar. It will not make
sense if we don't interpret the word Ramadan according to its root meaning. The
word Shahru cannot be categorized as month as it is in nominative case; this
means it has to show / manifest some state or condition that justifies the
downloading of the Quran. No one can achieve the masterpiece of knowledge by
just fasting from dawn to dusk or indulging in warfare. Thinking logically and
persistently is the only criteria to receive right knowledge, guidance and
criterion.
Again for those who
have not yet clearly understood the verse; please understand the context and
the spirit of how these words are used.
2:185 - شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيْ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ
مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ
State of
notable manifestation (shahru) is the kindle of knowledge / sharpening
the intellect (ramadan), in which the Expression (Al-Quran) is
revealed / downloaded, [in it] is the guidance for the agitated minds and clear
explanation (bayanati) from the guidance and the Criterion (Al-Furqan).
For further
explanation of what is Quran and why it is revealed in Arabic and how it is
connected with every human being may read my article on Kitab, Quran &
Arabic at –www.ahleaqal.com-
