Some Arab contributions in the Science of Linguistics :The prescriptive and Descriptive schools
Abstract
This research paper aims at giving the early Arab linguists the cre- dit of contributing vastly to the two well-known linguistic schools, the Prescriptive and the Descriptive schools. Being able to do so, the Arabs put their steps far ahead of both Europeans and, later in developing one form of the descriptive school. Most European and American linguistic studies have unfortunately ignored the above contributions to the general science of linguistics. on, Americans Arabic The cornerstone of the Arabic prescriptive school was erected in the first eentury of Hijra. Its establishment came as a corollary result of the follow ng urgent needs; first, the avidity of Arab linquists to preserve their language from loss and weakness, especially after the spread of Islam outside the Arabian Peninsula. Secondly, the keen interest of early Arab linguists to teach the language of the Kuran a systematic way to non- Arab Muslims who showed serious diffficulties in tearning Arabic and, in particular, in reciting the holy Kuran. The Descriptive School, on the other hand, was established second century of Hijra