THE TERM “TOOL” IN ARABIC: ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT UNTIL THE END OF THE FOURTH HIJRI CENTURY

Abstract

The research studies the term tool in Arabic grammar. In terms of its origin, the evolution of its use, and how it settled in the system of Arabic grammatical terms with a specific concept, the research problem emerged from the saying of some scholars that this term originated with the Kūfans. And that Al-Farrāʼ invented the term, and after verification, it became clear otherwise. It turns out that most grammarians used this term, the concept of the term and its uses have evolved with the development of the Arabic grammar lesson. The importance of the research is in rooting the term tool and showing the evolution of its use among grammarians, and correcting the inaccurate provisions that were spread in the grammar lesson related to this term and its origin. This research aims to clarify the origin, origin and development of the term, correcting the rulings related to it in the grammatical lesson, and it aims to reveal the scholars' uses of the term tool versus the term letters of meanings. The research followed the historical method as a tool in the study by examining the aspects of using the term tool in linguistic studies. Then analyze the issues, and divide them into phases, to achieve the objectives of the study. The research showed that the term tool is not for the school of Kūfa, and is not specific to Farrāʼ. And that its use did not mean that it is the third part of speech, its significance expanded with the development of the Arabic grammar lesson.