The Arabic Component in Maimonides' Hebrew (original) (raw)

2014, Studia Orientalia Electronica

Abstract

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AI

This paper explores the influence of Arabic on Maimonides' Hebrew writings, particularly focusing on the linguistic innovations he introduced. It discusses his adoption of Aristotelian philosophy through Arabic intermediaries and the creation of new Hebrew terms influenced by Arabic roots. The paper also highlights the debate among scholars regarding the extent of Arabic's impact on Maimonides' language and style, along with an overview of his major works that reflect Jewish tradition and the integration of various sources.

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References (57)

  1. tÞ :N ,â"it ,)p',Þ);
  2. u nt lnln -'this wine-cellar' n :tr ,tJ"¡t ,)P"D).
  3. The use of numerals: Maimonides follows the biblical Fadition of reading from right to left as in literary A¡abic, for example: nN ot:)vtl Ðtlll E ttu'vl irvllN n ìunn -'twenty-four things hinder repentance' (x :1 ,i"Íì ,tlt',ît9); EtrYtrut nutnn r:rr -'thirty-ftve dinars' (tt (¡N ,y,n ,t,'o ; E ìt otvlu,t itutÞn nìxn u)u -365 days (1 :ì ,tì"pit ,t,o). ln several cases there are deviations from the norm of using gender: nìììr 'ìuy Þt)vrn ì)Nì -'and these are the twelve forms' I :) ,tt"tn) (D',iìÞ; nìflf ìuy nrrrn -'nineteen 6lgggings' (h :ñ ¡Þr :T ,),'1!ìiì ,Nr9¡rt, 15) The annexed noun in the constn¡ct state comes with the defìnite article: ìfDtþ r)yln t)x -'these crippled people' (tr :t ,D,']it ¡)t"Þ1.
  4. C. Semantics and style Goldenberg statcs 6rst "In vocabulary also, the Hebrew Maimonides (sic) tends to be free from Arabic influence". A few lines later she adds: "There are undoubtedly traces of Arabic influence in the language of Maimonides, but they nearly all derive from A¡abic features in Hebrew texts written by his predecessors, and most of them have thei¡ roots in Hebrew."" A careful and comprehensive reading of MT leads to a different conclusion. The impact of the mother tongue of Maimonides, a sort of Middle Arabic known in scholarly research by the unsuccessful desipationJudae-Araåic, as well as, of Al-'Arabiyya, thelinguafranca arÅ the language of culture, on the Hebrew of MT is profound, clear and general. Suffice it here to add the usage of1)vn) in the sense of 'subtract' on the basis of 6-tL, which means 'to subtract' in addition to 'to thtro\r¡"'. Maimonides has under the influence of A¡abic broadened the semantic field of Hebrew words. The verb Vts in pi"el has the sense of 'veriS', 'approve' as in ¡y¡:u: ll'rir pl:) nf = 'in order to approve, authorize the matter by an oath' n rN, (,turíl o/9. Moreover, lnl l) in the sense of 'magnanimous', 'goodhearîed' utilized in MT is most probably based on Arabic, and Even Shoshan gives an example of it ftom Bialik." l) Usage of synonyms: nttìtì ìr5ì) -'bodies' ( ) 't ,Nr ,t:N ,n,'ti ,þ,rnÞ), ìP tìÞì lp ,¡t)lnì -'end' (ì,N ,fl"rn ,n"nD), nlìJì nì,â't -'form' (Þ,N ,rutr¡ .,atx¡9);
  5. For fi¡rther examples see: nu>g';(X:l ,lt¡rn,9"Þ ¡N å,n'r9Dnn,N¡Þ) r)¡DlÌ!1/orfit ylìN ¡Þ:l{f ,l',Nil ¡P"9, orDYt
  6. Goldenberg cotumn 1633 and she mentions as examples: prefixed ) to indicate causc, prcfixed n-for exemplication (sic!), formal agreement, grammalical gender according to Arabic,ln pcnon meaning "be doubtñ¡l about", or)r)¡ trrtv¡ ("idol worshippers")' )'vn = 'to underst¡nd from' cl.¡.ri, p'ntn = 'to hand down by tradition' from ¿li-i. It seems lhat Goldenbcrg's articlc was written first in Hebrew and then translated into English. It is unclear on what grounds these statem€nts are based. Almost two decades l¡ter lhe same view is rcpeated by Sóenz-Badillos, pp.262-263.
  7. 59 rìyvn ìr)D> tDìN 'ìrÞìnt nnx ilyurl¡þvn or¡ns¡r .ì)N Dtp>nil lD \lpntu) -'when 1080 is assembled from the parts subtract one hour and add it to the number of hours' ,lt'g .r ¡ltr ( fl :t ¡l ,ì ,iì ,1 rÞ ,1) ,1ì ,r,9:ì,ñt'i2iì
  8. Even-Shoshan, vol, 2, p. I 126. ìrlbì cttn -'rryise' (Nr ,T ¡lr :l ,p'tiì ,D'iìÞ) E rflì orììitu -'pure' (N r) ,tT'rit ,,ârrilD);
  9. unt nyr -'knowledge' (u ') ,n,,ri ,D,¡nÞ); ortNor¡ì ornlun -'praise' (,nrrfl ,Þ,,nÞ u rr);
  10. ¡:t ìnt)1ì ì¡rrtun 1n!tì ¡tìttì -'fear his humiliation' (f,r ,r ,n,'r¡ ,D',;tD);
  11. ìDnt i2t'ì ,¡tþt))ì nuì -'shame', 'emp$t' (fr ,r ,nlr¡ ,ÞrnÞ); ¡tvrnrì ìrf,il, -'to gfasp'(x :ì ,n,,t;l ,¡¡,,nD), 2) Calque from fuabic: ylln t.ìltN -'sexual organs' (ft :ì ,D[tÍl ,ytro); tn¡N -'letter' (1r :N ,!g"it ,trÞl; lnN )xrvr nryn: l)Du ï¡y -'a slave born among Israelites' (l :N ,D,'Íl ,N'Þ);
  12. l!t1 ,fN - 'to use up a dinar illegally'(ñ :)),N,'ít ,J"Þl; Íltrx N)x ... ¡¡ -'there is no ... except you'"¡ ( ,ít"ftro,N',g)i n)r)fl r:nf ì¡{ n)r)n ¡)nn: rx x)x ohy) ¡¡rx -'it is always either at the beginning of the night or in the middle' (1 :Þ ,tr,Þt; (ntrit, Ítxrfn N) vt>v -'it (the field) did not produce a third' r rt ,)r,'ztîì) (ìì"tr; t¡ì)tf -'average' (1 ,N ,T"n ,n,,iìD); ììJtn ¡tf -'outside the houge' (ì) r'f f,ril tl"nÞ); ììrpt/N ¡r )rr - 'through/ via Ashkelon' (t :¡l ,lì,'piì ,t',Df, 'Þ)Ð Irtnt -'to turn his face"¿,u"pn) (¡t',Þ ì ¡l :il ,)"]fìîl N,'Þ ¡ìÞ :)i itlìtl ntlnR ìtNU nfìttnt t'-'and the best benefit' ,n"nEl¡ (l :h ,Il"ili Or¡ìlntl llfttt -'to be blessed and elevated' (lr ,N ,tr"rit ,n,,no);
  13. Ur ¡nn t)rx-'he owes him money' (Nr ,r ,¡ ,:uttît ,orÞr; uyn lnt -'less' ,)"Þvn ,lr9¡ (l :ìi ìl) + perfect Þl (:ìD ,N',it ,),,Þ; n)r1Ít in the sense of 'town' is attested in Mishnaic Hebrew, yet its frequent use in MT can be ascribed to its common Arabic equivalenf (,1,'Þ ¡1 ;N ,h?rDit ,t,D ;l :it ,nr¡¡ ,n,itÞ ,N :ì ,tr 11 ,ïr'it D"itÞ ¡il :N ,1)ttiì ,Ð"1' ¡ñ r)J ,N,¡l ,yrg ¡IrN ,h,tÞíl ,ìftÞ ¡l) :il ,!,il ,lrt9 i) rì) rlut,il ).1fX) .¡n - 'abroad, outside Israel' (u :r ,f,'îì ¡{,'r,); lrnnu ry nrnu)r )r:x) rm¡l -'and it is permitted to eat and drink until it grows dark"t l't ,) ,rur,'ít ,t"Þ); nì)fìNyr oru) tìlvrnu 1y nì'ltv,l -'women who eat and drink until it grows dark' ¡t :N ,!,'uÍt ,t"Þ) ( ;lì :l ,ñ"i2il ,1"Þ; ìYtgJ NynV, ry -'Until he dieS' (lr :ì ,D"ñÍt ,1"Þ)6';1J Jf lvryì -'and do so and so' (l ,N ,)r'yn ,Þ"nÞ); Drn ìÞ itott tn) -'as a drop in the sea' (n"no Nr:l ,tr,rñ) yrr -'to learn to know' (l,l ,tt"tn ,ÞrnÞt; lnl f) -'magnanimous', 'tolerant'()r:T ,Ìr,ril ,tf,nÞ)";
  14. -'when he puts on shoes' ,t ,f,'lnn ,N,g) (to; )xrun ): ¡u) )y tr)y ¡lr¡n )rn '¡n: -'a higb priest confesses on the he-goat in the name of all Israel' (J :N ,rr'ít ,b',nÞ);
  15. f¡ÞlD,âb ,-Þ -'b€cause of/him/her' ,)"Þ¡ (l :it ,lu,'Ír ,!"Þ ¡Þ :ìD ,N"iìiirtgì) ìnn -'and this is its wording, formula' ,N',D¡ tt Thit reminds us of illã atrtå'; itlã with pronominal sulfixcs such as illåk is mentioned by bawaihi,butIhavcbeenunabletofrndthe¡efercnce;sec,howevec\cW.Rigbt,partthreebawaihi, but I havc been unable to frnd the ¡efercnce; sec, howeveç W. Rigbt, part three bawaihi,butIhavcbeenunabletofrndthe¡efercnce;sec,howevec\c​W.Rigbt,partthree 186, Rem. e. It is to be tound in modern Arabic literature, e. g., l.tannfl Mina, giktyatu bahhãr. Beirut 4th d., p. 274;Zskiyya,fibd al-Qedi¡, Àmina (Novel). Tunis 1983, p. 55.
  16. Consider'raddawafhahu'. ó' lt rerninds us of'þasana mãba,dalú þasana'.
  17. a Ya il is to be found too, (x ;
  18. ît.ír ,9'Dt.
  19. I assume that lrxn and I t '.¡J I were in lhe mind of Maimonides. ó6 Though such verses as Gen 35: lE, Job 26: 4 and Cant 5:ó were welt known to the Nesher, thc inllucnce ofthe mother tonguc 't¡l,a(i)t röbu, can hardly be excluded.
  20. Considersa'atal-çadr.
  21. ót Cf, (u ,¡t .N,it ¡),Þ ;n :r ,tr'viì ,r',
  22. D/)1Jgn nN >ty)>. orììlfn Þìr ¡ïìfy nìf)n ,n1ìly ìtD nìyrlu nìlrn ,nN)Ðn l9Þ
  23. Irrry¡'ì ,yrrÞ fgr,;l rÐ"Þ 1)rr¡l ,trrÞ I)rr¡'ì ,5[Þ l'rxil ,PrÞ N"Dil ,pz¡r D,ln,JP"Þ lt¡"îl ,)¡2rrÞ
  24. u!,n ,1PnÞ nnfl tu)no Nr¡l ,v.rttÞ tJrr¡l ¡urr9 5Drî1 ,u)uo BIBLIOGRAPHY
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