متخير الألفاظ لابن فارس: دراسة تحليلية في التسمية ومنهج التأليف

Abstract

Arabic lexicography has a long history spanning over a thousand years, during which time dictionaries of various types, including thematic ones, were compiled. Mutakhayyar al-Alfāẓ (Selected Words) by Aḥmad Ibn Fāris (924-1004 CE) is a notable example of this tradition. Despite its importance, this classic remains relatively understudied. The article deals with Mutakhayyar al-Alfāẓ, and aims to identify the rationale behind its naming and to analyze its compilation method. To do so, this study is structured into three main parts, along with additional sections: a brief overview of the compiler’s life and works, an introduction to the dictionary with an analysis of its naming, and a detailed investigation of its compilation method. This qualitative study consulted relevant lexicographic sources and closely examined the dictionary for data collection, then employed content analysis and descriptive techniques for data analysis. The findings show that Ibn Fāris, the compiler, applied a deliberate selection process based on specific criteria to curate words in his dictionary—an approach clearly reflected in the title Mutakhayyar al-Alfāẓ (“Selected Words”)—and employed practical strategies in presenting and explaining those words throughout the dictionary. This article contributes to scholarly understanding of Arabic thematic lexicography by offering insights into classical lexicographic practices, and may serve as a basis for future research in thematic lexicography and linguistic history.