SEMANTIC CHANGES IN ARABIC MORPHOLOGY (SARF): THE MEANING LAYERS OF WORD FORMS

Abstract

This article analyzes semantic changes of word forms and their layers of 
meaning within the framework of Arabic morphology (sarf). The study highlights the 
interrelation between word form and meaning on the basis of Arabic verbal patterns 
(wazn) and the system of verbal nouns (masdar), demonstrating how morphological 
changes influence semantic functions. In particular, it discusses the role of the different 
verb patterns (Forms II–X) in expressing causative, reflexive, reciprocal, and stative 
meanings, as well as their tendency to undergo semantic opacity or idiomatization over 
time. The study further examines the role of verbal nouns in forming abstract meanings 
and their importance in developing terminological systems. The article compares the 
classical Arabic grammatical tradition with modern linguistic approaches, arguing that 
word forms function not only as grammatical structures but also as deep semantic systems. 
The findings show that the Arabic morphological system is not a random collection of 
forms but a coherent and multilayered system of meaning production.