THE HIDDEN INFLUENCE OF LINGUISTICS ON THE GRAMMATICAL STUDY OF MAHDI AL-MAKHZOUMI: AN ANALYSIS OF HIS BOOK IN ARABIC GRAMMAR: CRITICISM AND GUIDANCE

Abstract

This  paper  examines  the  pioneering  and  distinctive  project  for  evaluating, reforming, and simplifying Arabic grammar presented by the Iraqi scholar Mahdi Al-Makhzoumi in his seminal work, Fī al-Naḥw  al-ʿArabī: Naqd wa-Tawjīh (In Arabic Grammar:  Criticism  and  Guidance).  This  critical  and  evaluative  project  offered numerous noteworthy proposals and solutions to many complex and problematic issues in the Arabic grammatical tradition (al-naḥw al-ʿarabī), which Al-Makhzoumi viewed as suffering from  inconsistencyand  a lack of clarity.  His endeavour  represented  a comprehensive attempt to reform both the subject matter and the methodology of Arabic grammar,  aiming  to  serve  the  language  and  facilitate  its  teaching  and  learning.  The central hypothesis of this study is that Al-Makhzoumi’s project was shaped by a hidden influence  of  modern  linguistics,  specifically  the  descriptive  approach,  despite  the traditional, heritage-based guise (ḥillah turāthiyyah) that the work assumed. This paper analyzes   the   indicators   and   features   of   this   subtle   linguistic   influence   on   Al-Makhzoumi’s grammatical discourse.