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Article In: Asian Languages and Linguistics: Online-First Articles

Tracing Arabic loanwords in Armenian

ORCiD logo with link | National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia
ORCiD logo with link | National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia
ORCiD logo with link | National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia
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Abstract
This paper explores the etymological and semantic journey of Arabic loanwords within the Armenian language. By applying a comparative-historical method to dictionaries, dialectal corpora, and literary texts spanning the fifth to seventeenth centuries, the study challenges the traditional borrowing timeline. While H. Hübschmann argued that Arabic terms first entered Armenian in the seventh century, this research reveals evidence of their presence as early as the fifth century. The analysis takes a close look at how these words adapted once they entered Armenian, focusing on their distinct shifts in meaning, sound, and grammatical structure. Additionally, the paper highlights the vital role these loanwords play in Armenian dialects and traces the mediating influence of Persian and Turkic languages. Ultimately, this study suggests a revised approach to compiling and analyzing Arabic loanwords, emphasizing their importance in the historical development of Armenian and its cultural interplay with neighboring languages.
Article outline
  • Introduction
    • Contemporary research on Arabic loanwords
    • Research objective and hypothesis
  • Methodology and analytical criteria
    • Phonological criteria
    • Semantic criteria
  • Analysis and results
    • Phonological shifts
    • Semantic inversion and dialectal adaptations
    • Semantic extension and justifications for direct borrowing
  • Discussion
    • Summary of key findings
    • Implications and future directions
  • Conclusion
  • Author queries
  • References
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