The Misconceptions of Mustafa Jawad

Abstract

Dr. Mustafa Jawad was one of the distinguished figures in the field of Arabic language, making significant contributions through his corrective linguistic works, which were inspired by the corrective writings of classical linguists such as Al-Mubarrad and Al-Hariri. These works primarily addressed minor additions and changes that had affected the Arabic language over time. However, in the modern era, Arabic has undergone profound transformations, with significant alterations that have shifted its course, leaving it increasingly influenced by English. Many Arabic words and meanings have been replaced by their English counterparts, and this influence has even extended to its grammar, with English syntactical structures creeping into various aspects of the language. Given this reality, Dr. Mustafa Jawad's efforts in his book "Say and Don't Say" appear outdated, as they focus on superficial and minor corrections, while the deeper, systemic issues remain largely unaddressed. As a result, his work misses the mark, and the need for comprehensive linguistic correction—rather than piecemeal fixes—has become apparent. This is the focus of my own book, "Comprehensive Arabic: The Hybrid Standard". In this paper, I will examine some of Dr. Mustafa Jawad's observations, which, based on the new understanding of linguistic correction, can be considered misconceptions.