This workshop will bring together scholars of different methodological backgrounds working on Arabic’s linguistic history: Arabic in its Semitic context, the language before the 7th c. CE, the Arabic grammatical tradition and nature of Classical Arabic, and the origin and diversification of the medieval and modern dialects. Key questions include: what should a “history of Arabic” look like? How can the diversity of sources now available to us be brought into conversation? What exactly do we mean when we say “Classical” Arabic? What can the modern dialects tell us about the past? And what happens when sources disagree?

The meeting will be discussion driven. Invited scholars will prepare a paper which will be available to read by everyone who registers. A respondent will summarize the paper and comment upon it. Then the floor will be open for 45 minutes of discussion of each contribution.

 Convenors: