Terminology between heritage and modernity: A concise dictionary of arts terms as a model

Abstract

This study examines the concept of terminology between heritage and modernity, taking Muhammad Ali al-Tahanawi’s Kashshaf Istilahat al-Funun wa al-‘Ulum as a model. The research starts from the assumption that terminology is a central tool in the construction of knowledge, as no science can be established without a precise terminological system that defines its concepts and boundaries. The study discusses the meaning and function of terminology, and highlights the efforts of Arab and Muslim scholars in controlling scientific concepts through books of definitions, logical limits, and linguistic and specialized dictionaries. It also examines the mechanisms of term formation in Arabic heritage, such as derivation, semantic transfer, Arabization, metaphor, and compounding. The research focuses on al-Tahanawi’s method in presenting terms by combining linguistic and technical meanings and showing their different uses across various sciences. The study concludes that al-Tahanawi’s dictionary offers a valuable model for understanding classical terminology and developing modern specialized terminological dictionaries.