Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi and his dictionary "Al-Ain"

Abstract

The Khalil dictionary was meticulously crafted with a unique artistry. The phonetic foundation on which the arrangements in Al-Ain dictionary were based was an investment in Khalil's mathematical and musical knowledge. The phonetic director isolated each letter from its structure, then clarified its pronunciation characteristics. Letters were classified not only according to their articulations but also according to the space they occupy in the throat and mouth. Khalil distinguished between used and unused words using the criterion of frequency, distinguishing between authentic and borrowed words through a system of permutations, a statistical mathematical approach based on probability theory and phonemic distribution. His method of explanation employed opposites, single words, association, context, questions, and others... His approach significantly influenced lexicography in the dictionary industry thereafter.