Arabic Collocations: The Need for an Arabic Combinatory Dictionary

Abstract

The provtswn of collocations in a reference form is becoming increasingly important for foreign language learners and users as well as for translators. It is also important, however, to understand the nature of lexical collocability so as to be able to determine which lexical combination should be entered in the reference work and which are not needed there. The Arabic language is rich in many forms of collocation, and even native speakers of Arabic today seem to need a reference for the various combinations of lexical items that affect their language production with relation to usage and grammar. This paper aims to explain the semantic nature of lexical collocations, at least in the Arabic language. The paper also proposes a methodology for the entry of Arabic collocations in a special dictionary, which Ihave adopted in the dictionary I have already compiled, which is awaiting publication (cf. Hafiz, forthcoming). It has now become clear that a combinatory dictionary of Arabic is not only important for Arabists and orientalists, but also for translators, foreign writers in Arabic and foreign learners of Arabic. Their need for such a reference work seems to be evident as can be seen from the difficulties they often encounter and the errors they often make while speaking/writing and translating. .