A Different Breath in the Grammar-Logic Debates: Ibn al-Sīd al-Batalyawsī and his Understanding of Language

Abstract

This article aims to examine the theoretical and practical approach of Ibn al-Sīd al-Baṭalyawsī (1052–1127), one of the prominent linguists and grammarians of al-Andalus, to Arabic grammar (naḥw). In doing so, it will be demonstrated how he internalized the classical traditions of the Basran and Kufan grammatical schools, while also developing a distinctive perspective influenced by his historical and geographical context, particularly in relation to language and logic. By establishing a critical stance toward prevailing grammatical theories, Ibn al-Sīd positioned himself uniquely within the field of Arabic linguistic sciences. The analysis focuses especially on his works Islāḥ al-Khalal fī Kitāb al-Jumal and al-Masāʾil wa’l-Ajwiba, emphasizing his discussions of terminology, syntactic analysis, and flexible approaches to iʿrāb rules. In this context, his views are compared and contrasted with classical grammatical texts. The article also devotes special attention to his treatise entitled "Ḍaraba Zaydun ʿAmran", included in al-Masāʾil wa’l-Ajwiba. This treatise illustrates his grammatical method as it explores verb–subject–object relations, word order, the literal–figurative distinction, and semantic multiplicity—thus elevating grammatical analysis to a philosophical level.