Ishtiqaq:  In Arabic, it is possible to derive many words from a single root word: this is called ishtiqaq or derivation. This is done by adding prefixes, infixes and suffixes (letters before, in the middle or after the root word or changes in the eraab). Suyuti, in his book, “Muzhir”, says that he "counted the paradigms (gardaan) of Arabic and found them exceeding over a thousand in number." A thousand words can be derived from a root containing just three letters and all of them will have the same basic meaning. For example, the three letters 'kaaf, taa, baa - kataba'. This means 'to write'. From this root we can derive several words:

Murunah and Tuwaiyah: These are words referring to elasticity and suppleness; it is a peculiarity of the language that it allows one word to have both a material meaning and an abstract one. For example "aql" ordinarily means "tying up the camel" but also means "intellect"; the first being a material meaning and the second an abstract one.

Tawleed: (the process of giving birth) is the process of giving a new shade of meaning to an old classical word. For example 'al-hatif' means 'one whose sound is heard but whose person is not seen'. Today the word al-hatif is used in many countries for the 'telephone'. Similarly 'moharrik' means 'that which moves a thing'. Today it is used for 'motor'. The genius of Arabic means that, through tawleed, the needs of modern civilization and scientific terminology in particular can be expressed in a way that makes it look originally Arabic. When Greek, Persian, Indian and Chinese knowledge was translated into Arabic, tawleed and ishtiqaq proved valuable tools. In fact an important rule was framed.

Arabacizing: "Whatever word can be attuned to the language of the Arab is a part of the Arabic language." When tawleed and ishtiqaq could not be used, arabacizing was resorted to, for example the word 'dirham' was coined from the Greek word ‘drakhma’.

Acknowledgment: Based on “Arabic as a Language” Dr Y. Najmuddin, Rector Al-Jamea-tus-Saifiyah 1976, Wilson Lecture, University of Mumbai India.