ERIC Number: ED503400
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2008-May-6
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Arabic Script and the Rise of Arabic Calligraphy
Alshahrani, Ali A.
Online Submission
The aim of this paper is to present a concise coherent literature review of the Arabic Language script system as one of the oldest living Semitic languages in the world. The article discusses in depth firstly, Arabic script as a phonemic sound-based writing system of twenty eight, right to left cursive script where letterforms shaped by their positions in the word letterforms translating the rich variety of Arabic consonantal script. It also discusses vowels and the punctuation system. Secondly, the article discusses Prophet Mohammed's message of Islam and the revelation of the Holy Quran contribution to the development of Arabic scripts through Quran special diacritical marking system invention to facilitate its recitations by new Arabic non-native Muslims. The article then, examines the rise of calligraphy as the principal Islamic art. Arabic calligraphers strived to produce perfectly correct Quran manuscripts that were propitious for the honourable words of God. Because of their efforts, beautiful scripts types where invented to write masterpieces of the Holy Quran manuscripts survive in many of the world's museums. (Contains 19 figures and 2 tables.)
Descriptors: Semitic Languages, Orthographic Symbols, Alphabets, Vowels, Punctuation, Islam, Islamic Culture, Handwriting, Literature Reviews
Publication Type: Opinion Papers; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A