The letter bâ in the Arabic language and its functions

The letter bāʾ (الباء) occupies a significant position in Arabic grammar due to its semantic diversity and richness of usage. Its various contextual meanings, the interpretative differences among grammatical schools, and its semantic relations with other prepositions have made it one of the most noteworthy particles for linguistic analysis. This study aims to examine the lexical and terminological meanings, functional usages, and semantic variations of the letter bāʾ within the framework of classical Arabic grammatical sources. The research consists of an introduction and three main chapters. The introduction outlines the purpose, scope, methodology, and main references of the study. The first chapter discusses the etymological origin, phonetic and morphological characteristics of bāʾ, as well as its position in Arabic grammar. Within this framework, nineteen distinct meanings of the particle have been identified based on its classification as a preposition (ḥarf al-jarr) and its conceptual equivalents in the grammatical literature. The second chapter provides a detailed analysis of the principal meanings of bāʾ namely ilṣāq, istiʿāne, sebebiyyet, iḍāfe, teşbîh, and taʿlîl and further evaluates its redundant usages, ellipses, and exceptional forms from a linguistic perspective.Within this context, the views of major grammarians such as Khalīl b. Aḥmad, Sībawayh, Abū ʿAlī al-Fārisī, Ibn Jinnī, Ibn Mālik, al-Raḍī al-Astarābādhī, Abū Ḥayyān, Ibn Hishām, al-Suyūṭī, and ʿAbbās Ḥasan are compared chronologically. The third chapter examines how bāʾ overlaps or diverges in meaning with other prepositions such as min, fī , ʿalā , and li . As a result, it has been observed that bāʾ possesses a multifaceted semantic structure encompassing several layers of meaning. Its function is not limited to ilṣāq (adhesion) but also extends to meanings such as istiʿāna (instrumentality), sababiyya (causation), taʿlīl (justification), tashbīh (comparison), ẓarfiyya (spatial relation), muṣāḥaba (accompaniment), and tabʿīḍ (partiality). The comparative analysis of classical grammarians' views has provided a general framework for understanding the historical semantic expansion of bāʾ and its relationship with other prepositions. It is expected that this study will contribute to further evaluations on the semantic diversity of prepositions within the field of Arabic grammar.