A semantic analysis of Arabic loanwords in Kurdish (Kurmanji dialect)

This study aims to examine the historical, cultural, and linguistic interactions between Arabic and Kurdish and to trace the semantic development of lexical items borrowed from Arabic into Kurdish, particularly into the Kurmanji dialect. Following the adoption of Islam from the 7th century onwards, Arabic went beyond being merely a language of religion and became an important component of law, literature, education, and cultural life within Kurdish society. Over the course of history, a strong cultural bond emerged between the two communities, providing a basis for a lasting interaction between their languages. The research is based on a qualitative design; using document analysis, Arabic–Kurdish dictionaries, academic articles, and theses were systematically examined. The data obtained were evaluated through descriptive and comparative analysis, and the Arabic-origin words in Kurdish were classified as “semantically changed,” “semantically unchanged,” “semantically narrowed,” and “semantically broadened.” This classification has made it possible to reveal not only the formal aspects of the items in question, but also the cultural and conceptual transformations they have undergone. The findings indicate that, in the process by which Arabic-origin words entered Kurdish, not only linguistic structure but also social, intellectual, and religious factors have been decisive. The interaction between the two languages thus appears as a process that involves not merely lexical exchange, but also the mutual engagement of belief systems and ways of life. Overall, the study demonstrates that the interaction between Arabic and Kurdish is as much cultural as it is linguistic, and that analysing Arabic loanwords in Kurdish in terms of types of semantic change provides an important source for understanding the historical and cultural relations between the two communities.