Semasiology / Onomasiology: The Arabic Way of Lexicography

Abstract

After a brief survey of the relationship between the word and the idea, this study deals with “Arabic lexicography”, by presenting two main procedures : the semasiology and the onomasiology; with special emphasis on the former.

This research paper presents the different ways of presenting the Arabic lexicon ( in a total or partial way), the order base (phonetic or alphabetical) and the nature of classification (direct or indirect) ; all this in the light of diachronic details and synchronic commentaries.