The Irregularity of the Uthmanic Orthography of the Holy Quran in Contrast with the Standard Orthography: A Pragmatic Reading

Abstract

The Uthmanic orthography of the Holy Quƒ??ran is distinctively miraculous. In different contexts in Quƒ??ran, one word could exhibit a variety of distinct forms of orthographic constructions, either by adding or deleting a letter for example or even by a total change in the word from in comparison with its standard. This opens the door for new levels of meaning that go in harmony with their contextual use. By varying the written shapes of a word in different contexts of Quƒ??ranic verses, new dimensions of meaning can be elicited. This study aims at setting apart the differences between the Uthmanic orthography and the conventional Arabic writing system in writing certain words, and as a result what differences in meaning that variation could create. Hence the study stresses the need to examine why a word is written in different variants in different Quƒ??ranic verses: one variant complies with the conventional orthography, such as writing the medial long vowel alif /a/ in the form of alif mamd®dah in words: ?æ??????/Salah/ – prayer, ?ý?Ÿ???? /zakah/ – charity, ???????? /hayah/ – life, ?§??????/ghadah – dawn, ???ª???? /najah/ – survival,?ñ???? /ribah/ – monetary illegal interest, ?????Ÿ???? /mishkah/ – a round hole in the wall; whereas in other
Quƒ??ranic verses, the same word is shaped in a different variant following the Uthmanic orthography where the medial long vowel alif /a/ is written in the form of the Arabic letter /wa/ but with identical pronunciation, becoming ?æ?????? /salah/, ?ý?Ÿ???? /zakah/ ?§????????/ghadah, ???ª???? /najah/, ?ñ?????? /ribah/, ?????Ÿ???? /mishkah/, and ???????? /hayah/. This variation in shaping the vowel alif implies meaning that this paper seeks to unveil in the light of pragmatic analysis, calling at the same time for utilizing such variants in our everyday writings and speeches to convey more dimensions of meaning intended in a way not accessible with conventional Arabic orthography. Using Quƒ??ranic orthography is historically established and acknowledged by Prophet Mohammad, Islamic nation through all generations.

Keywords

NA

  • Research Identity (RIN)

  • License

    Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

  • Language & Pages

    English, 27-32

  • Classification

    For Code: 130399, 200403