Ibn Jinni's Reading of the Book of Characteristics Offers Insights into Language and Signs

Abstract

The sign is a distinctive concept in linguistic thought, serving as the foundation for research into the origin of language and the acquisition of its significance. Almost no philosophical theory, whether ancient or modern, makes any mention of it. Indeed, modern linguistics has become inextricably linked with the sign because of its bond with the signifier, which is the basis of language and relied upon in its study.In the fourth century, Ibn Jinni was the most prominent linguist. His linguistic thought was linked to the fundamentalists of logic and speech, as evidenced in his book Al-Khassas. In this work, he presented the origins of language and the processes by which connotations are obtained and acquired.In addition to his contributions to the field of linguistics, Ibn Jinni also presented a printed work on jurisprudence and speech, as well as undertaking linguistic investigations.This paper examines the concept of the 'mark' as it is presented in the thought of Ibn Jinni, exploring it through a number of different axes.