A Lexicographical Investigation of Al-sorâh men al-sehâh

The Arabic–Persian dictionary Al-sorâh men al-sehâh, compiled by Jamâl al-Din Abulfazl Mohammad Qarshi, represents a concise translation of Tâj al-Loghat and Sehâh al-Arabiyyat written by Abu Nasr Ismail ben Hammâd Jowhari (died 393 AH) Completed in 700 AH in Kashghar. In 1397 SH (2018 CE), Mohammad-Hosayn Heydariân produced a critical edition of Al-sorâh men al-sehâh; This edited text is the basis for the upcoming research. Focusing on the Persian equivalents, this article systematically catalogs the dictionary’s rare, prominent, and valuable lexical items. First, the Persian equivalent is recorded, in the form of a headword, and then its Arabic original, or the Arabic original along with a definition containing the equivalent. When the Arabic source is obscure or archaic, modern equivalents or succinct definitions, drawn from comparative consultation of classical lexica, are supplied. Numerous Persian renderings found in sorâh also appear in earlier and later Arab–Persian dictionaries, attesting to reciprocal intertextual influences between Qarshi’s work and its lexicographical predecessors and successors. To elucidate these diachronic and intertextual networks, each entry is cross-referenced with pertinent ancient Arabic–Persian glossaries. Finally, a quantitative analysis delineates the intertextual relationships between sorâh and other early Arab–Persian dictionaries, shedding light on its place within the broader tradition of bilingual lexicography.