M.A. Arabic Language

Department of Arabic

Master of Arts in Arabic Language

M. A. Arabic Language

  1. List of Academic Staff
NameStatus and QualificationResearch Interest
U. I. KankawiSenior Lecturer & Head of Department
B.A. (UDUS, Sokoto); M.A., Ph.D. (Ilorin); PDE (KWCOE, Ilorin); TASEL (ABU, Zaria)		Arabic Literature in Nigeria and Rhetoric
I. A. AbubakarProfessor
 B. A. (Ilorin); M. A. (BUK, Kano); PGD, TAFL (KSU, Riyadh); Ph.D. (Ilorin)		Arabic Literature, Creative Writing (Poetry) andRhetoric
A. A. AbdussalamProfessor
B. Ed. (IUA, Khartoum); M. A., Ph.D. (Ilorin)		Arabic Language /Linguistics
L. O. IbraheemProfessor
B.A., M. A., Ph.D. (Ilorin); PGD, TAFL (KSU,Riyadh)		Arabic and Islamic Literature and Applied Linguistics
Y. A. AbdullahiReader
B.A. (BUK, Kano); M.A., Ph.D. (Ilorin); PGDE(UDUS, Sokoto)		Arabic Rhetoric and Islamic Literature
K. M.U. GbodofuReader
B.A. (BUK, Kano); M.A., Ph.D. (Ilorin),PGDE, (Sokoto)		Arabic Literary Criticism in Nigeria.
Hassanah F. Abubakar-HamidSenior Lecturer
B.A., M.A., Ph.D. (Ilorin); PGDE (UDUS,Sokoto)		Arabic Literature and Feminism
A. A. AdebisiSenior Lecturer
B.A.Ed. (Ado-Ekiti); M. A. (Ilorin); Ph.D. (KSU, Anyigba); PGDJ., (Maiduguri)		Arabic Language, AppliedLinguistics and Translation studies
A. Mahmoud- MukadamSenior Lecturer
B.A. (Al-Azhar, Cairo); M.A., Ph.D., PGDE.,(Ilorin)		Arabic Language and Manuscript
A. D. DiopSenior Lecturer
B.A. (Niger); M.A., Ph.D. (Ilorin)		Arabic Literature and Rhetoric
H.M.B. MusaLecturer I
B.A. (Al-Azhar, Cairo) ; M.A., Ph. D. (Ilorin)		Arabic Stylistic and Rhetoric
A.L. AdekilekunLecturer I
B. A. (KSU, Ayingba) ; M.A., Ph.D. (Ilorin)		Arabic Criticism
M. D. MusaLecturer I
B. A. (Al-Hikmah, Ilorin); M. A., Ph.D. (Ilorin)		Arabic Linguistics andTranslation
A. B. AmbaliLecturer I
B.A., M. A., Ph. D. (Ilorin)		Arabic Literature andCriticism
A. ZubairLecturer I
B.A., M. A., Ph. D. (Ilorin)		Comparative Literature andTranslation
I. A. MuritalaLecturer I
B. A. (Niamey); M. A, Ph.D. (Ilorin)		Arabic and IslamicLiterature.
J. S. AbdulkareemLecturer I
B.A., M.A., Ph. D. (Ilorin); PGDE (KWCOED)		Arabic Nigeria Literature andCulture
M. B. YusufB.A. (Abomey Calavi); M.A. (Ilorin)Linguistic and Criticism
A. A. SalatyLecturer II
B.A., M. A., Ph. D. (Ilorin); PGDE (NOUN)		Arabic Language, Stylisticand Applied Linguistics

B. Introduction

The programme is designed to extend and expand graduate students‘ general appreciation of the significance of language in human life, through research. This is to enhance not only their oral and written competence and performance but also their analytical skills in the language enterprise and literary explorations.

C. Philosophy

The philosophy of the programme is to gear towards making tangible contributions to Arabic Language and literature, a consciousness of most advanced studies on the subject and being in the vanguard of reference in international study of the subject.

D. Aim and Objectives

The aim of the programme is to develop highly competent, versatile and effective users of Arabic language and literature. The objectives of the programme are to:

  1. to equip students with research and analytical skills in their high studies in Arabic Language and literature;
  2. paving way for students to acquire the ability ability to analyse language in areas such as: phonology, morphology, syntax and lexicography; and
  3. making students more aware of the linguistic diversity and richness of the Arabic language.

E. Admission Requirements

  1. All candidates must possess the minimum of five O‘ Level Credit subjects including English and Arabic in WAEC/NECO/Senior Arabic & Islamic Studies Certificates, N. C. E. or Diploma from recognized Universities as special consideration (waiver)
  2. All candidates must possess a B. A. degree in Arabic, or Arabic/Education with at least a Second Class (Lower Division) from a recognized university.
  3. B. A. combined Honours in Arabic and another subject with a minimum of Second Class (Lower Division)
  4. Bachelor Degree in related courses such as Islamic Studies, Islamic Law with evidence of in- depth knowledge of Arabic.

All candidates shall be subjected to a selection process, except graduates of Arabic from University of Ilorin with at least Second Class (Upper Division).

F. Duration of Programme

  1. Full-Time: programme shall run for a minimum of 18 calendar months and a maximum of 24 calendar months.
  2. The Part-time programme shall run for a minimum of 24 calendar months and a Maximum of 36 calendar months.

G. Detailed Course Description

ALA 801 Research Methodology 3 Credits 

Methods of collecting oral and written data for the purpose of writing scholarly papers, theses and dissertations. Use of data: i.e. oral, linguistic, statistical, scriptural and other documents in the field of Arabic. Practical assignments. 45h (T); C

ALA 802    Advanced Arabic Semantics 3 Credits

Basic concepts and methods in the analysis of natural language meaning through a survey of major current approaches and findings. Structuralisms semantics: cognitive semantics, referential semantics and radical pragmatics. Semantics at the language-cognition interface: lexical semantics, construction meaning and syntax; semantics, pragmatics and interaction. Semantic typology and universals in Arabic. 45h (T); C

ALA 803    Major Theories of Language 3 Credits

Major theories of Language. Receptive language before expressive language; Environmental influence on Language acquisition. Neural Networks: Biological influence on language acquisition; language, culture and thought. Semantic slanting. Name calling and bilingualism in Arabic. 45h (T); C

ALA 804    Sociolinguistics 3 Credits

Language and society. Study of differential social roles of language in a multilingual society. effect of social class, gender and ethnic differences in language choice. Factors determining language change. Language conflicts. Language endangerment and language rights. Analysis of the economic: educational, political and sociological aspects of the language problem of developing nation. Role of language in nationalistic ideology acquisition of Arabic language as a second language. 45h, (T); C.

ALA 805 Advanced Arabic Phonetics and Phonology 2 Credits Articulatory phonetics and aspects of experimental phonetics affecting Arabic. Arabic scholars of phonetics and phonology. Phonetical contrastive analysis between Arabic and English /selected Nigerian Languages. Recent developments in experimental phonetics involving Arabic. Major issues in generative phonology affecting Arabic. Pharyngealised sounds. 15h (T); 45h (P); C.

ALA 806    Advanced Arabic Lexicography 2 Credits

Overview of Arabic lexicography. Theoretical issues in analyzing lexical and lexicographic material. Study of the methodology of Arabic lexicographers. Arts of ordering the linguistic materials in the dictionaries. Exploring the key linguistic messages. Skill of looking the linguistic material up in the dictionaries and identifying the modern trends in lexicography. 30h (T); C.

ALA 807 Advanced Arabic Syntax and Morphology 3 Credits

An advanced study of the following topics in Arabic Syntax and Morphology:

انمعزب وانمثني واننكزج وانمعزفح وانعهم والإشارج وانموصول والاتتذاء واننواسخ وأفعال انمقاريح واشتغال انعامم عن انمعمول وانمصادر والاشتقاقاخ وانتعجة واسم انتفضيم والاستغاثح وانتزخيم والاختصاص وانتحذيز والإغزاء وأسماء الأفعال والأصواخ وانعذد وانمقصور وانممذود وانجموع وانتصغيز واننسة والإمانح والإتذال.

45h (T); C.

ALA 808    Applied Linguistics 2 Credits

Language Teaching and Methodologies. Test and Evaluation. Language Standardization. Planning and Development. Creation of Orthographies. Compilation of Dictionaries and use of ICT for Arabic teaching. 30h (T); C.

ALA 809    Arabic Rhetoric 3 Credits

Origin and growth of Arabic Rhetoric. Contributions of various Arabic Rhetoricians: Abu cUbaydah, Ibn Qutaybah, al-Jahiz, at-Jurjani, as-Sakkāki, az-Zamakhsharī, al-cAskarī and al-Qazwinī. Modern Development in Balāghah and its role in modern literary works. intensive study of the rhetorical content of the Qur‘ān. Special study of tafsīru ‘l-Kashaaf of az-Zamakhsharī(نهزمخشزى انكشاف تفسيز) as a work of Qur‘anic Rhetoric. 45h (T); C

ALA 810    Arabic Language and Globalization 2 Credits

Arabic as a world language. 22 Arabic-speaking countries and their political orientations. Arabic as the Language of Islam, modern politics. Economics. Commerce. Science and technology. Arabic and global security and strategic studies. 30h (T); E.

ALA 811    A History of Arabic Grammar 2 Credits

Origin and growth of Arabic Grammar. Major differences between the Basran and Kufan schools of grammar. Contributions of notable scholars: Khalīl Ahmad, Sibawayh, Yūnus ibn Habīb, ‗Isa ibn Umar al-Thaqafī, Amr ibn al-cᾹlā to Arabic Grammar. Views of modern grammarians and linguists on the study of Arabic Grammar. 30h (T); E.

ALA 812    Translation 2 Credits

Practical translation and analysis of literary texts. Theories and classes of translation including literal, literary and meaning –oriented translation and examples of each. Translation of selected literary prose, poems and technical documents from and into Arabic. Oral interpretation with practice. Machine translation and it limitations. 30h (T); E

ALA 899    Dissertation 6 Credits

Student will choose a topic in the field of Arabic Language to be approved by the department and supervised by a specific lecturer. Study should not exceed 15, 000 words excluding appendices. It may be written in Arabic or English. 270h (P); C

H. Graduation Requirements

To be eligible for the award of the M.A. Arabic Language degree, a student must have taken the core courses and elective courses and passed at least 31 credits including the thesis.

I. Summary First Semester

Core Courses: ALA 801 (3),) ALA 803 (3), ALA 805 (2), ALA807 (3), ALA 809 (3)

ALA 820 (6) 14 Credits

Elective Courses: ALA 811 (2), ALA 812 (2) 2 Credits

Second Semester

Core Courses: ALA 802 (3),) ALA 804 (3), ALA 806 (2), ALA808 (3) 17 Credits

Elective Courses: ALA 810 (2), ALA 812 (2) 2 Credits

Total 35 Credits

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