Historical Timeline of the Arabic Language

• Early Origins (9th–8th century BCE): The earliest manifestations of Arabic appear in the northwest of the Arabian Peninsula as part of the Semitic language family, related to languages like Hebrew and Aramaic. These early forms were spoken by nomads and traders, with influences from neighboring regions along trade routes such as the Silk Roads. 10
• Pre-Islamic Period (Old Arabic, 1st century BCE–6th century CE): Arabic evolved as a collection of dialects in the Arabian Peninsula, attested in inscriptions such as Safaitic, Hismaic, Dadanitic, Taymanitic, and Hasaitic. The Arabic script developed from the Nabataean Aramaic script. The earliest continuous Arabic text dates to around 125 CE, and by the 4th–6th centuries, the script had evolved into an undotted 17-letter form, with further refinements like the Namara inscription in 328 CE. 9 11
• 7th Century CE (Rise of Classical Arabic): The revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad standardized Arabic as a written and religious language. Ancillary signs were added to the script to avoid ambiguities, and it became the language of Islam, spreading rapidly across the Arabian Peninsula and beyond. 9 10 11
• 8th–10th Centuries CE (Classical Arabic and Islamic Golden Age): Classical Arabic was codified through grammar, lexicography, and phonology by scholars like Abu al-Aswad al-Du’ali (who introduced diacritics), al-Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi (first dictionary in 786 CE), and Sibawayhi (comprehensive grammar in the late 8th century). It spread via Islamic conquests and trade, incorporating loanwords from Persian, Greek, and Turkish. Intense linguistic activity led to multiple dictionaries and works on synonyms. Dialects began diverging due to contact with local languages in regions like Mesopotamia and North Africa. 9 10 11
• 11th–18th Centuries CE (Medieval and Post-Classical Period): Arabic continued as the language of science, philosophy, and administration in the Islamic world, with peaks in lexicography like Ibn Manzur’s Lisān al-ʿArab (1290 CE). Neo-Arabic dialects evolved, losing some classical features (e.g., case endings, dual forms). Migrations spread the language westward to North Africa and northward, leading to regional variations influenced by local tongues. 9 10
• 19th–20th Centuries CE (Modern Standard Arabic): During the Nahda (Arab Renaissance), Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) emerged, simplifying Classical Arabic for modern use in education, media, and government. Language academies were established (e.g., Damascus in 1919, Cairo in 1932) to develop vocabulary for new concepts like technology. Printing presses and translations helped standardize it across Arab countries. 9 11
• Present Day (21st Century Onward): Arabic is an official language in 22 Arab League countries and one of the UN’s six official languages. MSA is used formally, while diverse dialects (e.g., Egyptian, Levantine) dominate spoken communication. Digital adaptations include “Arabizi” (Latin script with numbers for informal texting) and influences from European languages. Diglossia persists between formal MSA and colloquial varieties. 9 11