A. A. Ahmed, M. Abubeker, G. Banti. Arabic Words on the Earliest Harari ‘Ağamī Manuscript of Kitāb al-Farā’iḍ

Abdulhamid Abdulahi Ahmed

Аddis Ababa University, Аddis Ababa, Ethiopia
E-mail: h.lang.academy@gmail.com 

Muna Abubeker

Аddis Ababa University, Аddis Ababa, Ethiopia
E-mail: mnabubeker@gmail.com

Giorgio Banti

Аddis Ababa University, Аddis Ababa, Ethiopia
E-mail: gb040249@gmail.com 

Arabic Words on the Earliest Harari ‘Ağamī
Manuscript of Kitāb al-Farā’iḍ 

Abstract. This article examines the profound influence of Arabic on the Harari language, using the Kitab al-fara’id manuscript as a primary source. The analysis focuses on phonology, loanwords, and syntax. It shows that Harari adopts specific Arabic sounds, especially in religious vocabulary, despite their absence in native Harari phonology. The manuscript also reveals two patterns of lexical borrowing: adapting Arabic words with Harari affixes and directly integrating pure Arabic forms with Harari grammatical suffixes. The study further demonstrates significant syntactic borrowing, with Harari mirroring Arabic structures for pronouns, verbal tenses, and conjunctions. The Kitab al-fara’id serves as a valuable historical record of this deep linguistic relationship. 

Keywords: Arabic, Harari, Kitab al-fara’id, ‘Ağami, loanwords, phonological adaption, morphological adaptation, syntactic borrowing 

DOI: 10.31250/1238-5018-2025-31-2-15-20 

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Received by the Editorial Board: 17.02.2025