التطور الدلالي للفظة "جائحة" في العربية

Abstract EN

This study investigates the developmental semantic reference of word "Jaeha" over time until today where it has come to denote prevalence of a lethal disease.

The study explored the sense of the word as used in both classical and modern Arabic poetry and lexicons.

Results showed that the word "Jaeha" originally used to mean a "plight afflicting someone's property", i.

e.

uprooted, devastating damage; so the word "al-Jaouh" means uprooted something.

Similarly, the usage in the Arabic poetry was not an exception and continued to mean a devastating affliction.

Today, the word semantically developed from an unconfined meaning denoting a lethal affliction, in general, into a qualified meaning referring specifically to a lethal disease.

As a result of the semantic development, the word once used to indicate misfortunes in general has developed today to denote a specific meaning.

In conclusion, the widespread use of a word with its new reference would override the original use, confirming development of the language as a living and developing body