New Book- Philip Stokes, The Linguistic Nature of Early Christian Arabic Literature

Philip Stokes, The Linguistic Nature of Early Christian Arabic Literature (Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2026).

Abstract

This Element examines the forms of Arabic used by Christians during the early Islamic period in theological treatises and Bible translations. Linguistic analysis of these texts not only clarifies the nature of early Islamic Arabic but also illuminates Christian institutional and intellectual culture. The study challenges common views that Christian authors wrote either flawed Classical Arabic or in substandard
registers. Instead, it demonstrates their Arabic was typical of the early Islamic period. The Element identifies linguistic differences between theological treatises and biblical translations, connecting these to pre-Islamic monastic practices where Greek served theological discourse while Christian Palestinian Aramaic – a local spoken variety written in adapted Syriac script – was used to write texts for lay purposes. After the Muslim conquests, Arabic became the appropriate language for both genres. Christians adapted Arabic, writing deftly and creatively to their literary activities, employing language suited to different audiences and demonstrating sophisticated engagement with emerging Arabic literary registers and traditions.

 This book can be downloaded for free for the next two weeks here.