The Definite Article in Arabic from a Comparative Linguistic Perspective

The formation of definiteness in Arabic is achieved through various methods, one of which involves the application of the definite article "al-" at the beginning of an indefinite noun, thus transitioning it from an indefinite to a definite state. This phenomenon has prompted an investigation into the origin of this definite article in light of other Semitic languages, where the presence of morphemes indicating definiteness is observed. These morphemes differ in their placement, being either at the beginning or the end of the word. Given the prevailing hypothesis that the origin of the definite morphemes in Semitic languages lies in the letters "H" (هـ) and "L" (ل), and the close association between the concept of demonstratives and definiteness, this research aims to examine this relationship by comparing Arabic with its Semitic counterparts. The goal is to trace the origin of the definite article in Arabic and to understand how it has evolved from its root to its current form.