Let’s talk a bit about the verb aspect of the root system:
Being a Semitic language, Arabic has a derivation system, whereby from a single root (defined as a three-letter combination), you can derive a whole array of related meanings. So from the root 3-l-m علم we get the verbs 3alim عَلِم (to know), 3allam عَلَّم (to teach), اَعلَم a3lam (to inform), ta3allama (to learn), ista3lam اِستَعلَم (to inquire).
Furthermore, the way each of these verbs is related to the basic root 3-l-m علم also helps with vocabulary acquisition. So whereas 3alima (to know) is the simple form verb, 3allama عَلَّم (to teach) is a 2nd form verb (the middle root letter ل l is doubled), and we use the 2nd form for causation. So literally 3allama عَلَّم means to cause someone to know, and therefore to teach. Similarly, ta3allam تَغَلَّم (to learn) is the 5th form, which is a reflexive of the 2nd form. So ta3allam literally means to cause yourself to know, and therefore to learn. And again ista3lam اِستَعلَم (to inquire) is the 10th form, which is used for requests. So ista3lama literally means to request to know, and therefore to inquire.
Arabic has 10 verb forms. You just take the 3 root letters (consonants) and put them in the pattern of the desired verb form, that is the jest of it at least. Each verb form carries an intrinsic meaning in it.
For example, Form III often has the meaning of carrying out an action with someone else.
Example
| meaning | 3rd Form | meaning | Basic Verb |
|---|---|---|---|
| to correspond with someone | كاتَب | to write | كَتَب |
To get form III you just add a long vowel 'alif ا after the first root letter and a fatHa over the second.
Another example of Form II
| meaning | Form II | meaning | Basic Verb |
|---|---|---|---|
| to remind (make someone remember) | ذَكَّر | to remember, recall | ذّكّر |
We get form II by doubling the second root letter, indicated by the ّ diacritic.
Again here is what @prolepylene said about the Arabic root system:
It’s pretty great. At first I wasn’t sure how it was substantially different from the Latin root system, but comparatively to English the Arabic root system is everywhere throughout the language. As you learn the forms and patterns you can break down basically all verbs, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs to a base form and a pattern that you can use to infer meaning.
I wish more categorisations were written in this style.
Silliness aside, I see the potential for awesome complexity here. After all, if one form doubles the middle consonant, and another form doubles the final consonant, there’s no letter-arranging problem with doing both. But would such combinations actually be meaningful? Is there a restriction against doing this and, if so, how do you express the composition of these kinds of ideas? I’m thinking along the lines of something like instead of feeding a not-so-small child, you cause them to feed themselves, though this might be a terrible example.
The possibilities are not endless, that is, not every basic verb has the 10 verb forms. And you can’t combine two forms together. Keep in mind that the lessons are a bit of an oversimplification, especially such an advanced topic like this one.
In form II we are doing more than just doubling the 2nd consonant, we are also adding a fatHa over the first as well as the second consonant. The Arabic verb system is wonderful but it is neither math nor chemistry yk? We can’t just cook up a bunch of forms together
Is it clearer now? I can go into more details if you want.
Basically the possibilities and potentials are left for the natives, if the need arises they might come up with a new verb by utilizing this system. But as a learner you are basically learning the verb forms so you only need to memorize the basic verb and can remember the rest easily, as well as infer the meaning of new words that you encounter.
Thank you for indulging me in another thought experiment. I always appreciate your thorough responses.
I don’t know. It seems kind of like chemistry: not all substitutions are possible; one substitution can prevent others—the steric hindrance of Arabic verb forms.
And isn’t alchemy a loanword from Arabic?
I enjoy your questions
Now we cooking!
Yes, alchemy sure is a loanword from Arabic, you can tell by the al- part which is the definite article in Arabic.