Loanwords of Arabic Origin in Northern Talyshi through the Lens of Tolışon Sədo Newspaper

Abstract

This study explores Arabic-origin loanwords in Northern Talyshi, addressing a significant gap in existing scholarship. Although the Talyshi language has been the subject of linguistic research for nearly two centuries, its lexicon – particularly borrowed vocabulary – remains largely understudied. Prior work has focused mainly on phonology, morphology, and syntax, with only partial etymological treatment of inherited vocabulary. The items discussed here did not enter the language through direct contact with Arabic but through long-standing mediation via Persian and, more recently, Azerbaijani. This research contributes to the understanding of language contact and lexical evolution in Northern Talyshi by systematically analyzing Arabic loans. Thirteen issues of the Tolışon Sədo newspaper (2011–2023), encompassing various genres – from publicistic articles to folklore and poetry – serve as the corpus for analysis. The study identifies patterns of usage and examines the nativization of Arabic-origin items into the Northern Talyshi lexicon.