Semantic Change in the Mishqasi Dialect

Abstract

Semantic change, in modern linguistic study, is referred to as the transformation of the meaning of a word from one semantic stage to another. This change has a number of manifestations, including semantic meaning elevation, degradation, expansion, contraction, or contradiction.  This research paper examines the semantic change of twenty words in the Mishqasi dialect, distributed among the above-mentioned aspects of change. Further, the Mishqasi dialect is one of the dialects of the coastal area of Hadramout; Mishqasi is a word with a regional connotation meaning “east”; this connotation is rooted in the ancient southern Arabic language. Regarding geographical area, Al-Mishqas is now called Al-Ridah and Qusayr districts, located east of Hadramout, and it is adjacent to Al-Mahra Governorate. In particular, the Mishqasi dialect is special and unique among other Hadhrami dialects, especially in its semantic lexicon. Therefore, it is difficult for non-native speakers to understand many of the literary productions written by Mishqasis, let alone study the dialect itself.

As a native of Mishqas, the researcher hopes that this research will be the first attempt to bridge the gap between those dialectologists and the Mishqasi dialect, which is closed to non-Mishqasis.