The role of the act of reading in reproducing the written word through the practice of grammatical interpretation

Abstract

The concept of interpretation (ta’wīl) has been defined differently by philosophers, legal theorists, and exegetes, and it is often linked to exegesis (tafsīr). Here, however, the focus is on grammatical interpretation: departing from the apparent meaning of an expression toward an alternative construction that aligns with grammatical rules. Grammarians use interpretation to reconcile established principles with examples that seem to contradict them. Although they employ it frequently, they did not provide a precise definition, except for Abu Hayyan’s remark that interpretation occurs only when a prevailing norm is contradicted; if a form represents the consistent usage of a particular Arab tribe, it is not subject to interpretation.

Interpretation is also connected to reading as a re-engagement with the text and an exploration of its possible meanings. Meaning emerges through reading and response, yet interpretation remains tied to the text itself. Grammatical structures may be either clear and self-evident or in need of interpretive analysis, and texts differ in their openness to interpretation—some accessible to specialists generally, others only to those firmly grounded in knowledge.