The KitÄb of SÄ«bawayhi, compiled in the 8th century, is the oldest existant Arabic grammar. It has gone through many editions, but all are based on a copy from the 18th century.
The author of this important book has discovered 11 manuscripts in addition to the 66 mentioned by F. Sezgin (GAS, IX). More than 40 were used in this book to contribute to a new understanding of the history of the text.
She has now definitively shown that all of the recensions, oriental and occidental, follow closely theânow lostâcopy of al-Mubarrad (d. 9th century), which functioned as a true vulgate. Only one manuscript, found in Milan, managed to escape its influence, and adhered to the rival Kufan grammatical tradition. This manuscript provides a better version of the text and makes a new reading of the KitÄb possible
Geneviève Humbert, Ph.D. (Paris, 1992), is currently researcher at the C.N.R.S. in Paris (Institut de Recherche et d'Histoire des textes, section arabe). She has published several studies on the subject of the history of SÄ«bawayhi's KitÄb and on the medieval Arabic book.