نشأة القواميس في الحضارة البشتوية

“The Emergence of Dictionaries in Pashto Civilization”

Abstract

The emergence of dictionaries in Pashto civilization represents a significant intellectual and linguistic development that reflects the evolution of the Pashto language and its cultural identity. The history of Pashto lexicography dates back to the late 17th and early 18th centuries, when scholars and poets began to collect, explain, and document Pashto words to preserve their linguistic heritage. These early dictionaries were influenced by Arabic and Persian lexicographical traditions, yet they maintained a distinct Pashto character.

The establishment of Pashto dictionaries by the Pashto Academy and Afghan linguistic scholars in the 20th century marked a turning point in standardizing the language. The publication of comprehensive works such as “Pukhto–Pukhto Tashreehi Qamoos” (Pashto–Pashto Explanatory Dictionary) by the Academy of Sciences of Afghanistan provided a solid foundation for linguistic research and education.

Through these efforts, Pashto dictionaries not only served as linguistic references but also as repositories of culture, idioms, and historical expressions, reflecting the deep connection between language and Pashtun identity. Today, the ongoing development of digital and academic lexicons continues this mission, contributing to the preservation and modernization of the Pashto language within global linguistic studies.