A quarterly specialized journal
The Message Of Folklore from Bahrain To The World

Comparative Study N Arabic Oral Literature: Nabati Poetry And Al Ataba: A Case Study

Issue 12
Comparative Study N Arabic Oral Literature: Nabati  Poetry And Al Ataba: A Case Study

Abed Mohamed Barko (Syria)

The research examines the relation between the Nabati poetry and al Ataba poetry in several aspects. This research is pioneer in Arabic oral literature. Though, it is believed that comparative study is only conducted between the arts of different languages, this research challenges such a concept.

The language of "al Ataba poetry is rich, eloquent, highly expressive and precise. But some terminologies are not available in lexical dictionaries, but this does not indicate that they are not of Arabic origin, possibly they are survivals of the ancient Himyaar language.

The Nabati poetry or the Beduin poetry is one of the oldest genres of Arabic oral poetry and one of the most acclaimed among the Arabs.

On the other hand, al Ataba, similar to other Euphratian poetry    on the community. It is transmitted orally from generation up to the recent time.  It is an important Arabic oral genre because of its in depth, transparence and humane flavor.

Both Nabati poetry and al Ataba poetry has common characteristics, authenticity, originality and condensation.
Both genres are a product of the traditional Arabic brilliance. Such brilliance  is an outcome of several sources, the Holly Quran, the Arabic classic literature and the traditional cultural heritage.

Moreover, both genres are closely linked with the context. Consequently, they are the archive of the traditions on both levels, tribal and national. The Islamic national orientation is remarkably available in both genres.
The language in both genres is almost the same, but, each genre has its own diction and language, yet the similarity between both is easily observed.

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