ABSTRACT
The realization that the themes of Sarf can form a distinct entity was bound to be early due to the obvious split between Sarf and the rest of the linguistic subjects, as it is the only one to have the single kalima, and not the gumla, exclusively as its subject. at-Sarf by MAZINI marks the early and sharp separation between Sarf and its sister subjects. This, of course, does not entail the adoption, by later authors, of MAZINI's method of devoting a whole treatise to Sarf. In fact, most of the later authors followed SIBAWAYHI's example in treating the themes of Sarf in one treatise, side by side with the linguistic subjects which deal with the gumla rather than the kalima. MUBARRAD's Muqtadab, IBN ASSARRAG's MUgaz and 'usul, and ZUBAYDI's wadih are but a few examples of the continuity of SIBAWAYHI's method.
