Arabic manuscripts: Methodology of preparatory work with fragments 
Author: Anka Stoilova. Language: Bulgarian with a summary in English
Category: Arabian Studies

     The book studies the Arabic manuscripts and fragments of manuscripts in particular preserved at St. St. Cyril and Methodius National Library in Sofia that consists of one of the richest Ottoman archives with respect to the quantity and variety of manuscripts. Along with the codices in Ottoman and Persian, Arabic manuscripts count up to four thousand manuscripts forming an integral part of the Arabic written heritage created between 7th and 19th century A.D. 

Table of contents

Preface

Chapter One. The Arabic manuscript

The Codex

1. Composite parts and making of the codex

1.1. Paper body

1.1.1. Preparing the quires

1.1.2. Rules of pages layout and codex arranging

1.1.3. Joining of paper body

1.2. Binding materials

1.3. The Cover

1.3.1. Materials, shape and elements of the cover

1.3.2. Types of covers according to board materials

1.3.3. Cover making the cover and bookbinding of the codex

1.4. Techniques for strengthening and restoring the codex

1.5. Manipulating the codex for other purposes

2. Characteristics of the codex

The Arabic scripts

3. The Arabic script system

3.1. Elements of Arabic script

3.2. Development of Arabic script

3.2.1. Initial forming of Arabic script (before the middle of 7th c.)

3.2.2. Adding new elements to Arabic Script (from the middle of 7th c. to the end of 8th c.)

3.2.3. The fully developed Arabic script

3.2.3.1. Contribution of al-Khalil ibn Ahmad (8th c.)

3.2.3.2. Marks for unpointed letters

4. Characteristics of Arabic script

4.1. Writing of oral speech

4.1.1. Writing variations according to the number of graphemes used

4.1.2. General characteristics of the Arabic alphabet

4.2. Elements of graphemes

4.3. Main styles of Arabic script

4.4. The Arabic written word

4.5. Lines in manuscript page

4.6. Rotations

4.7. Comparison of styles of Arabic script in manuscripts

5. Letter arrangement in the Arabic alphabet

5.1. Numerical value of Arabic letters

5.2. Concordance between letters and numbers

6. Numerical figures

6.1. Systems of numerical figures: Arabic-Indian, Urdu-Farsi and Arabic

6.2. Variants of numerical figures in manuscripts

6.3. Dates and their specific forms in manuscripts

7. Abbreviations and calligrams

7.1. Classifications of abbreviations

7.1.1. Types of abbreviations according to abbreviated word

7.1.2. Types of abbreviations according to methods of abbreviating

7.2. Abbreviations in manuscripts

7.2.1. Abbreviations used by authors

7.2.2. Abbreviations created by copyists and readers

7.3. Calligrams in the codex

7.3.1. Creation of calligrams

7.3.2. Calligrams in the manuscripts

7.3.3. Calligrams in the seals

8. Additional signs

8.1. Special signs in letter and non-letter shape

8.2. Special signs of composite shape

8.2.1. Signs of Qurʻan reading

8.2.2. Small explanatory signs

8.2.3. Apotropaic and conjuring signs

8.2.4. Sings and tools for segmentation of the text and the codex

Types of texts

9. Principles of text classification

10. Text classification according to relation with codex (no. 1-2)

11. Text classification according to the relations between texts (no. 3-9)

12. Main text classification according to authorship (no. 10-15)

13. Main text classification according to types of copies (no. 16-19)

14. Text classifications according to number and place in the codex (no. 20-23)

15. Non-main text classifications (no. 24-47)

15.1. Additional non-main text and illustration classifications (no. 25-47)

15.2. Secondary collateral text classifications (no. 45-47)

16. Manuscript fragment classifications (no. 48-58)

Segmentation of the text and the codex

17. Introductory remarks

17.1. Definition of segmentation and of signs and tools for text and codex segmentation

17.2. Aspects of segmentation

17.3. Levels of written speech

17.4. Stages of manuscript text segmentation

18. Signs and tools as first aspect of segmentation

18.1. List and types of segmentation signs and tools

18.2. Common characteristics

18.3. Meanings of segmentation signs

18.4. Functions of segmentation signs

19. Types of segmentation and units as second aspect

19.1. General view

19.2. Letter segmentation at graphemes level

19.3. Word segmentation at written word level

19.4. Group segmentation at micro text level

19.5. Segmentation at macro text level

19.5.1. Author’s segmentation

19.5.2. Copyist’s segmentation

19.6. Segmentation at codex level

19.6.1. Page layout and compiling the codex

19.6.2. Types of compiling the codex

Chapter Two. Methodology of preparative work with fragments

The Arabic fragments

20. General view

20.1. Causes for incompleteness of the manuscripts

20.2. Manuscript fragment definition

21. Fragment classifying

21.1. Types of fragments

21.2. Variations of fragments

22. Importance of preparative work with fragments for studying the manuscripts

22.1. Entering in a collection

22.2. Entering in the field of scientific study

Methodology of preparative work with fragments

23. First stage. Examination of fragment and its registration in working documents

23.1. Examination of fragment

23.2. Working documents for registration

23.3. Forecasting of fragment mergence

24. Second stage. Fragment mergence

24.1. Descripting of fragments. Types of descriptions

24.1.1. Entries and form of main description

24.1.2. Entries and form of secondary description

24.2. Fragment comparison

24.2.1. Collation between types of fragments and their characteristics

24.2.2. Collation between styles of script and arranging of fragments

24.2.3. Collation between segmentation signs in new fragments and their common condition

24.2.4. Collation between facts about the history of fragments

24.3. Mergence of fragments

25. Third stage. Changing the registration of fragments

Chapter Three. The Arabic fragments in collection of Sts Cyril and Methodius National Library

Information value of old registrations for work with manuscript fragments

26. Types of registrations

26.1. Old inventory numbers in manuscripts

26.2. Documents for ownership

26.3. Waqf dedication

26.3.1. Notes of waqf dedicators

26.3.2. Seals of waqf dedicators

27. Initial registrations of Islamic manuscripts in National Library

27.1. Manuscripts sealing

27.2. Attaching inventory numbers and classmarks

27.3. Data on Arabic fragments in preserved inventory registers

28. Fragments and entering the collection in the field of scientific study

Continuing of preparatory work with fragments and results

29. Organizing the preparatory work with fragments

29.1. Fragment ascertainment and registration

29.2. Classmark changing

29.3. Systematization, collation and mergence of fragments

30. Results of fragment mergence

30.1. List of completed manuscripts

30.2. List of incomplete manuscripts

Collecting and systematizing other data about the oriental manuscript collection

31. Information about language grouping of the oriental manuscripts in Sts Cyril and Methodius National Library according to their waqf dedication

31.1. Main notes

31.2. Groups

32. Information about the grouping of oriental manuscripts in Sts Cyril and Methodius National Library according to their waqf dedication

31.1. Main notes

31.2. Groups

Conclusion

Summary in English

References

Vocabulary

List of illustrations

List of manuscripts and materials used in the illustrations

Appendix. 

K. Issa. Following the Arabic wisdom in solving the mystery and passing if forward

Write a review