Page 123 - Arabiab Studies (IV)

Architectural Terminology of the
Saudi Arabian South-West

Theodore Prochazka, Jr.

The author of this article uses a transliteration of his own devising to
convey the technical vocabulary of architecture in ‘Asir. (Eds.).
The following is a study of architectural terms collected in the
general area of the Southern Hijaz, including the Highlands and
Western Najd, and the Tihamah. The localities represented are the
following from north to south: al-Qirintah and al-Ishta* in Zahran;
al-‘Ara’ and al-Ghabar in Ghamid; Sabt al-‘Alaya in Bal-Qam; A1
al-Shaikh in BanI ‘Amr; al-Nama$ and Tanumah (villages of
al-$afbah and Sabt Tanumah) in BanI Shihr; Ithnain Bal-Asmar
in Bal-Asmar; al-$abh in Bal-Abmar; Abha, the capital of the ‘Aslr
Province; al-Nab‘ah in BanI Malik; al-Safora’ in Ban! Mughaid;
Rijal in Rijal Alma‘; Afead Rufaidah in Rufaidah; ‘Aqlq in Ban!
Bishr; al-Jabarah in Sarat ‘Abldah; al-Qahabah in Jabal BanI
Malik; Najran in Yam; Bishah in Shahran. In the Tihamah the
terminology of the rural architecture of al-Qauz southeast of
al-Qunfidhah is given.2
The items were collected in the field in the summers of 1974 and
1975, except for terms from al-‘Ara\ collected in Riyadh, and those
from al-Qahabah, collected in Jlzan. While in Riyadh the writer
added some new terms for Tanumah and al-Jabarah. It was not
possible to make an exhaustive study of the terminology as time
was limited and the area covered vast. In addition the writer had to
familiarise himself with the varied types of architecture he encoun­
tered along the way.3

ABBREVIATIONS USED BELOW

Al-Qirintah : Qi Al-Nab‘ah : Nab
Al-Ishta’ : I Al-Sabrfi* : Sah
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