On Wednesday morning, 29 June 2022, in the Department of Arabic Language in the College of Arts at the University of Basrah a PhD thesis entitled (Science of  (toponymy): a study in the book of the dictionary of countries by Yaqut al-Hamawi (d. 622 Ah) ) was discussed.

The thesis presented by the student (Ali Jassim Jatheer Odeh) included three chapters. The first chapter dealt with the phonological morphology of the linguistic structure and its impact on the generation of toponymy, the second chapter included the morphological formation of the singular linguistic structure and its impact on the generation of toponymy, and the third chapter dealt with a semantic transition of the singular linguistic structure and its impact on the generation of toponymy.

The thesis aims to identify the origins of sciences that have recently appeared in the Arab heritage, including the science of (toponymy), and to prove that with the evidence in the book Dictionary of Countries.

The thesis concluded by proving the primacy of the ancient Arabs in what has developed a science, namely: the etymology of toponymy, and the existence of a great similarity in the goals and objectives of research in the rooting of toponymy between the ancient Arab researchers, represented by Yaqut Al-Hamwi, and the modern Western.

The thesis recommended paying attention to this field and intensifying research in it, and teaching it as a method in university studies as many linguistic and non-linguistic matters occur in its field that affects the human being, his identity, his rights, and what is related to that.