ملخص الدراسة:

The paper shows that the systems and tools of information storage and retrieval are built on the basis of the European languages especially English. The criteria to measure their efficiency are put accordingly. Most of these systems and tools were translated into Arabic with rare consideration of the characteristics of the Arabic language and its vocabulary resulting into carrying the characteristics of English on Arabic ones despite the great differences between them. The paper discusses the classification of languages into natural (free and controlled) and artificial. It shows the use of free and controlled languages in information storage and retrieval and the problems they face beside presenting their strong and weak points. It makes a comparison between Arabic and English to show their characteristics with emphasis on Arabic in particular. It give a representation and standardization in the various fields of morphology, syntax, phonology and semantics which are very useful in representing the concepts precisely and clearly. It is recommended that these characteristics are used to surpass the weak points of English vocabulary translated into Arabic. It also recommends that the local colloquial Arabic vocabulary should be avoided to keep the unity of Arabic thought and to make Arabic information storage and retrieval operations useful throughout the Arab Homeland.