An Introduction to Studying Arabic Phonology

Muqaddimah Fi Al-Dars Al-Sawty 'inda Al-'arab

An Introduction to Studying Arabic Phonology

The way of thinking in the present age of specialization has required that the partial phonological concepts be allocated independent research, unlike the heritage. Hence, the difference between the present and the past has been clear. The precedents are not to be blame that they did not act according to the modern age, as the nature of comprehensiveness has imposed upon them a specific way of thinking, which led them to present many phonological concepts in their books. Thus the contemporary scholars should take these ideas out, highlight them, and modernize them so that they fit the nature of this age. For example, medical books reveal the Arab's medical and anatomical knowledge of the speech organs and their functions. In addition, it can be deduced, from books of theology, logic, philosophy and music, that Arabs have physical knowledge of the sound, how it occurs and how it is realized, and that they have the ability to identify the characteristics of the speech in general, the laws of the development of words and their significance, and the musical characteristic of the word, and to take the aspects (toning) into consideration. Books of grammar, morphology, phonology and Tajweed as well as recitations also reveal their knowledge of the places of articulation and their characteristics, and the rules of articulation and the harmony among these places. What can also be deduced, from the dictionaries and books of linguistics, eloquence and Tajweed, is the level of their knowledge of speech defects and the protective procedures against them. This book is a brief documentary introduction that reveals the Arabs' knowledge of phonology through their knowledge in this field from the first century AH until the sixth century AH, the era of stability of phonology for the Arabs in my opinion. May God benefit all readers of this book, and help us achieve our goals.