"Attributing Phonetic Elision and Retention to Arabic Dialects According to Abū Ḥayyān al-Andalusī (AH 745)

Abstract

Research Objective:

This study explores Abu Hayyan’s perspective on the phonological phenomena of deletion and retention, drawing upon his examination of authentic Arab texts and linguistic evidence, and his attribution of these phenomena to specific tribes. Abu Hayyan’s approach relied on authoritative linguistic sources, supported by citations from both poetry and prose, and reflected a keen awareness of the dialectal distinctions among Arab tribes. His work demonstrates a clear preference for oral transmission over theoretical reasoning and interpretative speculation.

Research Objective

The primary aim of this research is to investigate the phenomena of phonological retention and deletion in Abu Hayyan’s writings, with a particular focus on their attribution to various Arabic dialects. It further seeks to analyze his methodology in linking these phonological features to specific tribes, and to evaluate the accuracy of such attributions in light of other linguistic sources.

Research Problem

The central problem addressed in this study concerns the attribution of certain phonological rules related to deletion and retention to specific tribes. In some cases, these attributions appear as established phonological or grammatical rules, prompting debate as to whether they represent linguistic necessities or dialectal variations, as viewed by different grammarians.

Key Findings

The research concludes that Abu Hayyan devoted significant attention to the phenomena of phonological retention and deletion, emphasizing their connection to Arabic dialects rather than relying primarily on phonological or grammatical explanations. Nonetheless, certain judgments he made reveal hesitation or divergence from his views in other contexts. This opens the door for further comparative studies with other grammarians to assess the validity of these

Keywords: Deletion and Retention, Abu Hayyan al-Andalusi, Dialects.

Keywords: Elision, Retention, Abū Ḥayyān al-Andalusī, Dialects.