Linguistics and Literature Studies Vol. 7(1), pp. 22 - 30
DOI: 10.13189/lls.2019.070103
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Syncope in Makkan Arabic Fast Speech: A Stratal-OT Analysis

Rawiah S. Kabrah ^*
Department of English, College of Social Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Syncope is a pervasive phenomenon in Arabic, in general. In Makkan Arabic in particular, syncope occurs both in careful speech as well as in fast speech. This paper examines syncope in fast speech where it applies to initial syllables in words giving rise to syllables that contain complex onsets which are otherwise prohibited in the language. It further examines the phonotactic constraints that play a role in the application of syncope as well as the constraints that can block syncope in the same environments. Other Arabic dialects that manifest the same behavior of syncope in fast speech are considered. The analysis of the Makkan data is done within the framework of Stratal-Optimality theory. The paper lends evidence to the fact that postlexical level includes the level of careful speech and that of fast speech each with its own ranking of constraints.

KEYWORDS
Fast Speech, Makkan Arabic, Optimality Theory, Postlexical Levels, Stratal-OT, Syncope

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Rawiah S. Kabrah , "Syncope in Makkan Arabic Fast Speech: A Stratal-OT Analysis," Linguistics and Literature Studies, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 22 - 30, 2019. DOI: 10.13189/lls.2019.070103.

(b). APA Format:
Rawiah S. Kabrah (2019). Syncope in Makkan Arabic Fast Speech: A Stratal-OT Analysis. Linguistics and Literature Studies, 7(1), 22 - 30. DOI: 10.13189/lls.2019.070103.