Aspiration in Arabic : a spectrographic study

Abstract EN

Aspiration was investigated in Arabic in relation to the five stop consonants /t/, /ṭ/, /k/, /q/, /ʔ/.

These consonants were examined before /a: / in two positions, viz.

initially and medially, and in two contexts, viz.

stressed syllables and unstressed ones.

The analysis result showed that all the stop consonants had a period of voicelessness between the onset of the stop closure and the onset of the following vowel, though they differed in the duration of that period; /k/ had the longest duration (39 ms), and /ʔ/ had the shortest one (19 ms).

Only /k/ and /t/ were marked as aspirated in all positions and contexts, though /q/ may be aspirated initially (whether in stressed or unstressed syllables).

The controversy of the voicing status of /q/ was also investigated.

It is suggested that this controversy could be explained if the subject is viewed from the production as well as perceptual viewpoints.

In addition, /ʔ/ showed an unstable status in relation to voicing, especially in medial position.

These findings were discussed in relation to the two positions and contexts where the five stops were examined.