An exploration towards a generalized Phonetic Transliteration of Classical Arabic Featuring complete computerized rules of recitation and a special transliteration system for the Classical Arabic letters such as ‘ نْ يَ ع’ (‘ع’) By Gregory Morse www.islamsource.info With help from Israa Alaradi May Allah accept this effort at advancing transliteration of this most blessed language! Truly if Abu Bakr as-Siddiq and Uthman ibn Affan spent their valuable time as leaders advancing preservation of the Quran in Arabic writing, then how would it not be worth our time to transliterate it into English in the modern context? Some history: During this time, Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi (died 786) devised a tashkil system to replace that of Abu al-Aswad. His system has been universally used since the early 11th century, and includes six diacritical marks: fatha (a), damma (u), kasra (i), sukun (vowel-less), shadda (double consonant), madda (vowel prolongation; applied to the alif). This paper is the start of what will ultimately grow into a complete transliteration system from classical Arabic into English, by tackling one of the toughest issues to do justice for such a system first upfront and in a phonological manner. The particular Arabic letter ‘ع’ is one of the most difficult for English speakers to pronounce and one of the most difficult to come up with a consistent and extensive set of rules for transliteration. Evaluation for a transliteration must take into account most essentially the vowel sounds on either side of it. The throat is not used in English but there are more guttural sounds which can be used as a best phonetic approximation that gives the best spirit of transliteration. Guttural speech sounds are those with a primary place of articulation near the back of the oral cavity. The rules here are prefix and postfix based but can be combined as some of the examples show. The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) lists the letter as a voiced pharyngeal approximant or fricative indicated by ‘ʕ’. Although traditionally placed in the fricative row of the IPA chart, ‘ʕ’ is usually an approximant. The IPA symbol itself is ambiguous, but no language is known to make a phonemic distinction between fricatives and approximants at this place of articulation. The approximant is sometimes specified as ‘ʕ̞’ or as ‘ɑ̯’. A pharyngeal consonant is a type of consonant which is articulated with the root of the tongue against the pharynx. The best approximation will attempt to bring the point of articulation to the very bottom and back of the throat where it is pronounced. In English there is one glottal consonant, the letter ‘h’ as in
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An exploration towards a generalized Phonetic
Transliteration of Classical Arabic
Featuring complete computerized rules of recitation and a special
transliteration system for the Classical Arabic letters such as ‘ (’ع‘) ’عين
By Gregory Morse
www.islamsource.info
With help from Israa Alaradi
May Allah accept this effort at advancing transliteration of this most blessed language! Truly if
Abu Bakr as-Siddiq and Uthman ibn Affan spent their valuable time as leaders advancing preservation of
the Quran in Arabic writing, then how would it not be worth our time to transliterate it into English in
the modern context? Some history: During this time, Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi (died 786) devised a
tashkil system to replace that of Abu al-Aswad. His system has been universally used since the early 11th
century, and includes six diacritical marks: fatha (a), damma (u), kasra (i), sukun (vowel-less), shadda
(double consonant), madda (vowel prolongation; applied to the alif).
This paper is the start of what will ultimately grow into a complete transliteration system from
classical Arabic into English, by tackling one of the toughest issues to do justice for such a system first
upfront and in a phonological manner.
The particular Arabic letter ‘ع’ is one of the most difficult for English speakers to pronounce and
one of the most difficult to come up with a consistent and extensive set of rules for transliteration.
Evaluation for a transliteration must take into account most essentially the vowel sounds on either side
of it. The throat is not used in English but there are more guttural sounds which can be used as a best
phonetic approximation that gives the best spirit of transliteration. Guttural speech sounds are those
with a primary place of articulation near the back of the oral cavity. The rules here are prefix and postfix
based but can be combined as some of the examples show.
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) lists the letter as a voiced pharyngeal approximant or
fricative indicated by ‘ʕ’. Although traditionally placed in the fricative row of the IPA chart, ‘ʕ’ is usually
an approximant. The IPA symbol itself is ambiguous, but no language is known to make a phonemic
distinction between fricatives and approximants at this place of articulation. The approximant is
sometimes specified as ‘ʕ’ or as ‘ɑ’. A pharyngeal consonant is a type of consonant which is articulated
with the root of the tongue against the pharynx.
The best approximation will attempt to bring the point of articulation to the very bottom and
back of the throat where it is pronounced. In English there is one glottal consonant, the letter ‘h’ as in
Mujahid/Mujahideen/Mujahedin/Mujaheddin د اه ج ين / م د اه ج م
Salaam م س ل
Hijab/Hejab اب ج ح
Qadi/Kadi/Cadi ة ق عد
Hakim/Hakeem ك م يم / ح ك ح
Shia/Shiah/Shii يع ة يع ي / ش ش
Qiblah/Qibla/Kiblah/Kibla ق بل ة
Qiyas/Kiyas ق ي اس
Fiqh/Fikh ف قه
Surah/Sura ة س ور
Sayyid/Said/Sayed/Sayid س ي د
Shirk رك ش
Shaitan/Shaytan ش يط ان
Talaq ق ط ل
Niqab ن ق اب
Deen/Din ين د
Riba ب ا ر
Shariah/Sharia ي عة ش ر
Appendix B – Names
ع ون eoo ع و ج raajeeoona ر
ع ah ين ت ع nastahaeenu ن س
ع e ن ع م nekma
ع o ب ع د bokda
اع aae ل ك اع jaaeeluka ج
يع eeh يع badeeho ب د
وع ooh ي وع د ون yoohawdoona
shoaeyban ش ع ي ب ا aey ع ي
ن awh ع و ع و farawhna ف ر
ع (nothing) أ ن ع م anawma
nahkbudu ن ع ب د k ع
[name] [namerules]
Hadith Qudsi د يث ق دس ي ح
Imam Nabawi’s Forty Hadith د يث ن ب و ي ح
Sahih Al-Bukhari يح ح ي ص ار أ لب خ
Sahih Muslim يح ح سل م ص م
Al-Sunan Al-Sughra ى أ لس ن ن أ لص غر
Sunan Abi Dawood د أ ب ي س ن ن د او
Sunan Al-Tirmidhi ع ام ي ج ذ أ لت رم
Sunan Ibn Maja ه إ بن س ن ن اج م
Kitab Al-Kafi ت اب أ لك اف ي أ لك
Man La Yahduruhu Al-Faqih ه ل م ن أ لف ق يه ي حض ر
Tahdhib Al-Ahkam أ أل حك ام ت هذ يب
Al-Istibsar ست بص ار أ إل
Appendix C – International Phonetic Alphabet pictures and diagrams for Arabic, English and in
general
Part of
Speech
Specific point of articulation ( مخرج) Letters
The nasal
passage
( يش و مأ لخ )
This is a single point of articulation for the sound of
nasalization ( غنة) that comes from the nose by blocking
the flow of air from the mouth with the tongue ‘ ن’ or
lips ‘ م’. This is inherent characteristic of the two letters
that cannot change.
م | ن
The two
lips
( ن ٱلشف ت ي )
Between the two lips ب | م | و
Between the inside of the lower lips and the upper
incisors. ف The tongue
(ٱلل س ان )The innermost part of the tongue next to the throat
touching the roof of the mouth opposite it. ( ٱلل س ان أ ق ص ى ق (The innermost part of the tongue towards the mouth
touching the roof of the mouth opposite it. ك One or both edges of the tongue, usually the left along
with the upper back molars. ض
Between the edges of the tongue usually the right and
the gums of the front molars, canine and incisors. ل Between the tips of the tongue and the gums of the two
upper central incisors. ن Between the upper part of the tip of the tongue and the
gums of the two upper central incisors. ر The middle of tongue with the opposite from the roof
of the mouth. ( س ط ٱلل س ان و ي | ش | ج ( The tip of the tongue near the inner plates of the upper
central incisors. ص | س | ز The tip of the tongue along with its upper surface
touching the roots of the central incisors. ط | د | ت Between the upper surface of the tongue near the end
of the tips of the two upper central incisors. ظ | ذ | ث The throat
ل ق ) (ٱل ح The deepest part of the throat. ( ل ق أ ق ص ى ٱل ح )
ه | ء The middle of the throat. ( س ط ل ق و ٱل ح )
ح | ع The nearest part of the throat. ( ل ق أ د ن ى ٱل ح )
خ | غ The chest
or interior
ف ) و (ٱل ج
This is a single point of articulation comprising the
empty space of the open mouth for the letters of long
vowels ( د or elongation preceded by the Arabic (م
vowels.
ا ي | و |
Characteristics ( صفات)
Characteristic Opposite
Strength ( دة (ٱلش
Trapping the flow of sound, strengthening the
complete reliance on the point of articulation,
associated with the letters in this phrase: د ق ط أج
.ب ك ت
Moderation ( س ط (ٱلتو
In between the strength and the weakness is
the moderation, where the sound emerges but
does not flow from the point of articulation
associated with letters in this phrase: ر ل ن ع م .
Weakness ( ة او خ (ٱلر
A flow of sound during pronunciation,
weakening the reliance on point of
articulation associated with all the letters not
included in “Strength” and “Moderation”.
Whispers ( س م ر ) Audible (ٱل ه ه (ٱل ج
A flow of breath (air) during pronunciation due to weakness in the
reliance on the point of articulation associated with letters in this
phrase: ث ه س ك ت ش خص ف ح .
The trapping of the flow of breath (air) due to heavy dependence on the
point of articulation associated with all the letters not in “Whispers”.
Heaviness/Elevation ( ت ع ل ء س (ٱإل Raising the tongue to the roof of the mouth during articulation,
associated with the letters in this phrase: غ ط خ ص ق ظ ض .
Lightness/Lowering ( ت ف ال س (ٱإل
Lowering the tongue to the floor of the mouth during articulation
associated with all the letters not in “Elevation”.
Closing ( ب اق ط (ٱإل
The meeting of the tongue and what is opposite it from the roof of the
mouth during articulation, associated with the letters: ظ | ط | ص | ض .
Opening ( ت اح نف (ٱإل
The separation of the tongue from the roof of the mouth during
articulation, associated with all the letters not included in “Closing”.
Fluency ( ق ذ ل (ٱإل
The easy flowing of the letters ب | ل | ن | م | ر | ف from the tip of the
tongue and lips. However this characteristic and its opposite is not
included in the study of rules of recitation but included for
completeness.
Restraint ( ات م ص (ٱإل
The emergence of the remaining letters not included in “Fluency” from
inside of the mouth and throat.
Whistling ( ف ير (ٱلص
A sound emerging between the tip of the tongue and the upper central incisors which resembles the sound of a bird, associated with ز |س |ص .
It is usually like a buzzing sound with ز.
Vibration ( ٱل ق ل ق ل ة)
The vibration of the point of articulation with the emergence of the letter when it has sukoon ( ) associated with letters in this phrase: د ق ط ب ج .
Ease ( ٱلل ين)
This is pronunciation without exertion or difficulty. It is associated with letters ي | و with sukoon ( ) preceded by fathah ( ).
Inclination/Drifting ( اف ر ن ح (ٱإل
The inclination of the letter after its articulation from the point of articulation towards another point of articulation associated with ر | ل ل .
inclines towards the tip of the tongue and ر inclines towards the point of articulation of ل.
Repetition ( ير ر (ٱلتك
This is the natural tendency to vibrate or roll the tongue during articulation of the letter ر. However this is to be avoided for correct pronunciation
by controlling the tongue and not relaxing it.
Diffusion (ٱلتف ش ى)
The spreading of air throughout the mouth during articulation of the letter ش.
Elongation ( ت ط ال ة س (ٱإل This is the extension of the sound over the entire edge of the tongue from front to back during articulation, associated with letter ض.
Nasalization ( ٱل غ نة)
This is the sound emitted from the nose, an inherent characteristics of letters م | ن when accompanied by sukoon ( ) or shaddah ( ). Nasalization
emerges from the nose when the flow of sound is blocked in the mouth, by the tongue with ن and by the lips with م.