Interconsonantal Intervals in Bisha Arabic and Makkah Arabic: New Insights from Variable Vowel Insertion

Abstract

This thesis aims to gain insights into the phonology of Bisha Arabic (BA) and Makkah Arabic (MA) from the pattering of interconsonantal intervals (ICIs) in L1 and L2. In pursuit of this aim, three experiments were carried out. Experiment 1 investigates the status of inserted ICIs as intrusive versus epenthetic using the diagnostics proposed by Hall (2006). Intrusive ICIs do not contribute to syllable structure whereas epenthetic ICIs occupy as syllable nuclei. The results of Experiment 1 indicate that word-initial clusters in BA and MA are modified with intrusive ICIs whereas word-medial clusters are broken up with epenthetic ICIs. Consequently, word-initial clusters must be present in the underlying representation of BA and MA, even though they are broken up in the surface structure, since intrusive ICIs do not contribute to syllable structure . Word-medial clusters are not attested in either the underlying or surface structure of BA and MA, since they are broken up with epenthetic ICIs. Word-final consonant clusters obey sonority constraints in BA and MA.

Experiments 2 and 3 explore the ability of BA and MA speakers to produce and perceive L2 English clusters. These experiments are employed as independent evidence in support of Hall’s (2006) proposed diagnostics of intrusive versus epenthetic ICIs. The results of these experiments show that L2 English peripheral consonant clusters were accurately produced and perceived by BA and MA speakers, which supports the presence of peripheral clusters in L1 BA and MA. In contrast, L2 English word-medial clusters were difficult for BA and MA speakers to produce and perceive, which is consistent with the absence of word-medial clusters in L1 BA and MA. Hence, the results of Experiments 2 and 3 provide independent evidence for the conclusion drawn from Experiment 1.