Al-Dalalah al-sawtiyyah li-mawdi‘ tanwin al-fath fi al-rasm al-imla’i al-‘Arabi: Dirasah tahliliyyah fi daw’ al-turath al-lughawi

[The phonetic significance of the position of the fathah tanween in Arabic orthography: An analytical study in light of linguistic heritage]

Abstract

The position of the fathah tanween in Arabic orthography is one of the issues that has sparked debate among linguists and those interested in Arabic script, due to the differences in how it is represented in writing—either placed on the last letter of the word or on the extra alif. This has led to questions about the relationship between written spelling and phonetic performance, and how the position of the tanween affects the pronunciation and phonetic meaning of the word. This study aims to uncover the phonetic significance of the position of the fathah tanween in Arabic and to clarify the phonetic principles that early grammarians relied on to explain this phenomenon, highlighting the relationship between pronunciation and orthography in light of linguistic heritage.  The study relied on a descriptive-analytical method, using content analysis of heritage texts; by collecting the sayings of grammarians regarding the position of the fathah tanween, analysing them, and comparing them to reveal their phonetic and written dimensions. The research was limited to heritage sources that addressed this issue, focusing on the views of Sibawayh, Al-Farra’, and Ibn Jinni, as they are among the most prominent foundational references in this field.  The research results showed that the ancient grammarians agreed that the fathatan (nunation with fat?ah) is phonetically connected to the last letter of the word, and that the following alef is not pronounced but was added in the spelling for writing purposes. The results also revealed that changing the position of the nunation mark in writing does not lead to a difference in pronunciation but rather reflects a spelling convention that developed with the evolution of the Arabic writing system. Understanding this relationship helps clear up confusion between the phonetic aspect and the writing aspect and enhances the accuracy of teaching Arabic spelling rules. The study concludes that the explanation of the fathatan's position should be based on phonetic analysis and the findings of linguistic heritage, with these results being useful for improving the teaching of Arabic orthography and deepening the understanding of the relationship between the phonetic system and the writing system in Arabic.