{"id":16174,"date":"2018-07-12T21:25:13","date_gmt":"2018-07-12T21:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/arabic\/?p=16174"},"modified":"2018-07-12T21:25:13","modified_gmt":"2018-07-12T21:25:13","slug":"assimilation-in-arabic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/arabic\/assimilation-in-arabic\/","title":{"rendered":"Assimilation in Arabic"},"content":{"rendered":"

In natural speech, it is always difficult to utter a sound twice in a row, as in \u0639\u064e\u0644\u0652\u0644\u064e\u0645<\/strong> which becomes \u0639\u064e\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0645<\/strong>. It is also relatively difficult to produce two sounds from the same area of articulation consecutively, as in \u0645\u0650\u0646\u0652 \u0631\u064e\u0623\u0652\u0633\u0650\u0643\u064e<\/strong> which is pronounced as \u0645\u0650\u0631\u0651\u064e\u0623\u0652\u0633\u0650\u0643\u064e<\/strong>. Therefore, we recourse to assimilation. In Arabic, assimilation \u0627\u0644\u0625\u0650\u062f\u0652\u063a\u064e\u0627\u0645<\/strong> happens when two identical letters (or rather sounds) or comparatively similar sounds become one geminate (doubled) sound \/ letter \u062d\u064e\u0631\u0652\u0641 \u0645\u064f\u0634\u064e\u062f\u0651\u064e\u062f<\/strong>. This post gives a fairly detailed explanation of assimilation in Arabic.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Why It Happens:<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Assimilation in Arabic occurs because it is not easy for a speaker to move an organ of articulation (i.e. the tongue, the lips, the teeth) twice in a row while uttering two identical sounds or sounds produced from the same area of articulation. Without assimilating them, speech will be more like tongue-twisters. Therefore, identical consecutive sounds\/letters become single geminates (doubled) sounds. Likewise, sounds\/letters that are not identical but share many features become a single geminate sound.<\/p>\n

Role Diacritics in Assimilation:<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Diacritical marks, namely \u0627\u0644\u0641\u064e\u062a\u0652\u062d\u064e\u0629 <\/strong>fatHah<\/em>, \u0627\u0644\u0636\u0651\u064e\u0645\u0651\u064e\u0629 <\/strong>DHammah<\/em>, \u0627\u0644\u0643\u064e\u0633\u0652\u0631\u064e\u0629 <\/strong>kasrah<\/em> (let\u2019s call them short vowels or Harakaat <\/em>and the singular is Harakah<\/em>) and \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0651\u064f\u0643\u064f\u0648\u0646 <\/strong>sukuun<\/em>, play a major role in the occurrence of assimilation. Since the assimilation occurs between two letters \/ sounds. There are three ways to add diacritics to them: 1) sukuun +<\/em> Harakah<\/em>, 2) Harakah<\/em> + sukuun<\/em>, and 3) Harakat <\/em>+ Harakah<\/em>, as in \u0633\u064f\u0643\u0652\u0643\u064e\u0631 <\/strong>(\u0633\u064f\u0643\u0651\u064e\u0631<\/strong>), \u0631\u064e\u062f\u064e\u062f\u0652\u062a\u064f<\/strong>, and \u0631\u064e\u062f\u064e\u062f\u064e<\/strong>, respectively. The type of Harakah<\/em> on the letters determines whether assimilation is mandatory, optional, or impossible.<\/p>\n

Types of Assimilation:<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Based on the kind of diacritical marks on the identical \/ similar letters, there are three types of assimilation in Arabic: mandatory, optional, and impossible.<\/p>\n

Mandatory Assimilation: <\/u><\/p>\n

This type of assimilation happens when the first of the two identical letters has a sukuun<\/em>, while the second has a harakah <\/em>(i.e. fatHah<\/em>, kasrah<\/em>, or DHammah<\/em>). This happens in single words or two successive words, as in these examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Not assimilated<\/span><\/td>\nAssimilated<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0646\u064e\u0632\u0652\u0632\u064e\u0644<\/strong><\/td>\n\u0646\u064e\u0632\u0651\u064e\u0644\u064e <\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\u2018move down\u2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0633\u064e\u0644\u0652\u0644\u064e\u0645\u064e<\/strong><\/td>\n\u0633\u064e\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0645\u064e<\/strong> \u2018hand in\u2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u062d\u064e\u0628\u0652\u0628\u064e<\/strong><\/td>\n\u062d\u064e\u0628\u0651\u064e<\/strong> \u2018to love\u2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0633\u064e\u0643\u064e\u062a\u0652\u062a\u064f<\/strong><\/td>\n\u0633\u064e\u0643\u064e\u062a\u0651\u064f<\/strong> \u2018I kept quiet\u2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0646\u064f\u0638\u0652\u0638\u0650\u0641\u064e<\/strong><\/td>\n\u0646\u064f\u0638\u0651\u0650\u0641\u064e<\/strong> \u2018was cleaned\u2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0635\u064e\u062f\u0650\u064a\u0652\u0642\u064e\u0643\u0652 \u0643\u064e\u0631\u0650\u064a\u0652\u0645<\/strong> \u2018your friend is generous\u2019<\/td>\n\u0635\u064e\u062f\u0650\u064a\u0652\u0642\u064e\u0643\u0651\u064e\u0631\u0650\u064a\u0652\u0645 <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0643\u064f\u0644\u0652 \u0644\u064e\u062d\u0652\u0645<\/strong> \u2018eat meat!\u2019<\/td>\n\u0643\u064f\u0644\u0651\u064e\u062d\u0652\u0645<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0627\u0644\u062e\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0644 \u0644\u0650\u064a<\/strong> \u2018the horse is mine\u2019<\/td>\n\u0627\u0644\u062e\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0644\u0651\u0650\u064a <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0639\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u0645\u064e\u0627 <\/strong><\/td>\n\u0639\u064e\u0645\u0651\u064e\u0627<\/strong> \u2018about what\u2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0644\u064e\u0645\u0652 \u064a\u064e\u0631\u0652\u062c\u064e\u0639\u0652 \u0639\u064e\u0644\u0650\u064a<\/strong> \u2018Ali didn\u2019t come back\u2019<\/td>\n\u0644\u064e\u0645\u0652 \u064a\u064e\u0631\u0652\u062c\u064e\u0639\u0651\u064e\u0644\u0650\u064a <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

However, if the last letter of the first word is yaa\u2019 <\/em>or waaw<\/em> (both with sukuun<\/em>) followed by another word that begin the same letters this type of assimilation does not occur, as in these examples:<\/p>\n

(\u0623) \u064a\u064e\u062c\u0652\u0631\u0650\u064a\u0652 \u064a\u064e\u062d\u0652\u064a\u064e\u0649<\/strong> \u2018Yahya runs\u2019<\/p>\n

(\u0628) \u064a\u064e\u0645\u0652\u0634\u0650\u064a\u0652 \u064a\u064e\u0627\u0633\u0650\u0631<\/strong> \u2018Yasir walks\u2019<\/p>\n

(\u062c) \u064a\u064e\u0635\u0652\u062d\u064f\u0648 \u0648\u064e\u0633\u0650\u064a\u0652\u0645<\/strong> \u2018Waseem wakes up\u2019<\/p>\n

In (\u0623<\/strong>) and (\u0628<\/strong>), the yaa\u2019 <\/em>of the first word does not assimilate with that of the second word, hence it is not pronounced as \u064a\u064e\u062c\u0652\u0631\u0650\u064a\u0651\u064e\u062d\u0652\u064a\u064e\u0649 <\/strong>or \u064a\u064e\u0645\u0652\u0634\u0650\u064a\u0651\u064e\u0627\u0633\u0650\u0631<\/strong>. In (\u062c<\/strong>), the two waaw<\/em>s are not pronounced as \u064a\u064e\u0635\u0652\u062d\u064f\u0648\u0651\u064e\u0633\u0650\u064a\u0652\u0645<\/strong>. In other words, assimilation does not take place.<\/p>\n

Optional and\/or Impossible Assimilation: <\/u><\/p>\n

This assimilation is optional because the two identical letters have two successive Harakaat<\/em> (i.e. no sukuun<\/em>); therefore, its occurrence is governed by certain rules and conditions, as detailed below:<\/p>\n

(1) If the two identical letters are the same word, the must be assimilated, as in these examples:<\/p>\n

\u0645\u064e\u0631\u064e\u0631\u064e = \u0645\u064e\u0631\u0651\u064e \u061b \u0634\u064e\u062f\u064e\u062f\u064e = \u0634\u064e\u062f\u0651\u064e \u061b \u0645\u064e\u0644\u0650\u0644\u064e = \u0645\u064e\u0644\u0651\u064e<\/strong><\/p>\n

If the two identical letters are in two successive words, assimilating them is optional, as in these examples:<\/p>\n

\u062c\u064e\u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e \u0644\u064e\u0643 = \u062c\u064e\u0639\u064e\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0643\u064e \u061b \u062e\u064e\u0631\u064e\u062c\u064e \u062c\u064e\u0645\u0650\u064a\u0652\u0644 = \u062e\u064e\u0631\u064e\u062c\u0651\u064e\u0645\u0650\u064a\u0644 \u061b \u0625\u0650\u0646\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0628\u064e\u0627\u0628\u064e \u0628\u064e\u0639\u0650\u064a\u0652\u062f = \u0625\u0650\u0646\u0651\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0628\u064e\u0627\u0628\u0651\u064e\u0639\u0650\u064a\u0652\u062f <\/strong><\/p>\n

If the two identical letters are in two successive words, and the letter that precedes the first identical letter has a sukuun<\/em>, they must not be assimilated, as in these examples:<\/p>\n

\u0628\u064e\u064a\u0652\u062a\u064f \u062a\u064e\u0648\u0652\u0641\u0650\u064a\u0642 \u061b \u0634\u064e\u0647\u0652\u0631\u064f \u0631\u064e\u0645\u064e\u0636\u064e\u0627\u0646 \u061b \u0639\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0646\u064f \u0646\u064e\u0627\u062f\u0650\u064a\u064e\u0629<\/strong><\/p>\n

(2) If the two identical letters are at the beginning of the word, they must not be assimilated, as in these examples:<\/p>\n

\u062a\u064e\u062a\u064e\u0630\u064e\u0643\u0651\u064e\u0631 \u061b \u062a\u064e\u062a\u064e\u0639\u064e\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0645 \u061b \u062a\u064e\u062a\u064e\u0638\u064e\u0627\u0647\u064e\u0631 <\/strong><\/p>\n

(3) If the first letter of the two identical letters is already assimilated with a preceding letter, assimilation must not occur because it cannot happen between three letters, as in theses examples:<\/p>\n

\u0642\u064e\u0631\u0651\u064e\u0631\u064e \u061b \u0628\u064e\u0631\u0651\u064e\u0631\u064e \u061b \u0642\u064e\u0632\u0651\u064e\u0632\u064e \u061b \u062d\u064e\u0642\u0651\u064e\u0642\u064e <\/strong><\/p>\n

(4) If the two identical letters are part of tri-consonantal nouns (i.e. nouns composed of three consonants) that are weighed on the Morphological Measure<\/a> as \u0641\u064e\u0639\u064e\u0644<\/strong>, \u0641\u064f\u0639\u064f\u0644<\/strong>, \u0641\u0650\u0639\u064e\u0644<\/strong>, or \u0641\u064f\u0639\u064e\u0644 <\/strong>(i.e. the \u2018ain <\/em>of these nouns has a harakah<\/em>), they must not be assimilated, as in these examples:<\/p>\n

\u0634\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0644 \u060c \u0633\u064e\u0628\u064e\u0628 \u061b \u0633\u064f\u0631\u064f\u0631 \u060c \u0630\u064f\u0644\u064f\u0644 \u00a0\u061b \u0644\u0650\u0645\u064e\u0645 \u060c \u0643\u0650\u0644\u064e\u0644 \u00a0\u061b \u0623\u064f\u0645\u064e\u0645 \u061b \u062c\u064f\u0631\u064e\u0631<\/strong><\/p>\n

(5) If the Harakah <\/em>on the second identical letter is not original (i.e. caused by some other speech phenomena, as explained below), they must not be assimilated, as in these examples:<\/p>\n

\u0623\u064e\u062d\u0652\u0628\u0650\u0628\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u062e\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0631\u064e \u061b \u0627\u064f\u0643\u0652\u0641\u064f\u0641\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u0634\u0651\u064e\u0631<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the first sentence, the Harakah <\/em>that accompanies the second \u0628 <\/strong>is originally a sukuun<\/em> because this verb is in the imperative mood, hence it must be \u0645\u064e\u062c\u0652\u0632\u064f\u0648\u0645 <\/strong>jussive<\/em>, i.e. assigned a sukuun<\/em>. However, the sukuun <\/em>changes to kasrah<\/em> due to the sukuun <\/em>on the alif <\/em>of the following word (\u0627\u0644\u062e\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0631<\/strong>). This is called \u0627\u0650\u0644\u0652\u062a\u0650\u0642\u064e\u0627\u0621 \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0651\u064e\u0627 \u0643\u0650\u0646\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0646 <\/strong>juxtaposition of two sukuun<\/em>s. This phenomenon requires that the first sukuun <\/em>be replaced with either fatHah <\/em>or kasrah<\/em>.<\/p>\n

(6) If the two identical letters are \u062a + \u062a <\/strong>and occur in the middle of the word, they in most cases must not be assimilated, as in these examples:<\/p>\n

\u0627\u0650\u0642\u0652\u062a\u064e\u062a\u064e\u0644\u064e \u060c \u0627\u0650\u0633\u0652\u062a\u064e\u062a\u064e\u0631\u064e \u060c \u0627\u0650\u0628\u0652\u062a\u064e\u062a\u064e\u0631<\/strong><\/p>\n

Two-word Assimilation:<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n

This kind of assimilation is obligatory in Quranic Arabic (i.e. while reading the Quran). It is also common in everyday spontaneous speech. It occurs between two words, namely when the last letter of the first word share many features with the first letter of the second word, that is they are produced from the same place of articulation. For this reason, they assimilate and become one geminate letter. The most common assimilations of this type are:<\/p>\n

(1) The assimilation of \u0644\u0652 <\/strong>(laam <\/em>with sukuun<\/em>) of the first word to the \u0631 <\/strong>(raa\u2019 <\/em>with Harakah<\/em>) of subsequent word. The resulting sound is a doubled \u0631\u0651<\/strong>, as in these examples:<\/p>\n

\u0642\u064f\u0644\u0652 \u0631\u064e\u0628\u0651\u0650\u064a \u00a0= \u0642\u064f\u0631\u0651\u064e\u0628\u0651\u0650\u064a \u00a0\u061b \u0644\u064e\u0645\u0652 \u064a\u064e\u0642\u064f\u0644\u0652 \u0631\u064e\u062d\u0650\u064a\u0652\u0645 = \u0644\u064e\u0645\u0652 \u064a\u064e\u0642\u064f\u0631\u0651\u064e\u062d\u0650\u064a\u0652\u0645 <\/strong><\/p>\n

(2) The assimilation of the \u0642 <\/strong>(qaaf <\/em>with a Harakah<\/em>) of the first word to the \u0643 <\/strong>(kaaf <\/em>with a Harakah<\/em>) of the following word. The resulting sound is a geminate \u0643\u0651\u0640<\/strong>, as in these examples:<\/p>\n

\u062e\u064e\u0646\u064e\u0642\u064e \u0643\u064e\u0627\u0645\u0650\u0644 = \u062e\u064e\u0646\u064e\u0643\u0651\u064e\u0627\u0645\u0650\u0644 \u061b \u062e\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0642\u064e \u0643\u064f\u0644\u0651\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0651\u064e\u0627\u0633 = \u062e\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0643\u0651\u064f\u0644\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0651\u064e\u0627\u0633 \/ \u062e\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0643\u0651\u064f\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0646\u0651\u064e\u0627\u0633 <\/strong><\/p>\n

(3) The assimilation of \u0644\u0652 <\/strong>in the \u0627\u0644\u0640 <\/strong>(the definite article in Arabic) to the subsequent sun letter<\/a><\/em>. The resulting sound is a geminate sun letter<\/em>. The \u0627\u0644\u0640 <\/strong>is considered a separate word in Arabic grammar. Here are examples:<\/p>\n

\u0627\u0644\u0634\u064e\u0645\u0652\u0633 = \u0627\u064e\u0634\u0651\u064e\u0645\u0652\u0633 \u061b \u0627\u0644\u0646\u064f\u0648\u0631 = \u0627\u064e\u0646\u0651\u064f\u0648\u0631 <\/strong><\/p>\n

(4) The assimilation of the \u0646\u0652 <\/strong>(nuun <\/em>with sukuun<\/em>, called \u00adin Arabic \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0651\u064f\u0648\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0651\u064e\u0627\u0643\u0650\u0646\u064e\u0629<\/strong>) to \u064a<\/strong>, \u0631<\/strong>, \u0645<\/strong>, \u0644<\/strong>, \u0648<\/strong>, or \u0646 <\/strong>of the subsequent word. The resulting sound is \u0640\u064a\u0651\u0640<\/strong>, \u0631\u0651<\/strong>, \u0645\u0651<\/strong>, \u0644\u0651<\/strong>, \u0648\u0651<\/strong>, or \u0640\u0646\u0651\u0640<\/strong>, as in these examples:<\/p>\n

\u0645\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u0644\u064e\u0645 = \u0645\u064e\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0645 \u061b \u0645\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u064a\u064e\u0631\u0652\u0645\u0650\u064a = \u0645\u064e\u064a\u0651\u064e\u0631\u0652\u0645\u0650\u064a \u061b \u0645\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u0631\u064e\u0623\u0649 = \u0645\u064e\u0631\u0651\u064e\u0623\u0649 \u061b \u0645\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u0648\u064e\u0636\u064e\u0639\u064e = \u0645\u064e\u0648\u0651\u064e\u0636\u064e\u0639\u064e \u061b \u0645\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u0646\u064e\u0639\u0652\u0631\u0650\u0641 = \u0645\u064e\u0646\u0651\u064e\u0639\u0652\u0631\u0650\u0641 <\/strong><\/p>\n

(5) The change of \u0646 <\/strong>to \u0645 <\/strong>when it is followed by \u0628<\/strong>, as in these examples:<\/p>\n

\u0645\u0650\u0646\u0652 \u0628\u064e\u0639\u0652\u062f = \u0645\u0650\u0645\u0652\u0628\u064e\u0639\u0652\u062f \u061b \u0623\u064e\u0646\u0652\u0628\u0650\u0626\u0652\u0647\u064f\u0645 = \u0623\u064e\u0645\u0652\u0628\u0650\u0626\u0652\u0647\u064f\u0645 <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

In natural speech, it is always difficult to utter a sound twice in a row, as in \u0639\u064e\u0644\u0652\u0644\u064e\u0645 which becomes \u0639\u064e\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0645. It is also relatively difficult to produce two sounds from the same area of articulation consecutively, as in \u0645\u0650\u0646\u0652 \u0631\u064e\u0623\u0652\u0633\u0650\u0643\u064e which is pronounced as \u0645\u0650\u0631\u0651\u064e\u0623\u0652\u0633\u0650\u0643\u064e. Therefore, we recourse to assimilation. In Arabic, assimilation \u0627\u0644\u0625\u0650\u062f\u0652\u063a\u064e\u0627\u0645…<\/p>\n

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