Articulation Points in Arabic PDF

# Articulation Points in Arabic There are 17 makhārij (articulation points) according Khalil Ibn Ahmad al-Farāhīdī: 1. The empty space in the mouth and throat. The three lengthened letters (madd letters) are pronounced from here viz. wāw sākinah preceded by a dammah, yā sākinah preceded by a kasr...

# Articulation Points in Arabic There are 17 makhārij (articulation points) according Khalil Ibn Ahmad al-Farāhīdī: 1. The empty space in the mouth and throat. The three lengthened letters (madd letters) are pronounced from here viz. wāw sākinah preceded by a dammah, yā sākinah preceded by a kasrah and alif. > **NOTE:** > The alif never takes a harakah and is always preceded by a fathah. 2. The lower throat. This is the part of the throat which is closest to the chest and furthest from the opening of the mouth. The hamzah (ء) and ha (ھ) are pronounced from here. 3. The middle throat. The ‘ayn (ع) and ha (ح) are pronounced from here. 4. The upper throat. This is that part of the throat which is closest to the mouth. The ghayn (غ) and the kha (خ) are pronounced from here. ## Areas of the tongue used for articulation <br> **Figure 2: Areas of the tongue used for articulation** * Back part of tongue * Top of tongue * Middle of tongue * Side of tongue * Tip of tongue 5. The extreme back of the tongue, when touching the palate above it (the soft palate). The qaf (ق) is pronounced from here. 6. The back of the tongue, not as far the back as the (ق), when touching the palate above it (the hard palate). The kaf (ك) is pronounced from here. > **NOTE:** > The back part of the tongue refers to that part of the tongue furthest from the mouth. 7. The centre part of the tongue when touching the palate above it. The jim (ج), shin (ش) and the unlengthened ya (أَلْيَاء غَيْرِ الْمَدِّيَّة) are pronounced from here. ## Teeth and their names <br> **Figure 3: The teeth and their names** * Wisdom teeth * Molars * Pre-molars * Canines * Lateral incisor * Central incisors 8. The side or edge of the tongue when touching the upper molars left or right. It can also be articulated from both sides at once. The dad (ض) is pronounced from here. The left side is said to be the easiest, followed by the right side. From both sides at the same time is the most difficult. 9. The anterior sides of the tongue (nearest to the mouth) and the tip of the tongue when touching the gums of the teeth extending from one pre-molar to the other. The lam (ل) is pronounced from here. 10. The tip of the tongue when touching the gums of the teeth extending from one canine to the other. The nun (ن) is pronounced from here. Ghuna From nasal cavity. 11. The tip of the tongue and the top of the tip when touching the gums of the upper central and lateral incisors. The ra' (ر) is pronounced from here. > **NOTE:** > Most scholars are of the opinion that the tongue touches the gums of the upper central incisors in the makhraj of the nun (ن) and the ra'(ر). 12. The tip of the tongue when touching the upper central incisors at the gum line. The ta (ط), the dal (د) and the ta (ت) are pronounced from here. 13. The tip of the tongue when touching the edge of the upper central incisors. The thā (ظ), the dhal (ذ) and the tha (ث) are pronounced from here. 14. Between the tip of the tongue and both central incisors. The sad (ص), the sin (س) and the zay (ز) are pronounced from here. > **NOTE:** > There is a slight gap between the tongue and the teeth when articulating these letters. 15. The inside of the bottom lip when touching the edge of the upper central incisors. The fa (ف) is pronounced from here. 16. The meeting of the lips. The waw ghayr maddiyyah (الْمَدِيَّةِ الْوَاوُ غير), the ba (ب) and the mim (م) are pronounced from here. > **NOTE:** > The waw ghayr maddiyyah will either be mutaharikah or lin, the same as the ya' ghayr maddiyyah. > **NOTE:** > The waw (و) is pronounced with the incomplete meeting of the lips. In articulating the ba ُ )ب( and the mim (), the lips meet completely. 17. The khayshum (خَيْشُوم) or nasal cavity. The ghunnah or nasal sound comes from here. > Ghunna is a permanent quality found in every ( ) sound.