Investigations of the Speech Sound J(aljim) in the Jordanian Spoken Dialect (A Study in the Light of Standard Arabic)

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the speech sound /J /(>)aljīm, voiced post alveolar affricate, in the spoken dialects in Jordan and the actual spoken realizations of this sound in light of what old linguists mentioned regarding this sound in standard Arabic and its dialects. The study concluded that there are several actual spoken realizations for this sound in the spoken Jordanian dialects and there are several developments that affected the articulation of this sound represented in articulating it as a compound sound and the dissolution of this compound sound into its components: /d/dāl, voiced dento-alveolar stop, and /J/, voiced post alveolar affricate, as well as its articulation like /Sh/(šīn), voiceless alveo- palatal fricative, and replacing it with /Y/(yā>un) ,voiced palatal glide, and its progression with /Q/(ķāf), voiced uvular stop ,which is /K/, voiceless velar stop. These patterns of developments which affected this sound have similar patterns in the classical Arabic heritage, especially the heritage of public melody. This emphasizes the existence of links and ties which relate contemporary Arabic dialects with classical Arabic dialects. The study followed the descriptive analytical method to describe the pronunciation of jeem sound as it is pronounced in some articulatory performances in Jordan The study results also showed that from data of historical method to examine some examples to pronounce that sound in the past.