دراسة السمات والظواهر الصوتية في الأمثال الشعبية الأردنية: مقاربة تحليلية في ضوء النظام الصوتي التوليدي لسانفورد شين

A Study of Phonological Features and Phenomena in Jordanian
Folk Proverbs: An Analytical Approach in the Light
of Sanford A. Schane’s Generative Phonology

Muhammad Amaechi Bin-Ali

This study examines phonological phenomena in Jordanian proverbs according to Sanford’s theory, with the aim of identifying distinctive phonological features of the Jordanian dialect and how they are reflected in the structure and meanings of words. The researchers focused on the proverbs compiled in the book Popular Proverbs Spoken in Jordan, analyzing them phonetically to clarify types of changes such as substitution, deletion, insertion, vowel alternation, assimilation, and imālah (vowel shift), in addition to other phenomena related to assimilation, syllabic structure, weakening and strengthening, and neutralization. The study showed that these phonological phenomena contribute to simplifying pronunciation and accelerating speech performance in line with the nature of the Jordanian dialect in daily communication, while preserving meanings in a clear and comprehensible manner. It also highlighted similarities and differences between Jordanian proverbs and Standard Arabic, reflecting both the close relationship between colloquial and standard varieties and the independent phonological characteristics of the dialect. In conducting the research, the authors relied on the inductive method to collect and study the proverbs, the analytical method to examine the phonological phenomena within them, and the comparative method to highlight differences between colloquial and Standard Arabic. The study concluded that final consonant silence (sukūn) is among the most prominent phonological features of the Jordanian dialect, and that substitution is one of the most common processes. It was also found that a single proverb may involve more than one phonological change, reflecting the dynamics and diversity of the dialect. This study underscores the importance of proverbs as a rich source for dialectological research, as they mirror the cultural identity of society and reveal the mechanisms of phonological development in language.