The Story of Consonantal Substitution in Arabic Lexicons up to the End of the Fourth Century AH”

Abstract

This research sheds light on the phenomenon of phonological substitution in linguistic narrations، viewing it as a manifestation of phonological development in the Arabic language. The study examines diverse phonetic examples recorded in works of linguistic heritage and early lexicons. It focuses on consonantal substitutions، such as between n and y، ḥ and h، w and y، s and ṣ، m and n، among others، demonstrating that this phenomenon was neither arbitrary nor ornamental، but rather the outcome of specific phonetic and linguistic motivations linked to articulatory، environmental، and dialectal factors. The research employs a descriptive-analytical method، drawing upon linguistic data found in the works of authorities such as al-Khalīl ibn Aḥmad، Ibn Fāris، al-Zamakhsharī، al-Ṣāḥib ibn ʿAbbād، al-Zubaydī، Abū ʿUbaydah، and others. The findings reveal that substitution served as a linguistic tool to stabilize and refine meaning، and at times unveiled multiple levels of phonetic understanding across different linguistic environments. It became evident that the Arab speaker was not unaware of this phenomenon but rather approached it consciously، which affirms the depth of phonological awareness in the Arabic linguistic heritage. Ultimately، the study demonstrates that phonological substitution in linguistic narrations cannot be isolated from the broader framework of language development، as it played a vital role in shaping the structure of the lexicon and enhancing the flexibility of the language in oral performance.