LessonsFasaha of a Word: Harsh Sound, Obscurity and Irregular FormQuiz

The accompanying discussion appeals to sound linguistic taste (al-dhawq al-sahih). This means an informed feeling for the language, not simply one reader's private preference.

An unfamiliar word may still be phonetically smooth; a known meaning can be expressed through a heavy sound sequence. “I dislike the word” is therefore not an adequate scholarly demonstration.

A proper analysis identifies the nature of the articulatory difficulty and distinguishes sound combinations within one word from clashes occurring across a phrase.

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The role and limits of cultivated linguistic taste

Fasaha of a Word: Harsh Sound, Obscurity and Irregular Form

The accompanying discussion appeals to sound linguistic taste (al-dhawq al-sahih). This means an informed feeling for the language, not simply one reader's private preference.

An unfamiliar word may still be phonetically smooth; a known meaning can be expressed through a heavy sound sequence. “I dislike the word” is therefore not an adequate scholarly demonstration.

A proper analysis identifies the nature of the articulatory difficulty and distinguishes sound combinations within one word from clashes occurring across a phrase.