Lisp from a Philosophical Perspective according to Ya'qub ibn Ishaq al-Kindi (185-256 AH / 805-873 AD)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52152/8zbcr978Keywords:
Al-Kindi, Lisping (al-Luthghah), Speech Apparatus, Causes of Letters, Aspects of LispingAbstract
Al-Kindi's treatise on lisping (al-Luthghah), authored in the third century AH, is considered a pioneering work in modern phonetic studies. The author adopted a scientific methodology, investigating causes before judging phonetic phenomena. He addressed speech disorders faced by some Arabic speakers suffering from muscular or neurological issues affecting the articulation points (makharij) of certain letters. These individuals are forced to substitute the articulation of one letter with another that is close in point of articulation or phonetic attribute. Al-Kindi structured his treatise into aspects of lisping represented by: the powers of the speaking soul, the weakness of the speaking soul, and the increase or decrease of the speech apparatus. He then dedicated a section to the letters affected by lisping, such as seen, sheen, and raa. He concluded by discussing various nomenclatures of lisping, such as tamtamah (stammering), fa'fa'ah (stuttering), al-madhmum, dhu al-'aql, dhu al-habs, al-akhann (nasalization), and al-alkan (foreign accent). Al-Kindi's description is characterized by conciseness and the unique use of specific terminology. He delved into explanations as a philosopher and emerged as an expert anatomist and physio-acoustic scientist. By revisiting traditional and modern phonetic studies, this paper asks: Can Al-Kindi's treatise be considered an integrated scientific reference in uncovering the causes of lisping and speech disorders, or is it merely a collection of limited descriptive observations?
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