Syllables and Stress Assignment in Najdi Arabic

The purpose of this paper is to present a detailed and unified analysis word stress in Najdi Arabic (NA), variety spoken Najd, located the central region Saudi Arabia. Regular stress, seemingly exceptional cases, also variations within NA itself are all accounted for simple straightforward manner. proposed based on two principles. First, unlike previous studies that employ three-way weight distinction between light, heavy, superheavy syllables, binary light (monomoraic) C(C)v; heavy (bimoraic) C(C)vX(C) proposed, where “X” either vowel or consonant. Second, word-final consonants crucially assumed be “extrasyllabic”. algorithm constrained so may fall one last three syllables word, as follows: Stress rightmost syllable if only it word’s syllables; otherwise antepenultimate (initial disyllabic words). Variations cases by fact assignment applies earlier derivation before application any other phonological processes subsequently alter shape word.