Research Article Details

Citation Journal Title: International Jordanian Journal Aryam for Humanities and Social Sciences

Citation Title: Minor Syllables in Moroccan Arabic: Evidence from a Secret Language in Kenitra Dialect

Citation Author: Dr.Said Rafi

Citation Affiliation: Doctoral Researcher, Faculty of Languages, Letters and Arts (FLLA), Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco

Citation Volume: 6

Citation Issue: 1

Citation Year: 2024

Citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.65811/618

Citation PDF: https://aijj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IJJA-VOL-6-ISSUE-1-NO-8-2024-PP-149-156-PDF.pdf

Received Date: 5 January 2024

Revised Date: 9 February 2024

Accepted Date: 19 March 2024

Publication Date: 23 March 2024

First Page: 149

Citation Abstract: This paper investigates the existence and behavior of minor syllables in Moroccan Arabic (MA) through data drawn from a secret language (SL) used by speakers of the Kenitra dialect. Specifically, it examines the placement of the dummy infix (DI) -akun- and its role in confirming the prosodic structure of MA. Drawing on Optimality Theory (OT), the analysis shows that the DI consistently targets the first vowel of the stem and is never inserted after a minor syllable, which lacks a vowel. The findings challenge previous studies that propose segments such as /ʕ/ can occupy syllabic nuclei, arguing instead that such segments function as onsets. This study supports earlier claims that MA permits minor syllables. Accordingly, this paper provides phonological evidence supporting the existence of minor syllables in MA and shows that they cannot serve as suitable hosts for infixation processes. The constraint Affix-to-First-Vowel is at play to ensure that DI appears before the first vowel of the stem rather than attaching to a minor syllable.

Citation Keywords: Moroccan Arabic, minor syllables, secret language, infixation