Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Ultrasound Images of the Tongue: A Tutorial for Assessment and Remediation of Speech Sound Errors
Published on: January 3, 2017
The Arabic vowels: features and possible clinical application in communication disorders
1Unit of Phoniatrics, ENT Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. nkotby@cng.com.eg
Unlabelled:
Most scholars, old and modern, agree that the vowel system of the Arabic language is composed of 3 vowels only, namely /i/, /ε/ and /u/. The spoken Cairo dialect suggests that there are 6 identifiable vowels, with a short and long variant for each.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to test the validity of the notion that there are 6 × 2 distinct vowels, with a more central one.
Subjects And Methods:
Spectral analysis was used to measure F(1) and F(2) for the vowels of 14 real words. Data was collected from 60 healthy adult informants, 30 males and 30 females. They were native Egyptians speaking the colloquial Cairene dialect.
Results:
The values of the 6 long and short vowels plus the central one are presented. A significant difference was found between each of them. The long and short vowels differed only in the duration but did not differ in their formant values.
Conclusion:
The study illustrates the distinctive features of the vowels of the Arabic language. Each of the 7 vowels represents a distinct entity. This will have important implications in assessment and management of language, speech and voice disorders in children and adults.
Related Concept Videos
Introduction to Language of Pathophysiology ll
Larynx
Anatomy of the Larynx
The larynx consists of various components, including cartilage, muscles, and vocal cords. Its structure includes three large unpaired cartilages—the thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis—and three smaller paired cartilages—the arytenoids, corniculates, and...
Introduction to Language of Pathophysiology l
Therapeutic Communication
Verbal communication depends on language or a prescribed way of using words so that people can share information effectively. The critical aspects of verbal...
Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
Barriers to Effective Communication I
Communication barriers include the following:
Physiological barriers: They are limitations caused by a person's health condition or disability, such as hearing loss, poor eyesight, illness, or unconsciousness. An example to overcome this barrier...
