An Optimality-Theoretic Analysis of Final Long Vowel /a:/: Deletion in the Third-Person Feminine Suffix in Qassimi Arabic

This study examines the deletion of the third-person feminine long vowel /a:/ in Qassimi Arabic (QA), a Najdi dialect spoken in Saudi Arabia's Qassim region. The research employs Optimality Theory (OT) to analyze this phonological process, which has been overlooked despite its significance in Arabic dialectology. By investigating data from native QA speakers, the study identifies and evaluates the markedness and faithfulness constraints that govern /a:/ deletion in various grammatical contexts. The findings reveal that vowel deletion in QA is systematically controlled by a ranked interaction of constraints, with FINAL-C and other markedness constraints playing crucial roles. The study also explores exceptions and sociolinguistic factors affecting the deletion process. This research contributes to understanding the complex interplay between phonology and morphology in Arabic dialects, highlighting the effectiveness of constraint-based approaches in analyzing dialectal variations. It not only enhances our knowledge of Arabic linguistic diversity but also paves the way for further investigations into vowel behavior across Arabic dialects within the OT framework.