The Colloquial Use of Words and Its Impact on the Distortion of Meaning, in Light of the Concepts of Consonants and Vowels

Abstract

This study focuses on an important aspect of the Arabic language: semantics, a branch of modern linguistics, with particular attention to semantic deviations caused by verbal errors. The research highlights that Arabic is a derivational language, where many words are phonetically and semantically similar. This similarity can lead to mispronunciations among non-specialists or the general public, resulting in semantic deviation. The study examines the phonetic causes of these deviations, such as similarities between consonants and vowels, and the substitution of one sound for another, whether intentional or unintentional, and its effect on meaning and understanding. It provides multiple examples, such as the word “ʿatīd,” which evolved to mean “ʿatīq” (ancient) or “ʿanīd” (stubborn) due to erroneous analogy with other words, or differences in pronunciation across tribes without altering the fundamental meaning of words, as seen in examples from the Qur’an and classical Arabic. The research also notes that such phonetic deviations do not necessarily constitute a semantic change but can become common semantic errors due to mispronunciation, weak linguistic formation, influence of local dialects, or lack of familiarity with classical texts. Some scholars consider this phenomenon a factor in linguistic evolution and vocabulary expansion, yet it also requires caution to avoid distorting the true meaning of words. The primary objective of this study is to illustrate the effect of colloquial usage on semantic deviation in Arabic, emphasizing the relationship between sound and meaning and clarifying that common errors are not purely linguistic development but may result from misunderstanding or phonetic similarity between words.