Reevaluating stress in Modern Standard Arabic: an Optimality-Theoretic approach

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive Optimality Theory (OT) analysis of stress assignment in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), focusing on monosyllabic, disyllabic, and trisyllabic words. The analysis confirms the bimoraic minimality requirement, which excludes light syllables (CV) from functioning as independent words, reflected in the high ranking of FOOT-BINARITY and GRWD=PRWD. These constraints govern Arabic sound structure, as FOOT-BINARITY enforces binary feet, while GRWD=PRWD requires each word to form a prosodic word. Stress placement follows a hierarchy of universal constraints: MAIN-RIGHT aligns the head foot with the right edge, and TROCHAIC ensures left-headed feet. Additional constraints, including PARSE-σ and NONFINAL-μ, regulate syllable parsing and moraic structure. The analysis further shows that foot construction proceeds from right to left, supported by ALL-FEET-RIGHT outranking ALL-FEET-LEFT. This study introduces a coherent constraint hierarchy that addresses prior shortcomings and offers a unified account of MSA stress patterns.