The Abstraction of Prosodic Phenomena (Stress, Intonation, Timing): Between Instrumental Phonetic Measurement and Subjective Observation (Analysis and Critique)

Zein Eldein Mohamed Ahmed, Ahmed

doi:10.21608/bfsgm.2025.443011

The Abstraction of Prosodic Phenomena (Stress, Intonation, Timing): Between Instrumental Phonetic Measurement and Subjective Observation (Analysis and Critique)

Author

Ahmed Zein Eldein Mohamed Ahmed

Al-AzharUniversity

10.21608/bfsgm.2025.443011

Abstract

This study investigates the abstraction of prosodic phenomena—stress, intonation, and timing—by critically examining instrumental phonetic measurement versus subjective observation. Employing a descriptive-analytical approach, it evaluates the theoretical assumptions, methodological issues, and inherent contradictions associated with these two research paradigms. Through illustrative examples and critical discussion, the study assesses the efficacy of each method, determining which elements effectively clarify the boundaries, criteria, and evaluative standards related to these prosodic features.
The study begins with an introduction outlining the significance, objectives, methodology, and structure of the research, followed by a preliminary section defining prosodic phenomena and the intended meaning of their abstraction. It is then divided into seven sections: Section one addresses the shift from subjective observation to instrumental phonetic measurement, questioning whether this transition represents genuine explanatory advancement or merely imposed constraints. Section two explores key concepts, while section three examines classifications and theoretical principles. Section four discusses evaluative standards, and section five critically analyzes the problems encountered when abstracting prosodic phenomena using instrumental measurement as compared to subjective analysis. Section six investigates the aims and appropriate methods for abstracting prosodic phenomena, and section seven evaluates abstraction approaches regarding complexity and comprehensiveness.
The study concludes that introducing instrumental phonetic terminology into discussions of prosodic phenomena has proven largely ineffective in accurately capturing and describing their perceptual and experiential qualities. Furthermore, relying on instrumental measurements to formulate evaluative judgments of prosodic performance—particularly in Qurʾānic recitation—often produces negative outcomes, due to methodological difficulties inherent in such measurements. Conversely, the research demonstrates the viability of abstracting these phenomena through subjective auditory analysis for teaching and learning purposes. It highlights several key considerations for this approach, including recognizing the interplay between traditional oral transmission (riwāya) and scholarly analysis (dirāya), clearly differentiating between phenomena already systematically described by classical scholarship and those yet to be comprehensively studied, and carefully examining implicit references in classical texts to the linguistic and perceptual significance of prosodic features. Rather than merely questioning the existence of references to prosodic phenomena in classical literature, the study argues for thorough exploration of how traditional insights can deepen contemporary understanding of these features and reveal their underlying structures.

Keywords