Phonetic Renewal in the Works of Muhammad Hussein Al-Yasin: A Study of Phonetic Magnetism and Consonant Clustering

Abstract

Phonology is one of the most important branches of Arabic linguistics. It was distinguished by early efforts by Al-Khalil, Sibawayh, and Ibn Jinni. However, it has remained in need of renewed readings that connect classical heritage with modern linguistic approaches. In this context, the contributions of Dr. Muhammad Hussein Al-Yassin emerged, as he reconsidered several phonetic issues following a methodology characterized by clarity, analytical organization, and a balance between authenticity and modernity. This article addresses two main axes of his phonetic views: phonetic magnetism, root overlap, and the meeting of two consonants. In the first axis, Al-Yassin offered a new interpretation of digraphs and opposites based on the polarity and characteristics of sounds, arguing that some letters possess a semantic force that attracts or contrasts specific meanings. In the second axis, he treated the phenomenon of consecutive consonants not merely as a grammatical restriction but as a remnant of an older phonetic stage in Arabic, a view that aligns with modern phonology, which affirms the tendency of languages to avoid successive consonants The article concludes that Al-Yassin’s phonetic contributions represent a qualitative enrichment of Arabic phonetic studies, as they integrate classical explanations with modern analyses and transform phonetic issues from descriptive lists into historically