Word initial consonant clusters in Libyan Arabic

Abstract

Investigating the phonological differences in syllable structure between Classical or Modern Standard Arabic and different dialects of Arabic is an interesting and expanding field in work on the phonetics and phonology of Arabic. Whilst empty onsets are not permitted in Classical or Modern Standard Arabic, complex onsets are likewise not permitted. This dissertation aims specifically to investigate onsets in Libyan Arabic, one of the dialects of Arabic which, although it has received some attention, still deserves further study. As is often the case with dialects of Arabic, particularly those which have been in direct contact with other languages such as Berber, Italian, and English, the possibility of the existence of complex onsets could be higher as a result of contact.