Hallmarks of the Saints — Page 41
Publisher’s Note 41 ص s – strongly articulated s. ض d – similar to the English th in this. ط t – strongly articulated palatal t. ظ z – strongly articulated z. ع ‘ – a strong guttural, the pronunciation of which must be learnt by the ear. غ gh – a sound similar to the French r in grasseye, and to the German r. It requires the muscles of the throat to be in the ‘gargling’ position to pronounce it. ق q – a deep guttural k sound. ء ’ – a sort of catch in the voice. Short vowels are represented by: a for _ َ __ as in خَلق (like u in bud ), as in فَن (or e in bed ). i for _ ِ __ as in مِن (like i in bid ). u for _ ُ __ as in جُزء (like oo in wood ). Long vowels by: a for _ ٰ __ or آ as in مٰلك (like a in father ). i for ي _ ِ __ or _ ٖ __ as in حكِيم (like ee in deep ). u for و _ ُ __ as in نُوح (like oo in root ). Other vowels by: ai for ي _ َ __ as in بَيت (like i in site ). au for و _ َ __ as in صَوت (resembling ou in sound ).