The Arabic Poetry Of Al-Tafi’ila: Between The Terminology And the Rhythmic Determinants

Abstract

This study aims at clarifying the rhythmeic values of the ancient and modern meters of Arabic poetry as a basic tool in the Arabic language teaching/learning process. It seeks to enable the students to compare and contrast the Arabic rhythm in terms of 'Tafi’ila'. It is based on pursuing the facts of the connection and the separation between the deliberative prosodic studies’ description of the nature of the rhythm that governs what is called the term 'Al-Tafi’ila poetry'. In addition, the path of the actual verification of this rhythm in modern Arabic poetry, which is done through the systematic investment in Al-Khalil’s theory to examine the rhythmic basis of "Al-Tafi’ila poetry". It is found that this examination of the theory of traditional prosody allows to remove the ambiguity about the claims of the radical modernization brought about by the “Al-Tafi’ila” system on the contemporary Arabic poem. It will also establish a comprehensive conception of the reliability of the term "Al-Tafi’ila poetry" in representing the rhythmic nature of the poems that belong to it.