Stress Shifts in the Rhythmic Structure of the Madīd Meter Prepared by

Abstract

This study examines the phenomenon of temporal stress shift within the rhythmic structure of the Arabic metrical foot، considering it a stylistic feature that affects the perception of rhythm without necessarily causing a metrical violation. The study is based on the assumption that the relationship between stress and the syllabic structure of the metrical foot is not entirely fixed but may undergo subtle temporal shifts arising from phonetic performance or rhythmic cohesion between adjacent syllables. The research aims to analyze this phenomenon through selected poetic examples from Arabic meters، with particular attention to cases where stress shifts within the metrical foot or across its boundaries، and the resulting perceptual changes in rhythm. The study adopts an analytical approach that involves examining the syllabic structure of metrical units، identifying stress positions، and tracing instances of temporal shift that cannot be sufficiently explained by traditional prosodic analysis. The findings suggest that some patterns that initially appear to deviate from the metrical system can instead be interpreted as temporal shifts in stress placement within the rhythmic structure rather than as actual metrical irregularities. The study also shows that interaction between adjacent syllables may produce what can be described as rhythmic fusion، allowing stress to shift or redistribute without disrupting the overall metrical framework. These findings contribute to expanding the analytical perspective on Arabic poetic rhythm and provide a more flexible explanation for certain phonetic phenomena observed in poetic performance، thereby opening the way for reconsidering the relationship between traditional prosodic analysis and phonetic approaches to rhythm.