The current study sought to identify the triggering motive of applying metathesis in everyday speech by Qunfudhah Arabic Dialect (QAD) speakers. A vast number of words used in everyday interactions were gathered and analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach. Results revealed that metathesis is not a random process as was claimed in some early studies pertaining to this topic. Data obtained from the current study evinced that speakers use metathesis for several reasons rather than it being a random process. One reason is to simplify the production of clusters. In addition, the word syllable boundary and the sonority sequence principle makes the word liable to metathesis as found in this dialect. Moreover, it was evident that the place and manner of articulation play essential roles in using metathesis. Therefore, this paper has raised a number of questions as well as implications in need of further investigation.
Keywords: Phonetics, Phonology, QAD, SSP, metathesis, syllable
