Representing Arabic Quadriliteral Patterns

In Arabic, morphological patterns are typically illustrated with the root ف-ع-ل (presumably from the word فِعْل, meaning “verb”). Thus, for example, verb form VI is denoted تَفاعَلَ, and the passive participle of form I is denoted مَفْعول.

For quadriliteral roots (those with four consonants), the invented root ف-ع-ل-ل is traditionally used: thus quadriliteral form II is denoted تَفَعْلَلَ. But this is unhelpful to students, who need to be able to tell the third and fourth root letters apart. It’s not readily apparent, for instance, that a pattern like فَعْلَلة comes from a quadriliteral root. Triliteral form XIV and quadriliteral form III (both, admittedly, very rare) end up looking identical: اِفْعَنْلَلَ.

I suggest, instead, using the pattern root ف-ع-ل-ر (derived from فِعْل رُباعِيّ, “quadriliteral verb”). No ambiguity can arise: if there’s a rāʼ in the pattern, it must be a quadriliteral root; if not, it must be triliteral. Even in a pattern like اِفْعِلْرار (verbal noun of quadriliteral form IV), it’s perfectly clear where each root letter is.*

Although it deviates from the tradition of Arabic grammarians, I urge that this system better serves students and scholars, native and non-native speakers alike.