Some Notes on Melody: Saʿadya Gaon and Why ‘naghma’ Means ‘vowel’ in Judaeo-Arabic

The article explores the historical and linguistic contexts behind the use of the term naghma in medieval Judaeo-Arabic to signify ‘vowel’, a meaning distinct from its Classical Arabic usage denoting ‘melody’, ‘tone’, or ‘sound’. Focusing on Saʿadya Gaon’s work, particularly his Al-Qawl fī al-Nagham and his Hebrew grammar, the study highlights how the term evolved in Jewish linguistic traditions. Saʿadya used naghma to describe the seven vowels of Tiberian Hebrew, connecting linguistic analysis with musicological concepts prevalent in Arabic and Jewish intellectual circles of the medieval period. By equating vowels with musical notes, he introduced a metaphysical layer to Hebrew grammar, suggesting that vocalisation carried both linguistic and spiritual significance. This innovative usage influenced subsequent Judaeo-Arabic and Masoretic texts, embedding the term in the medieval Jewish linguistic tradition.