A Hundred and One Rules in Arabic Grammar!
- Short Vowels in Arabic =========================
The notation of the short vowels was a complicated problem. Abu Al-Aswad Al-Du'ali is credited with introduction of the system of colored dots in the writing system, and the terminology, "FatHa**-َ** , Dhamma**-ُ** , Kasra**-ِ** .". But, a substantial improvement in the system of short vowels notation is usually attributed to the first lexicographer of the Arabic language, Al-Khalil Ibn Ahmed. He replaced the colored dots with specific shapes for the short vowels and the Shadda. With Al-Khalil's reform, the system of Arabic orthography was almost the same ever since.
When used at the end of a definite noun or adjective they indicate case.
(a)-ُ indicates Nominative case as inالکتابُ
(b)-َ indicates Accusative case as inالکتابَ
(c)-ِ indicates Genitive case as in الکتابِ
As you might have noticed, Siibawaih did not include the short vowels. Neither did he talk about the diphthongs which are created every time you have a short vowel proceeding the long vowels ** و** and ي as inيَوم ** ** ** ، ** بَيت