Abstract
The Arabic lateral cl was considered extinct. However, it was found lately in use in some Arabic dialects such as Rijal Alma(sic) in southwest Saudi Arabia and in some varieties of the Mehri language. Nevertheless, delateralisation is apparent. To assess the extent of delateralisation, this study investigates the current usage of the lateral *d among Rijal Alma(sic) speakers in Abha city, southwest Saudi Arabia and Mehri speakers in Dammam, east Saudi Arabia. 74 speakers, 38 speakers of Rijal Alma(sic) in Abha city and 36 Mehri speakers in Dammam city, participated in this study. Their age ranges from 15 to 75 years old. The data comprises almost 56 hours of audio recording captured during informal interviews. The findings show that there is a delateralisation occurring among some younger and educated speakers of Mehri and Rijal Alma(sic).