Course Introduction

Introduction

The Arabic language, (transliterated: al-lughah al-'Arabiyyah), or simply Arabic (translated 'Arabi) is the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. It is spoken throughout the Arab world and is widely studied and known throughout the Islamic world. Arabic has been a literary language since at least the 6th century and is the liturgical language of Islam. Because of its liturgical role, Arabic has lent many words to other Islamic languages, akin to the role Latin has in Western European languages. During the Middle Ages Arabic was also a major vehicle of culture, especially in science, mathematics and philosophy, with the result that many European languages have also borrowed numerous words from it.

Literary Arabic may be more precisely divided into two main categories:

• Classical Arabic (especially from the pre-Islamic to the Abbasid period, including Qur'anic Arabic) and
• Modern Standard Arabic as used today.

Modern Standard Arabic

Modern Standard Arabic, Standard Arabic or MSA is the variety of Arabic used in most written media, news reporting, and some television talk shows in the Arabic-speaking world, primarily learned at school rather than through spoken interaction in the home. It is a modernized form of Classical Arabic, the language of the Qur'an, with which it shares most of its vocabulary, syntax and morphology, though there are noticeable differences. The Arabic word F?SHaa is used to refer to both Standard and Classical Arabic. It is to be distinguished from the varieties of Arabic learnt in the family, which are radically different in grammar and vocabulary.

Most Western academic studies find that even many university-educated Arabic speakers experience difficulty conversing in MSA for a long time without switching to another dialect. There are few situations where one is expected to speak MSA without preparing first. Some do not feel confident speaking the language or feel that they would sound artificially pedantic. Television personalities, however, such as news reporters and talk shows hosts, always can speak MSA fluently.

When two Arabs cannot understand each other at all due to dialectical differences, they may use some forms derived from MSA. MSA's resolution of dialectical clashes in Arabic is important, as unlike variants of Spanish, Russian, and other pan-regional languages, some dialects of Arabic are mutually unintelligble. Without MSA, it would be difficult for a Moroccan to converse with a Saudi Arabian.

Frequently Asked Questions about Learning Arabic

1. Why should I learn Arabic?

There are many reasons to learn the Arabic Language

• It is the language of many nations that count more than 260 million people.
• It is the language of the Quran, which is the most sacred and influential text in the lives and behaviors of about one billion people, many of them non-Arabic speakers.
• It is a language that has left its mark on the vocabulary of the English language by words integrated during the Middle Ages, when the Arabs made significant advances and Arabic became the language of science, math, and philosophy.
• According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, Arabic script is the second most widely used script in the world.
• It is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. 
• Only through the study of Arabic can one gain necessary insights into the cultural, religious, and political forces which motivate he inhabitants of a vital region.
• Learning Arabic means new business opportunties and new exciting careers in the land of oil. .

2. Will I learn the Arabic language that all Arabs speak?

There are two kinds of Arabic. The spoken language that has as many dialects and varieties as there are Arabic regions and people, and the Standard language that is the language of all written texts, news, and formal speeches. It is the language used by college professors in the classroom. When Arabs from different regions meet, they communicate in Standard Arabic. It is understandable all over the Arab countries. This is the language that you will learn in this course.

3. What will I learn in this course?

By the end of this course you will be able to

• Pronounce, read, and write, the Arabic Alphabet.
• Use pronouns with verbs, prepositions, and nouns.
• Apply the rules of dual, plural, and gender agreement.
• Read and write Arabic numbers.
• Ask and answer basic questions.
• Use basic cultural expressions in their approprite context.
• Carry out a basic conversation in Arabic.
• Define important Islamic holidays and their significance.
• Use the codes of behaviour and conduct as defined by Islamic etiquette.
• Use basic Arabic vocabulary that relates to everyday situations.

Mainly, students will build a vocabulary of  basic words that make the language.

4. How do students learning Arabic for the first time feel?

Students learning Arabic soon realize that so much of what they had taken for granted can be done differently. For example, they are surprised to learn that Arabic is written from right to left. They are also excited to learn new sounds and write letters that are not Latin. They find that Arabic is easy in many ways as they begin to understand its logic. Their inevitable frustration pays off quickly as they learn that what seems hard to identify at the beginning actually follows a subtle rule or pattern.

5. Am I going to learn grammar in this course?

Grammar for grammar's sake is not taught in this course.  You will learn rules that help you understand how patterns work.

6. Am I going to learn about Islamic culture in this course?

The course will cover a lot of  the etiquette and practices in the Arab world. You will also learn about major holidays and celebrated in the Islamic world. However, bear in mind that this does not mean there are no other religious groups in the Arab countries. The Middle East is the the birth place of civilization and the cradle of the three monotheistic relgions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Sudan, and Egypt have large Christian communities that have contributed much to the heritage and culture of those countries. Traditionally, Christiams, Jews, and Moslems lived over the years in all the Arab countries. However, the Arab Israeli conflict strained the age long relationships and streamlined them into the existing political struggle.