Arabic For Dummies E-Book

Amine Bouchentouf

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Fremdsprachen
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 319

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

Regarded as one of the most difficult languages to learn for native English speakers by the U.S. State Department, Arabic is gaining both prominence and importance in America. Recent world events have brought more and more Americans and other English speakers into contact with Arabic-speaking populations, and governments and businesses are increasingly aware of the importance of basic Arabic language skills. Arabic for Dummies provides you with a painless and fun way to start communicating in Arabic. Why should you learn Arabic? Well, besides the fact that over 200 million people in more than 22 nations use it to communicate, there are tons of reasons to get up to speed this 1,400 year old language, including: * Nearly all of the Middle-East speaks Arabic or one of its dialects * Basic Arabic skills are extremely useful for anyone traveling to, doing business in, or serving in the Middle East * It is the language in which the Koran is written * There is a rich, centuries-old literary tradition in Arabic Arabic For Dummies presents the language in the classic, laid-back For Dummies style. Taking a relaxed approach to this difficult language, it's packed with practice dialogues and communication tips that will have you talking the talk in no time. You'll get the scoop on: * The Arabic alphabet, pronunciation, basic grammar, and the rules of transliteration * The history of the language and information on classical Arabic and its dialects * How to make small talk and make yourself understood when dining, shopping, or traveling around town * How to communicate on the phone and in business conversations * Handy words and phrases for dealing with money, directions, hotels, transportation, and emergencies * Arabic culture and etiquette, including ten things you should never do in Arabic countries The book also includes an Arabic-English dictionary, verb tables, and an audio CD with dialogues from the book to help you perfect your pronunciation. Written by a native Arabic speaker who helped start a year-round Arabic department at Middlebury College, Arabic For Dummies is just what you need to start making yourself understood in Arabic. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Leseprobe

Arabic For Dummies®

by Amine Bouchentouf

Arabic For Dummies®

Published byWiley Publishing, Inc.111 River St.Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2006920607

ISBN-13: 978-0-471-77270-5

ISBN-10: 0-471-77270-4

Manufactured in the United States of America

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About the Author

Amine Bouchentouf is a native English, Arabic, and French speaker born and raised in Casablanca, Morocco. Amine has been teaching Arabic and lecturing about relations between America and the Arab world in his spare time for over 4 years and has offered classes and seminars for students at Middlebury College, the Council on Foreign Relations, and various schools across the United States. He runs and maintains the Web site www.al-baab.com (which means “gateway” in Arabic).

Amine graduated from Middlebury College and has always been interested in promoting better relations between the West and the Middle East through dialogue and mutual understanding. Amine published his first book, Arabic: A Complete Course (Random House), soon after graduating college in order to help Americans understand Arabic language and culture. He has written Arabic For Dummies in an attempt to reach an even wider audience with the aim of fostering better relations through education.

He holds a degree in Economics from Middlebury and has extensive experience in the arena of international investing. He is a registered investment advisor and is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers. Amine is currently working on his third book, Investing in Commodities For Dummies (Wiley Publishing).

Amine is an avid traveler and has visited over 15 countries across the Middle East, Europe, and North and South America. Aside from his interest in languages, business, and travel, Amine enjoys biking, rollerblading, playing guitar, chess, and golf. He lives in New York City.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my greatest and most steadfast supporters — my family. To my mother for her infinite and unwavering support, and to my sister, Myriam, for her enthusiasm and passion — you are my greatest inspirations.

To my father and grandfather, may you rest in peace, thank you for instilling in me such a deep respect and awareness of my roots and culture. I am honored to be part of the Bouchentouf family.

And to my grandmother, who recently passed away, thanks for always believing in me.

Author’s Acknowledgments

This book would not have been possible without the guidance and input from the wonderful folks at Wiley Publishing. It has been an honor to work with a team that adheres to the highest standards of professionalism.

First, I would like to thank Kathy Cox, my acquisitions editor, whose insight into the Dummies methodology has been invaluable to me, and for her tireless dedication to this book. To Tim Gallan, my project editor, for his patient, thorough and insightful guidance. And to my copy editor, Elizabeth Rea, for her detailed and meticulous review of the manuscript. Also, thanks to Courtney Allen who helped us get the ball rolling in the early stages of the project. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with such a wonderful team.

Special thanks to Ben Smith from Harvard University’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies for agreeing to serve as technical reviewer of the text. His comments have ensured that the translation of the text adhered to the highest degree of linguistic accuracy.

I would also like to extend a special thanks to my agent, Mark Sullivan, whose dedication and hard work is exemplary. I’m proud to have someone so diligent and persistent representing me. Merci.

Also, thanks to my wonderful Arabic students at the Council on Foreign Relations: Mehlaqa, Danna, Mary, Mark, and Evan who helped me challenge myself and become a better communicator. And a special thanks to the hardworking folks at the ABC Language Exchange and to everyone at my alma mater, Middlebury College, for their enthusiasm and support of this project.

Finally, thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this writing period. I would not have been able to do this without your precious support.

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our Dummies online registration form located at www.dummies.com/register/.

Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Development

Senior Project Editor: Tim Gallan

Acquisitions Editor: Kathleen M. Cox

Copy Editor: Elizabeth Rea

Editorial Program Coordinator: Hanna K. Scott

Technical Editor: Benjamin Smith

Editorial Manager: Christine Meloy Beck

Editorial Assistants: Nadine Bell, Erin Calligan, David Lutton

Cartoons: Rich Tennant (www.the5thwave.com)

Composition Services

Project Coordinator: Adrienne Martinez

Layout and Graphics: Mary J. Gillot, Joyce Haughey, Stephanie D. Jumper, Melanee Prendergast, Julie Trippetti, Erin Zeltner

Proofreaders: Henry Lazarek, Joe Niesen, Christine Pingleton

Indexer: Steve Rath

Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies

Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher, Consumer Dummies

Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director, Consumer Dummies

Kristin A. Cocks, Product Development Director, Consumer Dummies

Michael Spring, Vice President and Publisher, Travel

Kelly Regan, Editorial Director, Travel

Publishing for Technology Dummies

Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher, Dummies Technology/General User

Composition Services

Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

Contents

Title

Introduction

About This Book

Conventions Used in This Book

What I Assume About You

How This Book Is Organized

Icons Used in This Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I : Getting Started

Chapter 1: You Already Know a Little Arabic

Taking Stock of What’s Familiar

Discovering the Arabic Alphabet

Speaking Arabic Like a Native

Addressing Arabic Transcription

Chapter 2: The Nitty-Gritty: Basic Arabic Grammar

Introducing Nouns, Adjectives, and Articles

Creating Simple, Verb-Free Sentences

Working with Verbs

Chapter 3: ‘as-salaamu ‘alaykum!: Greetings and Introductions

Greetings!

Talkin’ the Talk

Making Introductions

Talkin’ the Talk

Talking About Countries and Nationalities

Part II : Arabic in Action

Chapter 4: Getting to Know You: Making Small Talk

Asking Key Questions

Talkin’ the Talk

Talking About Yourself and Your Family

Talkin’ the Talk

Making Small Talk on the Job

Talkin’ the Talk

Talking About Hobbies

Talkin’ the Talk

Shooting the Breeze: Talking About the Weather

Talkin’ the Talk

Talking Numbers

Referring to Days and Months

Chapter 5: This Is Delicious! Eating In and Dining Out

All About Meals

Talkin’ the Talk

Talkin’ the Talk

Talkin’ the Talk

Enjoying a Meal at Home

Dining Out

Talkin’ the Talk

Chapter 6: Going Shopping

Going to the Store

Talkin’ the Talk

Asking for a Particular Item

Talkin’ the Talk

Comparing Merchandise

Talkin’ the Talk

More Than a Few Words About Buying and Selling

Shopping for Clothes

Chapter 7: Around Town

Telling Time in Arabic

Talkin’ the Talk

Talkin’ the Talk

Visiting Museums

Talkin’ the Talk

Talkin’ the Talk

Going to the Movies

Talkin’ the Talk

Touring Religious Sites

Chapter 8: Enjoying Yourself: Recreation

Starting Out with the Verbs fa’ala (Did) and yaf’alu (To Do)

Sporting an Athletic Side

Talkin’ the Talk

Going to the Beach

Talkin’ the Talk

Playing Musical Instruments

Popular Hobbies

Chapter 9: Talking on the Phone

Dialing Up the Basics

Talkin’ the Talk

Talkin’ the Talk

Making Plans Over the Phone

Talkin’ the Talk

Talkin’ the Talk

Leaving a Message

Talkin’ the Talk

Chapter 10: At the Office and Around the House

Landing the Perfect Job

Talkin’ the Talk

Managing the Office Environment

Talkin’ the Talk

Talkin’ the Talk

Life at Home

Talkin’ the Talk

Part III : Arabic on the Go

Chapter 11: Money, Money, Money

At the Bank

Talkin’ the Talk

Talkin’ the Talk

Using the ATM

Exchanging Currency

Talkin’ the Talk

Chapter 12: Asking for Directions

Focusing on the “Where”

Getting Direction About Directions

Talkin’ the Talk

Talkin’ the Talk

Talkin’ the Talk

Discovering Ordinal Numbers

Chapter 13: Staying at a Hotel

Choosing the Right Accommodation

Talkin’ the Talk

Talkin’ the Talk

Making a Reservation

Talkin’ the Talk

Talkin’ the Talk

Checking In to the Hotel

Talkin’ the Talk

Checking Out of the Hotel

Talkin’ the Talk

Chapter 14: Getting from Here to There: Transportation

Traveling by Plane

Talkin’ the Talk

Talkin’ the Talk

Talkin’ the Talk

Talkin’ the Talk

Getting Around on Land

Talkin’ the Talk

Talkin’ the Talk

Talkin’ the Talk

Chapter 15: Planning a Trip

Choosing Your Destination

Talkin’ the Talk

Picking the Right Time for Your Trip

Talkin’ the Talk

Tackling Packing

Preparing Your Travel Documents

Talkin’ the Talk

Using a Travel Agency

Chapter 16: Handling an Emergency

Shouting Out for Help

Talkin’ the Talk

Getting Medical Help

Talkin’ the Talk

Acquiring Legal Help

Part IV : The Part of Tens

Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Pick Up Arabic Quickly

Watch Arabic Television

Use the Dictionary

Read Arabic Newspapers

Surf the Internet

Use a Language Tape or CD

Listen to Arabic Music

Make Arabic-Speaking Friends

Watch Arabic Movies

Eat at a Middle Eastern Restaurant

Sing Arabic Songs

Chapter 18: Ten Things You Should Never Do in an Arab Country

Don’t Shake Hands with a Firm Grip

Don’t Enter a Room Full of People Without Saying “‘as-salaamu ‘alaykum”

Don’t Start Eating Before Saying “bismi allah”

If You’re Not Muslim, Don’t Enter a Mosque Without Explicit Authorization

Don’t Enter a Mosque with Your Shoes On

Don’t Eat or Drink During Ramadan

Don’t Drink Alcohol During Ramadan

Don’t Drink Alcohol in Public

Don’t Engage in Public Displays of Affection

Don’t Refuse a Gift If One Is Offered to You

Chapter 19: Ten Favorite Arabic Expressions

marHaba bikum!

mumtaaz!

al-Hamdu li-llah

inshaa’ allah

mabruk!

bi ‘idni allah

bi SaHHa

taHiyyaat

muballagh

tabaaraka allah

Chapter 20: Ten Great Arabic Proverbs

al-’amthaal noor al-kalaam.

‘a’mal khayr wa ‘ilqahu fii al-baHr.

‘uTlubuu al-’ilm min al-mahd ‘ilaa al-laHd.

yad waaHida maa tusaffiq.

al-Harbaa’ laa Yughaadir shajaratuh hattaa yakun mu’akkid ‘an shajara ‘ukhraa.

khaTa’ ma’roof ‘aHsan min Haqiiqa ghayr ma’roofa.

as-sirr mithel al-Hamaama: ‘indamaa yughaadir yadii yaTiir.

al-’aql li an-niDHaar wa al-kalb li as-simaa’.

kul yawm min Hayaatuk SafHa min taariikhuk.

li faatik bi liila faatik bi Hiila.

Part V : Appendixes

Appendix A: Verb Tables

Regular Arabic Verbs in the Past Tense

Regular Arabic Verbs in the Present Tense

Regular Arabic Verbs in the Future Tense

Irregular Arabic Verbs in the Past Tense

Irregular Arabic Verbs in the Present Tense

Irregular Arabic Verbs in the Future Tense

Arabic-English Mini-DictionaryEnglish-Arabic Mini-Dictionary

Appendix C: Answer Key

Appendix D: About the CD

Introduction

Arabic, the official language of over 20 countries, is the mother tongue of over 300 million people. It’s spoken throughout the Middle East, from Morocco to Iraq. Additionally, because Arabic is the language of the Koran and Islam, it’s understood by more than 1.2 billion people across the world.

Due to recent geopolitical events, Arabic has catapulted to the top of the list of important world languages. Even in countries where Arabic isn’t the official language, people are scrambling to master this important and vital global language.

For people in North America and Europe, at first glance Arabic seems like a difficult language to master; after all, it isn’t a Romance language and doesn’t use the Latin alphabet. However, like any other language, Arabic is governed by a set of rules, and when you master these rules, you’re able to speak Arabic like a native speaker!

Arabic For Dummies is designed to identify and explain the rules that govern the Arabic language in the easiest and most interactive way possible. I organize each chapter in a straightforward and coherent manner and present the material in an interactive and engaging way.

About This Book

Unlike most books on the Arabic language, Arabic For Dummies is designed in a way that gives you the most accurate and in-depth information available on the composition of the language. The book is modular in nature; every chapter is organized in such a way that you don’t have to read the whole book in order to understand the topic that’s discussed. Feel free to jump through chapters and sections to suit your specific needs. Also, every grammatical and linguistic point is explained in plain English so that you can incorporate the concept immediately. I took great care to explain every concept clearly and succinctly.

To provide the best foundation and the widest usage for students of Arabic, Arabic For Dummies focuses on Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), which is the most widely used form of Arabic in the world. There are basically three different types of Arabic: Koranic Arabic, local dialects, and MSA.

Koranic Arabic is the Arabic used to write the Koran, the holy book for Muslims. This form of Arabic is very rigid and hasn’t changed much since the Koran was written approximately 1,500 years ago. Koranic Arabic is widely used in religious circles for prayer, discussions of Islamic issues, and serious deliberations. Its usage is limited primarily within a strict religious context. It’s the equivalent of Biblical English.

The regional dialects are the most informal type of Arabic. They tend to fall into three geographical categories: the North African dialect (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya); the Egyptian dialect (Egypt, parts of Syria, Palestine, and Jordan); and Gulf Arabic (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates). Even though the words are pronounced differently and some of the everyday expressions differ dramatically from region to region, speakers from different regions can understand each other. The common denominator for the regional dialects is that they’re all based on MSA.

Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is the most widely used and understood form of Arabic in the world. It’s less rigid than Koranic Arabic but a bit more formal than the local dialects. MSA is the language that Arabic anchors use to present the news, professionals use to discuss business and technical issues, and friends and families use to socialize with one another.

Conventions Used in This Book

Throughout the book, each new Arabic word appears in boldface, followed by its proper pronunciation and its English equivalent in parentheses.

Because this is a language book, I include some sections to help you master the linguistic concepts with greater ease. Here’s a description of the specialty sections you find in each chapter:

Talkin’ the Talk dialogues: Here’s where you get to see Arabic in action. These common Arabic dialogues show you how to use important vocabulary words and terms you should be aware of. Select Talkin’ the Talk dialogues have accompanying audio versions on the book’s CD.

Words to Know blackboards: An important part of mastering a new language is becoming familiar with important words and phrases. Key terms that I recommend you memorize are included in these sections, which present the transcription of the Arabic word, the pronunciation, and the translation.

Fun & Games activities: The aim of Arabic For Dummies is to help you master the Arabic language in an interactive and engaging way. With that in mind, each chapter ends with a Fun & Games that lets you review the key concept covered in the chapter in a fun but effective way.

What I Assume About You

In writing Arabic For Dummies, I made the following assumptions about my likely readers:

You’ve had very little exposure (or none at all) to the Arabic language.

You’re interested in mastering Arabic for either personal or professional reasons.

You want to be able to speak a few words and phrases so that you can communicate basic information in Arabic.

You’ve been exposed to Arabic but are interested in brushing up on your language skills.

You’re not looking for a dry book on Arabic grammar; you want to discover Arabic in a fun and engaging manner.

You’re looking for a practical course that will have you speaking basic Arabic in no time!

How This Book Is Organized

Arabic For Dummies is organized into five different parts, with each part divided into chapters. The following part descriptions give you a heads-up on what to expect in each part.

Part I: Getting Started

The first part of Arabic For Dummies is a must-read if you’ve never been exposed to Arabic. I introduce the Arabic script and present the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet before explaining the difference between consonants and vowels, which have a very peculiar relationship in Arabic. In addition, in this part you get a detailed and thorough overview of Arabic grammatical and linguistic constructs; for instance, you find out how nouns, verbs, and adjectives interact with each other to create phrases and sentences. Finally, you discover some of the most basic forms of greetings and are introduced to basic words and phrases.

Part II: Arabic in Action

This part exposes you to key words and phrases that allow you to interact with Arabic-speaking folks in a variety of different settings (such as in a restaurant, around town, at the office, or even at the mall). You discover how to make small talk and how to ask for basic information about people you speak to, such as their names, where they’re from, and their occupations.

Part III: Arabic on the Go

This part gives you the tools you need to take Arabic on the road with you. Find out how to open a bank account, how to plan a trip, how to make a reservation at a hotel, and how to ask for directions.

Part IV: The Part of Tens

The chapters in this part share some of the nonverbal methods of communication that help you to better interact with Arabic-speaking people. For example, you discover ten of the greatest Arabic proverbs, and you find out proper ways to interact with people if you’re in an Arabic-speaking country. I also share my recommendations on the best ways to acquire Arabic as quickly as possible.

Part V: Appendixes

This part is a useful reference if you need information quickly. One of the appendixes in this part is a detailed list of regular and irregular verbs to help you conjugate verbs in the past, present, and future tenses. I also include a mini-dictionary in both Arabic–English and English–Arabic formats for quick reference. Finally, you find an appendix that guides you through the audio tracks on the CD.

Icons Used in This Book

In order to help you get in and get out of this book easily and efficiently, I use icons (little pictures) that identify important pieces of information by category. The following icons appear in this book:

When you see this icon, make sure you read carefully. It points to information that will directly improve your Arabic language skills.

I use this icon to bring to your attention to information that you definitely want to keep in mind when studying and practicing Arabic.

Discovering a new language can be a wonderful experience. However, there are always potential pitfalls to avoid, whether grammatical, linguistic, or cultural. This icon points out important notions about Arabic that may trip you up.

Grammar is the glue that binds a language together. Even though this isn’t a grammar book, it does include important grammar lessons you need to be aware of. This icon is attached to major grammar points that will help you master the Arabic language.

This icon points out nonverbal methods of communication common in Arabic-speaking countries and among Arabic speakers. I use this icon to fill the gap between language and culture so that you know the cultural contexts in which you can use newly discovered words and phrases.

Just about every chapter of this book contains Talkin’ the Talk sections with real-world conversations and dialogues. Some of these dialogues are included as audio tracks on the CD that accompanies the book. When you come across this icon, pop in your CD and listen to the conversation as you read along.

Where to Go from Here

This book is organized so that you can jump around from topic to topic. You don’t have to read the whole thing. Want to know how to ask for directions in Arabic? Jump to Chapter 12. Need to exchange money in an Arabic country? Check out Chapter 11. Care to venture into the realm of Arabic grammar? Chapter 2 is for you.

Part I

Getting Started

In this part . . .

I introduce the Arabic script and present the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet before explaining the difference between consonants and vowels, which have a very peculiar relationship in Arabic. In addition, in this part you get a detailed and thorough overview of Arabic grammatical and linguistic constructs. You find out how nouns, verbs, and adjectives interact with each other to create phrases and sentences. Finally, you discover some of the most basic forms of greetings and are introduced to basic words and phrases.

Chapter 1

You Already Know a Little Arabic

In This Chapter

Discovering English words that come from Arabic

Figuring out the Arabic alphabet

Sounding like a native speaker

marHaba (mahr-hah-bah; welcome) to the wonderful world of Arabic! Arabic is the official language of over 20 countries and is spoken by more than 300 million people across the globe! It’s the language in which the Koran, the Holy Book in Islam, was revealed and written, and a large majority of the over 1.3 billion Muslims across the world study Arabic in order to read the Koran and to fulfill their religious duties. By speaking Arabic, you get access to people and places from Morocco to Indonesia. (For more on Arabic’s role in history, see the sidebar “Arabic’s historical importance.”)

In this chapter, I ease you into Arabic by showing you some familiar English words that trace their roots to Arabic. You discover the Arabic alphabet and its beautiful letters, and I give you tips on how to pronounce those letters so that you can sound like a native speaker! Part of exploring a new language is discovering a new culture and a new way of looking at things, so in this first chapter of Arabic For Dummies, you begin your discovery of Arabic and its unique characteristics.

Taking Stock of What’s Familiar

If English is your primary language, part of grasping a new lougha (loo-rah; language) is creating connections between the kalimaat (kah-lee-maht; words) of the lougha, in this case Arabic, and English. You may be surprised to hear that quite a few English words trace their origins to Arabic. For example, did you know that “magazine,” “candy,” and “coffee” are actually Arabic words? Table 1-1 lists some familiar English words with Arabic origins.