Why Learn Modern Standard Arabic

Why Learn Modern Standard Arabic What’s the best way to learn Modern Standard Arabic? ChaptersWhat is Modern Standard Arabic?What are the main differences between Modern Standard Arabic and spoken Arabic dialects?Where can you learn classical Arabic in the US?Why are we talking about Modern Standard Arabic without learning to read or write it?What books should you buy to learn classical Arabic?Good books for learning Modern Standard ArabicWhich countries speak Modern Standard Arabic?Right now you can’t even say ‘My name is’ in Arabic, but you’re determined and willing to do the work. However, people keep speaking to you about the differences between Modern Standard Arabic and spoken dialects.So what’s the difference between the two? And what exactly is Modern Standard Arabic?When you learn Arabic, you’ll also learn about the rich history of the language, stretching back over millennia, which is deeply entwined with Islam and the Quran.So for those who are trying to work out the best way to tackle the Arabic language, here are a few tips and tricks to help you in learning Modern Standard Arabic.Arabic dictionary (iTunes) works as an offline and online dictionary to help you translate new words and phrasesMondly (iTunes) - declared the app of 2017 by Facebook, this language learning app offers Arabic as well as 33 other languages, and uses high tech voice recognition software to practice interactive conversations. The app will also take you through Arabic vocabulary and conjugations. HalimaArabic Teacher £13/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KotaibaArabic Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SoledadArabic Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NancyArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TaouesArabic Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DinaArabic Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AbrarArabic Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UsamaArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsW hy are we talking about Modern Standard Arabic without learning to read or write it?Modern Standard Arabic is actually normally a second language in Arabic countries.The topic is rarely spoken about in language learning materials, but generates lots of interest in linguistic forums…Out of 355 million Arabic speakers, in countries where Arabic is an official language, it is estimated that only a few million speak classical Arabic. (If it still isn’t clear, classical Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, and literary Arabic are all used more or less interchangeably.)Literary Arabic is the preserve of the elite and is rarely used in daily life. Classical Arabic is the language of authors and philosophers like:Abou el Kacem Chebbi,Naguib Mahfouz (who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1988)Or even Averroès.Arabic is also an official language at several international organizations, including:The United NationsAfrica UnionOrganization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)Frequently considered on e of the hardest languages to learn in the world â€" alongside Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, and Japanese â€" classical Arabic can be difficult for outsiders to access if they aren’t from an Arab or North African country.The effects of migration on Arabic speakersIn student forums you’ll often see messages from 2nd or 3rd generation immigrant students who’ve learned one of the spoken Arabic dialects from their parents, but don’t know how to read or write classical Arabic.They struggle with the Arabic script and the differences in grammar and conjugations.Other blocks on mastering classical Arabic might be lower levels of learning among their parents, a focus on integration over preserving the culture of their country of origin, or a lack of exposure to the TV shows and newspapers where Modern Standard Arabic are used.What books should you buy to learn classical Arabic?In addition to classes in Modern Standard Arabic you can sign up for at mosques or local language schools, te xtbooks can also help you learn the language!There are many different books available to help you learn Arabic, and it’s best to choose carefully as they aren’t all easy to use or appropriate for beginners.Before you start madly filling up an amazon.com shopping cart in your enthusiasm for the language of the Quran and pre-Islamic poetry, it’s good to make a plan for how you’re going to learn Arabic.First of all, each of the 28 Arabic letters should be learned, with a focus on syntax, lexis, and pronunciation.Next, Arabic students should keep in mind that there’s a clear distinction between Arabic dialects and written Arabic. The ‘darjia’ Arabic spoken in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia is quite different from the Modern Standard Arabic that you can read in the newspapers or hear on TV!The best Arabic-English dictionaries to learn classical ArabicThere’s been an explosion of interest in learning Arabic in recent years, and the language’s sudden popularity hasn’t al ways been met with the most well researched resources. There have been all kinds of sloppy translations for different words and vocabulary.In order to make sure you have the best tools possible as you study Arabic, it’s best to stick to well-researched dictionaries.What book or dictionary should you use to learn classical Arabic?Basic DictionariesAll the normal publishers for language learning have dictionaries â€" depending on your preference you could choose Merriam Webster, Oxford Arabic, or Collier.Word ReferenceA long term favorite of language learners the world over, Word Reference is the default online dictionary for any language they offer. Available online or via an app, their English-Arabic dictionary includes various words and phrases. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can pose a question in the forums and you can also help other learners by finding the right Arabic-English translation and contributing answers to their questions.You should know though t hat Word Reference only provides Arabic words in Arabic script, without any transliteration, so you’ll need to be comfortable reading and sounding out Arabic before Word Reference can be of much help.DK Arabic-English Visual Picture DictionaryKing of the picture dictionaries, DK’s English-Arabic offering is a great starter book for children as they learn their first words in Arabic and begin to make sense of the language. If you’re a bit older, but find picture dictionaries helpful, a good alternative is the Oxford Picture dictionary for teens and adults. It’s worth noting that this dictionary is meant for Arabic speakers learning English, but the premise is still the same.Good books for learning Modern Standard ArabicThe Arabic Alphabet â€" how to read and write itThis classic book for Arabic learners by Nicholas Awde will walk you through how to write Arabic script and write the letters, stroke by stroke. It also explains the pronunciation of each as you go, and is a nice, basic, and uncomplicated introduction to written Arabic.Living Language ArabicThis isn’t so much a book as a complete multimedia pack with course books, a guide to writing the script, and several CDs which will walk you through Arabic vocabulary, dialogues, and audio exercises. You’ll also get access to the online portal which provides interactive language games, flashcards, and other activities. The pack can be a bit more expensive, but you can usually find it at a good discount.Arabic Stories for Language LearnersThis book of short stories also comes with a CD, and aims to give Arabic students a taste for the language’s rich cultural and literary history. Before each of the 66 short stories, new vocabulary and grammar are presented. The CD lets you work on your listening skills, at the same time as understanding the Arabic storytelling style.Complete Arabic, by Frances AltorferPart of the Teach Yourself series, this book walks you through the Arabic language, from complete beginner to intermediate level. It uses realistic conversations to slowly introduce vocabulary and grammar. It also gives you culture notes, to bring the people who use the language to life as you learn. Finally, CDs are no longer included with the book, but you can download all the Arabic recordings from the website.Arabic for dummiesThis successful series of books doesn’t really need any introduction. Their book is basically an Arabic for beginners book designed for people just starting to learn the language. It covers:VocabularyBasic GrammarAnd phonetic transcriptions to help you learn at your own pace.Easy to use, and very practical, you can find Arabic for Dummies online and in bookstores at a very reasonable price. It also comes with a CD-ROM full of real life conversations and people talking about their daily lives in Modern Standard Arabic.Which countries speak Modern Standard Arabic?Even though Modern Standard Arabic might be the official working language of many governme nts, you’ll often find that bureaucrats are still speaking local Arabic dialects amongst themselves.On one hand it’s an incredibly diverse and constantly evolving language, but some forms of spoken Arabic (or ???????, al-?arabiyah) are also on the decline.All of the many different local dialects are based on the same form of classical written Arabic. A common question among Arab-speakers themselves is who speaks the closest form of Arabic to Modern Standard Arabic?Because almost no Arabic speakers ever speak Modern Standard Arabic as their mother tongue.It’s a constant source of squabbles, disagreements, and teasing, but in a more serious vein there’s an earnest attempt to decide which country uses the most authentic version of spoken Arabic.But just from the name ‘the most eloquent Arabic language’ you can tell that Modern Standard Arabic has a certain prestige from its history and associations with the classical Arabic of the Quran.It’s written exactly the same in ev ery Arabic speaking country, and bit like the standardization of Mandarin Chinese. Classical Arabic is the version of Arabic that is taught in religious and public schools as well as language classes.You will see it in newspapers, books, academic articles, and in government administration in Arabic countries.Modern Standard Arabic also serves as the intermediary language between many Arab countries. The spoken dialects aren’t too dissimilar, and the written form is the same in every country, so modern Arabic is often considered as more of an umbrella over many versions of the same language.Most linguists would say that the further East you go across North Africa, the closer the spoken Arabic dialects become to written classical Arabic, although they remain a bit different.In the countries where Arabic and its spoken dialects are the most common language, the first language of many citizens is fairly close to Modern Standard Arabic. In addition to Egypt, this also holds true in oth er countries like:SyriaIraqLibyaJordanSaudi ArabiaYemenKuwaitQatarOmanBahrainThe United Arab EmiratesThe reasons for learning Arabic so what are you waiting for! Use the information that has been discussed to get you started