Arabic (العربية اللغة) is a Semitic belonging to the larger Afro-Asiatic language family. It is closely related to Maltese, Hebrew, Aramaic, as well as Amharic and Tigrinya, and is also divided into a wide range of dialects. It is the official language of 26 Middle Eastern and North African countries ranging from Yemen to Lebanon, Sudan and Tunisia. It is also one of the official languages of the Arab League, the African Union, NATO and the United Nations and is the sacred and intellectual language of Islam. People from all over the world study Arabic for a variety of reasons: work, travel, family, cultural heritage, religion, the desire to get to know an Arab country, marriage, friendship or just as a hobby. Before you begin, determine which variant you would like to learn, study the alphabet, get a good dictionary, and use some didactic tools for learning languages.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Which Variant Do You Want to Learn?
Step 1. Please note that there are several variations of this language
They are: Modern Standard Arabic, Classical Arabic (Quranic) and Colloquial Arabic. Decide which type you want to learn:
- Modern Standard Arabic. Unless your interest is limited to a particular country, the safest option is to learn a version of the classical language, known as Modern Standard Arabic. It is spoken throughout the Arab world, but generally its use is limited to formal and written contexts: literature, newspapers, education, news broadcasts, political speeches, etc.
- Classical Arabic (Quranic). If you are more interested in Islamic or Medieval Arabic studies, a Classical Arabic or Quranic course will suit your needs. This variant is used in the sacred texts of the Koran, in the classical, religious, intellectual and legal ones, substantially constitutes the basis of modern Arabic.
- Colloquial Arabic. If you are thinking of living in an Arab country or want to deal with a specific Arab region or nation, the modern standard version is unlikely to meet all your needs. Arabs speak both regional dialects and their native language and dialectal differences can be so strong that they cause mutual misunderstandings. Broadly speaking, there are five major dialect families, each with additional sub-dialects based on country, city, neighborhood, and even religion: Gulf Arabic, Mesopotamian, Levantine, Egyptian, and Maghrebi.
Part 2 of 3: Learning the Alphabet and Knowing How to Use the Dictionary
Step 1. Learn the alphabet
At first, Arabic script seems so daunting that some people rely on transliterations to avoid learning it. This method of learning only sets aside some problems that will arise later. It is much better to drop the transliterations and use the alphabet from the very beginning. The best thing you can do is to borrow a book from the library or buy it from the bookstore because it will be a long and difficult job.
Step 2. Learn to use the dictionary
Words in Arabic dictionaries are usually listed under three radical letters. Therefore, you should search for istiqbaal ("host") under the "q" because the radicals are q-b-l. It will take some practice before you get used to it, but it is not particularly difficult because the letters that are added to the radicals follow very specific patterns. Something similar happens with English - for example, "unaccustomed" is actually composed like this: "UN-ac-custom-ed".
Part 3 of 3: Studying Arabic
Step 1. Learn it at home
If you have the opportunity to study at home, there are self-taught courses that start at the beginner level and, in some cases, can guide the learner in more advanced learning. Traditional courses with textbook and cassette vary both in terms of quality and in terms of teaching method. You'll likely find yourself buying two or three before finding the one that's right for you.
Step 2. Consider Online Courses
If you want to try learning Arabic on the Internet, the following courses are available:
- BABEL Arabic is an interactive course for beginners that provides texts, phonemes, transcriptions and translations. It teaches you to write and read through conversation.
- The Arabic Tutor is a beginner's course on CD-ROM that you can try and buy on the Internet.
- Apprendre l'Arabe is a basic Arabic course for French speakers.
Step 3. Try a language course
For most people, evening classes are perhaps the most comfortable option. They can provide a nice introduction to the language, but don't expect to learn it very quickly. Look for alternatives available to you in the area where you live.
Step 4. Practice Arabic and make friends with native speakers
The Arab diaspora extends to every corner of the world. The best way to improve your vocabulary is to talk to native speakers and take an interest in everything that exposes you to the Arab world. Sign up for pen pals websites, listen to Arabic music, watch Arabic soap operas, news and children's shows, chat with the Palestinian barber who works in your city, with the Moroccan grocer, the Lebanese restaurateur, etc.. Knowing even a few words, you can open many doors.
- Find someone who speaks Arabic. It could be a family member or someone who associates with your party. You can also ask on Facebook if anyone knows a person who speaks it.
- Contact her and ask if you can meet once a week for an hour. In this way, you will be able to learn various words, such as those related to daily life, travel and so on.
- At the same time, you will be able to learn the most commonly used colloquial expressions, including "how are you? / My name is … / how old are you?", Etc. You can also focus on other phrases and expressions that stimulate dialogue.
- In the meantime, study the topics you have discussed with your teacher. As you meet, you will understand it better and have clearer ideas. You can also ask him some questions about previous lessons.
Advice
- Visit an Arab market or shop to make friends or get acquainted with Arabs and North Africans. Become their customer and ask for help and advice. It wouldn't be bad if you confronted yourself with Arabic speakers every day.
- Typically, Arabic dictionaries sold outside the Middle East are expensive because there is little demand. You can buy the same copies at much lower prices in Arab countries.
- Try watching some videos posted on YouTube, especially the "Learn with Arabic Maha" channel (if you know English).
- Arabic, along with other Semitic languages, uses a radical letter pattern that allows the speaker to indicate or anticipate the meaning of a word. Words that have a conceptual relationship, such as the Internet and the website, are also linked on a phonetic level. For example, the root K-T-B means "to write, written" and so kitab (book), kutubu (books), kaatib (writer), maktab (office, library), kataba (he writes), etc.
