The  Arabic Language

Arabic belongs to the Semitic family of languages; it is written from right to left. Arabic is spoken by more than 200 million people in more than 22 countries, from Morocco to Iraq and as far as Somalia and the Sudan. The Arabic language originated in Saudi Arabia in pre Islamic times, and spread rapidly across the Middle East. It is the first language of over 195 million and at least 35 million speak it as a second language. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is the official language throughout the Arab World and in its written form it is relatively consistent across national boundaries

The languages of Northern India, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and even England and the US have many words of Arabic origin. 1/3 of the Spanish terms have their origins in Arabic.

There are 3 kinds of Arabic:
1. Colloquial Arabic:
It includes the conversational Arabic and the dialects of various Arab countries. These can be divided in 5 main dialects:

a. Egyptian
b. Levantine (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and the Palestinians)
c. Iraqi
d. North African (Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria)
e. Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen).

Citizens of the Arab countries understand each other even though their dialects can sometimes be different. Their languages could be compared to that of the peoples of central and South America when it comes to their use of the Spanish language.
Why study colloquial Arabic in addition to Modern Standard Arabic?
Students of Arabic should learn the colloquial language because it is the language of daily conversation and everyday communication of the people of the Arab World. A student who visited an Arab country reported that, one day, she stopped by a store and using the Standard Arabic, she asked the shopkeeper for an item. To her great surprise, the storekeeper laughed, then called some of his friends so that they could hear as, he put it “the language of God”. What he called the “language of God” was nothing but “formal standard Arabic.” It was too formal of a language for him.
Which Arabic dialect is the most common one?
It is the Egyptian dialect. It is the most widely spoken of all dialects and also the most understood as a second dialect. Because of its use in cultural and media affairs: movies, songs and TV, this dialect is very popular all over the Arab World. Another reason of the popularity of the Egyptian dialect is that for a long time, Egypt provided various countries of the Arab World with the professional manpower these countries needed. Doctors, engineers, professors, chemists, etc. established residence in different Arab countries to serve as professionals and to provide those countries with their services.


2. Modern Standard Arabic:
Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is the official Arabic written language. It is used in official document, in educational settings and for communication between Arabs of different nationalities. It is the language taught in schools as well as in universities. It is also the language of literature, the government, media, technology, science,

3. Classical Arabic:
It is the language of the Qur'an and the Traditions (sayings and actions of the prophet Mohammed). Classical Arabic is usually taught in Muslim religious institutions and places of worship.

Why Study Arabic
According to the students, these are their main reasons for studying the Arabic language:

1. To fulfill the language requirement.

2. To improve reading, writing and communications skills.

3. To enhance employment opportunities.

4. To work for the State Department.

5. To pursue a career, in translation, linguistics, archeology or international law.

6. To fulfill the requirement for major.

7. To work in the medical field.

8. To work in an Arab country.

9. To be able to communicate with extended family.

10. To be able to understand it and speak it.

11. To enhance understanding of Islam.

12. To be able to communicate with future in-laws.

13. To visit an Arab country.

14. Self-interest.

15. To learn about the Arabic culture and the Arab peoples.