BilArid. 12 ways to learn Arabic
Tatiana Prolesko
When learning a foreign language, people enter the process in various ways, translating feelings differently into thoughts and texts, having individual perceptions of information and the nature of learning.Arabic is one of the most beautiful languages in the world and it becomes more and more popular. In this book, you learn what and how to do to make the learning of this language magically easier, like in the Aladdin lamp story.
BilArid
12 ways to learn Arabic
Tatiana Prolesko
© Tatiana Prolesko, 2022
ISBNВ 978-5-0056-5833-3
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
Introduction
“You have gone crazy!”. Such was the reaction of friend about my new hobby. In my experience, the most exciting things in life start from that phrase.
The first thought of learning Arabic came to my mind before traveling to Qatar. When going to a new country, I always want to say something in the local language. Without hesitation I went to the “Bookvoed” bookstore for an Arabic-Russian phrasebook and victoriously carried it to the cashier under the mocking-curious (in a good way) look of one of the shop assistants who later turned out to speak Syrian dialect.
My journey to Qatar was surrounded by two other trips: Madrid and Barcelona. At the time, I was irate that Italian words were getting in my head and interfering with the study of Spanish. The immersion in the Arabic phrasebook in the atmosphere of flight QR0282 Saint Petersburg – Doha once and forever discouraged me from complaining about the difficulty of any European language.
IВ was opening the phrasebook and closing it again with sadness.
ByВ the time the airplane landed, six words had been learned.
Everything else turned stupor inВ my mind and led me toВ think:
В«It is unrealistic toВ learn. How can IВ understand anything inВ these little squiggles? However, what will IВ do if one day inВ Dubai, all the English signs are disappeared?В»
What would be the motivation toВ continue the process? First, there were local people whom IВ had the privilege ofВ meeting inВ Qatar at that time and other citizens from the Middle East afterward.
Secondly, Qatar itself amazed so much that on my return from the trip, IВ wrote an article about this country for one magazine, bought aВ thick Arabic textbook and aВ thin notebook for writing. IВ wanted toВ understand more about how native speakers think and toВ be able toВ say something myself.
It turned out to be a fascinating exercise for the mind, a way to get better acquainted with the local culture and greatly expand my way of thinking.
Moreover:
1.В It turned out that there was nothing scary in Arabic letters; they are unusual for eyes, but nothing more. Each letter looks different at the beginning, in the middle, at the end of the word, or if it stands separately. The words are written from right to left; the numbers are written from left to right.
The letters are always written as aВ solid word, both inВ writing and inВ printed material inВ Arabic. Exceptions toВ the rule are crosswords and vertical signboards.
2. Vocabulary leads to interesting thoughts. For example: in Arabic, “student” sounds like “Talib” communion from the verb “talab” – “to ask,” “to demand,” “to search.”
In the language, the concept of «student» is denoted as «looking, asking, demanding.» Indeed, a pupil is not a mere student – for example, a child who does not know what he needs to learn. Parents sent him to school to get primary education.
A student seeks knowledge without hesitation, asks for help, and even requires knowledge if necessary. Thus, the Arabic word conveys the true essence – a person who desires knowledge. Moreover, from the mere sight of the word and its sound, it is clear what the knowledge seeker must do to succeed in his endeavor.
3.В It turned out that almost 10% ofВ Spanish words were borrowed from Arabic, which was very helpful inВ learning Spanish inВ Barcelona:
aduana “customs office”
azГєcar В«sugarВ»
ГЎlgebra В«algebraВ»
elixir В«elixirВ»
alcohol В«alcoholВ»
azimut В«azimutВ»
algoritmo В«algorithmВ»
aldea В«villageВ»
There are many Arabisms also in Russian. For example, the word «lafa» is close to «alafa» in the meaning of «good life», «luck.» The word «balagan» comes from the Arabic «balag» – «news».
Also: alchemy, admiral, amalgam, arsenal, caliber, coffee, gazelle, giraffe, halva, chest, jasmine, lemon, sherbet, sugar, syrup, talisman, tariff, and others.
4.В Most ofВ all IВ liked toВ draw (not toВ write as usual and not toВ type, but toВ draw) Arabic ligature. This is calligraphy at the art level! IВ remember practicing for four hours toВ write aВ handwritten congratulations for my friends.
5. Encouraged by the letter’s success, I almost forgot pronunciation practice. In Arabic, several sounds sound almost indistinguishable to my ear. For example, in Russian, there is one letter «S,» and in Arabic, there are three letters similar in sound to «S.» These letters are: «sin» – pronounced as the Russian «S,» «sod» – pronounced very firmly and «sa» – pronounced as the interdental sound «s,» analogous to the sound in the English language when the letters are combined.
Learning new languages erases boundaries inВ every sense: IВ like toВ communicate with native speakers, toВ make conclusions about people, about their culture and countries myself, instead ofВ relying on the opinions ofВ others and information dissected byВ mass media, for example.
What was the reason for this book toВ appear?
– Where did you buy such a fancy backpack?
– In Dubai.
– Ohh… I guess I will never be able to go there.
– Why?
– I do not speak foreign languages and I am not sure I can learn them. I was only once in Turkey in a hotel where many people spoke Russian.
– Do not be upset; a foreign language is possible to learn. I am sure 100%. And Dubai is great: it is worth visiting!
– Thanks! Please come again!
