12 ways to learn Arabic
Tatiana Prolesko
© Tatiana Prolesko, 2022
ISBN 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.
I was opening the phrasebook and closing it again with sadness.
By the time the airplane landed, six words had been learned.
Everything else turned stupor in my mind and led me to think:
«It is unrealistic to learn. How can I understand anything in these little squiggles? However, what will I do if one day in Dubai, all the English signs are disappeared?»
What would be the motivation to continue the process? First, there were local people whom I had the privilege of meeting in 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, I wrote an article about this country for one magazine, bought a thick Arabic textbook and a thin notebook for writing. I wanted to understand more about how native speakers think and to be able to 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. 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 a solid word, both in writing and in printed material in Arabic. Exceptions to 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. It turned out that almost 10% of Spanish words were borrowed from Arabic, which was very helpful in learning Spanish in Barcelona:
aduana “customs office”
azúcar «sugar»
álgebra «algebra»
elixir «elixir»
alcohol «alcohol»
azimut «azimut»
algoritmo «algorithm»
aldea «village»
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. Most of all I liked to draw (not to write as usual and not to type, but to draw) Arabic ligature. This is calligraphy at the art level! I remember practicing for four hours to write a 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 in every sense: I like to communicate with native speakers, to make conclusions about people, about their culture and countries myself, instead of relying on the opinions of others and information dissected by mass media, for example.
What was the reason for this book to 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!
– Sure!
This conversation happened once in a coffee shop when ordering an iced latte. At first glance, it is not notable. But I wondered again why people predispose themselves to failure? Who convinced this pretty and smart lady that it was hard to learn a foreign language? Maybe she, like many people, was not lucky enough to have a good teacher at school? Or did the family lack psychological support for any new beginnings? How many people do not know what they miss out on, putting language learning on the list of pipe dreams? How may I transfer them at least a part of the experience about how simple and pleasant it is?
Thus, a usual conversation and lovely bag from Dubai, featuring beautiful cactus, served as one of the ideas for this book.
Secondly, if someone had told me eight years ago (when I first visited the United Arab Emirates) that I would willingly start learning Arabic and even less write this book – I would never have believed it! Where are Arabists, Orientalists, professors, diplomatic translators, and the author of these lines! I may be a polyglot for European languages and an ordinary entrepreneur. I felt unworthy of even approaching such luminaries in my mind and beginning to write something about Arabic. Surprisingly, in the process of learning it has been possible to attract the attention of friends to this language and to the culture of the