Quote:
Originally Posted by Voltigeur
Question for you Eddie. Knowing there is "literal arabic" spoken and different dialects spoken in the different middle-eastern countries.....how did you manage to speak the local linguo with the right accent....????
Jo
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Arabic is a very fluid language which is spoken between Malaya and Morocco and many other places in-between. Lots of dialects and accents.
What is taught in western language schools is Modern Standard Arabic. My experience is that MSA is incomprehensible to most native Arabs. Educated people may well understand it but don't use it.
To get the pronunciations right you need to practice with a local. The problem is that they will also want to practice the English with you. However the reaction you get when you master even a few phrases is worth all the effort because people will love you for it!
An example; the word for army varies across Arabia, in one place its Jaysh with a sof(ish) J, in another its Gaysh with a guttural G.
But its all good fun - unless you are struggling to say "Don't shoot I'm a friend" on a pitch black night!
Eddie