About Imad Ajam Expertise I can answer most questions about Arabic cultures, traditions, language and society. I can also provide help with translating from Arabic to English or vice versa.
Experience I am an Arab, but was raised and educated in the U.K. I am fluent in both Arabic and English.
I am a college student from Chicago studying Spanish,Portuguese and French. I've always been fascinated by Arabic language and cultures and have finally decided to start studying Arabic on my own. Most Arabs in Chicago speak the Eastern dialect, and I'll be studying abroad June-December in Sao Paulo,Brasil, which has the largest Lebanese community outside of Beirut, so I'm considering studying Eastern dialect. However, I'd like to be able to read newspapers and communicate with people from all over the Arab world, so I'm leaning towards modern standard.
In your opinion, if I study Modern Standard Arabic and try to speak to an immigrant from Palestine,Syria,or Lebanon, will most understand and be able to communicate? Will they appreciate the effort or would it be uncomfortable for them since the language is so formal? If I study Eastern Arabic will I be unable to read an Arabic newspaper?
My overall question is: considering that I would love to be able to read a newspaper and read signs on stores in Arabic neighborhoods, but any chance I get to speak the language would mostly be with people from Palestine,Lebanon,Syria, and Jordan, do you recommend I study Modern Standard Arabic, or Eastern Arabic?
Also, if I do study Eastern Arabic, when I encounter people from different regions(Iraq, Egypt, and Algeria for example), what would be the chance of them understanding me in comparison to if I spoke to them in Modern Standard Arabic?
I apologize for asking so many questions, but I've never really found a good description of this topic before. Thank you for your time!
-Jeff
Answer Dear Jeff, Thank you for your questions. I will try to clear up for you the difference between Classical(formal) Arabic and common(local) Arabic.
Classical Arabic is the ancient form of the language, in fact it is almost exactly the same language that Arabs 1500 years ago were using. It has precise sentence structure, grammatical, syntax and inflectional rules. Classical Arabic today is used as the formal or official Arabic in Arab countries. So the news on television, newspapers, most serious books and magazines, speeches, curriculum in schools, and most official functions of the state, all use classical Arabic, also known as "Fosha". Therefore, all Arabs to varying degrees(depending upon their educational level), understand the formal type of Arabic.
However, it is never used as the spoken language between people in society. Common, or local Arabic is used for that. Common Arabic varies widely from country to country, and even within regions of the same country. It is heavy on local dialects and accents, and has almost no fixed rules for grammar or structure. It only retains the basic principles of a language. As a general rule, the common Arabic from one region of the Arab world, would not be understood by people of another region. For example, a Syrian or Lebanese person, would not be able to understand an Algerian or Moroccan person speaking, and would have difficulty understanding people from the gulf region. Having said that, Eastern Arabic(Lebanon, Syria, Jordan) is a form that can be more or less easily understood by people of other regions, so people from Egypt, Iraq, The Gulf, and North Africa would be able to understand you when you speak.
My advice to you would be to study modern standard(classical). It would enable you to properly understand the grammar and structure of Arabic, as well as read books and newspapers in Arabic. Also, it would enable you to speak to most Arabs. "Picking up" Eastern Arabic after that, would just be a matter of time as you converse with Arabs of that region.
But you should base your decision on what it is that you would like to be able to do. If you are more inclined to the scholarly aspects, you should learn modern standard(classical), if you just want to be able to converse with Arabs, Eastern Arabic would be sufficient.
I hope I have clarified the idea for you. Don't hesitate if you have more questions.
