It can be frightening to learn the Arabic alphabet in order. There are numerous different letters. Additionally, it is written in a different style and contains a few choices that you should keep in mind.
The Arabic alphabet set’s highlights are shown below. They’ve limited it to the four “rules” that are generally important and that one would want to be aware of. In all honesty, none of these present a problem. However, they are strange right away!
Arabic Is Written From Right To Left
The most important Arabic fact that you should be aware of is this. The majority of people have never written from left to right. And getting used to it takes some time. But the answer to this is time and practise. Additionally, you adapt to it quite quickly. Additionally, it mimics the general dialect reading manner of “each flat line in turn.”
Arabic Words Are Connected By Letters
Arabic words do not consist of separate letters. They are connected in some way. As a result, it resembles cursive in several ways.
The letters, however, “stick together.” The reason this is confusing at first is because it might somewhat alter the feel of the actual letters.
Depending on their position in the word, Arabic letters will vary slightly.
If a letter is located in the beginning (first), middle (average), or end (last) of a word in Arabic, it will appear to be unique.
An Arabic letter’s appearance can alter when it is actually used in a word.
It’s important to note that many of the letters don’t appear all that differently when they alter. Most Arabic letters are relatively consistent, no matter where they appear in a word.
When everything is taken into account, a few letters DO have a different structure. At first, this could be a little confusing. But it really does call for a little bit of repetition retention.
Most Arabic letters don’t undergo much modification. The case in the letter is very awful. You can learn “structure exchange” much more quickly than you might think.
Vowels Are Absent in Arabic
You read it correctly! Without a doubt, vowels are absent from Arabic alphabet.
Even though this seems incredibly strange to a native English speaker, it’s not at all a noteworthy problem. Arabic does have vowel-sounding characters. The final three characters in the Arabic alphabet are the letters the, the, and the.
There is a “basic framework” in Arabic. This suggests that any collection of words can often be created by adding various letters to the “root,” which is normally three letters.
To learn more intricacies of the beautiful Arabic language, go ahead and enroll yourself in Nasma Of NY’s Levantine Arabic masterclass now!
Arabic is quickly rising as one of the world’s most significant languages. Today, Arabic is spoken in a number of diverse dialects. There are actually five main kinds of Arabic. One of them is Levantine Arabic.
The majority of Levantine Arabic speakers are centered in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, and Israel. Moreover, this dialect is primarily spoken near the eastern Mediterranean coast. Anyone thinking about studying Arabic should give the Levantine dialect a consideration.
Here are a few of the main arguments in favor of this dialect.
Travel
It is beneficial to at least have a basic grasp of the native tongue whenever visiting another country. Speaking Levantine Arabic will enable you to interact with locals and gain a deeper understanding of your surroundings if your travels lead you around the eastern Mediterranean coast.
Business
A working knowledge of Levantine Arabic is typically necessary to conduct business in the Middle East. With 20 million speakers and growing worldwide, it is likely that your local business partners will speak Levantine Arabic. Jordan, for instance, has Standard Arabic as its official language. Although Levantine Arabic is also extensively used there.
Work
Some of the best places to work in the Middle East are found throughout much of the eastern Mediterranean coast. They rank among the most prosperous and stable nations in the area. Therefore, having a solid command of this Arabic dialect will be quite helpful for those who intend to stay in the area for a lengthy period of time.
Levantine Arabic is a good dialect to learn because it is very widely spoken, especially in the Middle East’s most secure and prosperous regions. If you want to start your Arabic learning journey, join one of Nasma Of NY’s classes now!
One of the most beautiful and graceful dialects in the world is Arabic. It’s the hardest language to learn, especially if you’re doing language study at home. With the help of these pointers and tricks, you may include Arabic study into your daily routine.
Put out Goals that are identifiable and attainable
Set SMART targets for yourself (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound). Don’t overcommit as well. Don’t let yourself believe that you will be able to read for hours on end when, in reality, you won’t be able to! You should have local goals that are important to you. They should reflect your WHY and take into account the amount of effort and time you are aware you can devote.
Utilize a language learning application
There are several smartphone applications available to help you learn it quickly. Moreover, they can also develop a review habit. Most of these applications are completely free.
Watch Arabic news and narratives
Try watching recordings from popular Arabic news outlets to hone your listening skills. Examples are BBC Arabic, Al Jazeera, and Sky News Arabia. If you only have a few minutes to spare, short news recordings are fantastic. If you have a little more time, you may also watch a lot of stories on YouTube that are either spoken or named in Arabic.
Peruse a news story consistently
Regardless of whether you read anything beyond the main area, we strongly advise trying to read one article per day. Reading helps you expand your vocabulary, handle important sentence construction concepts, and sharpen your attentiveness. You’ll see results quickly in a variety of language learning contexts, such as talking and listening.
Keep a vocab journal
This is a particularly straightforward and effective technique for keeping track of what you’re understanding and making sure you retain any new words. Every week, decide what you want to accomplish, and write it down while you read or watch recordings. You can even choose words from textbooks that explicitly cover the language.
It’s a remarkable way to immerse yourself in the language and passively pick up phrases and expressions, especially those that you might not learn from a book or formal study, to pay attention to Arabic, whether it’s spoken or sung.
Watch Arabic TV shows and films
A remarkable way to improve your listening skills is to watch Arabic TV shows and movies, and best of all, it practically involves no effort! There are a tonne of fantastic Arabic boxsets available on Netflix.
You can check out Nasma Of NY’s Levantine Arabic podcast here.
Nasma Of NY Classes
View the benefits provided by Nasma Of NY Culture Center.
1. Weekly Uploaded Videos
2. Weekly Q&A Zoom Meetings
3. 24×7 Support.
4. Homework & Correction
It has never been simpler to learn Arabic online than it is now.
Want to make a fresh, revolutionary change in your life? Learning a language is advised! The best approach to (re)connect with yourself and the world around you is to learn a new language. Otherwise, you can brush up on an existing one that has become rusty.
The following is a list of 10 benefits of learning a language!
Connect
Our capacity for interpersonal connection is among the most fulfilling features of the human experience. One essential and irreplaceable way to connect with someone is to be able to interact with them in their own tongue. In both their personal and professional life, bilinguals have the exceptional potential to engage and communicate on a deeper level with a wider spectrum of people.
Advance Your Career
Your ability to communicate in another dialect can provide you a competitive advantage over your peers. No matter your industry or skill level, they are among the top eight talents needed for all vocations. Moreover, the need for multilingual workers is growing rapidly. Language proficiency frequently results in hiring incentives and higher compensation as an added incentive.
Feed Your Brain
It is without dispute that learning languages has cognitive advantages. Recent research has shown that multilingual individuals perform better in all cognitive domains, including memory, problem-solving, critical thinking, focus, multitasking, and listening. Not only that, but having multiple vernacular also slows down mental ageing and cognitive loss as we age.
Deepen Your Connection To Other Cultures
Language offers a special window into cultures. According to studies, kids who learn a second tongue have more positive views and are more receptive to the culture that language is linked with. Being able to converse in a language will help us appreciate their culture more.
See The World
While travelers who speak only one tongue can visit the same destinations, multilingual visitors can more easily get beyond the tourist trap. They are able to interact and connect with the environment and its inhabitants in a way that is frequently unavailable to individuals who don’t speak the language. Learning a second language also expands your options for going abroad to study or job.
Go To The Source
We occasionally need translation in a world with more than 6,000 spoken languages. But learning at least one new language gives us the ability to access information that would otherwise be unavailable. People who are multilingual have benefits. For instance, they can use the Internet as truly global citizens. Therefore, they are accessing and consuming media and entertainment without being constrained by language restrictions.
Become A Polyglot
Research shows that learning a second language not only expands one’s vocabulary in the native tongue. But it also makes learning additional languages more simpler. This is due to the fact that learning a new language creates new neural pathways that are prepared for learning a third language.
Boost Your Confidence
Any person learning a language can attest to making blunders along the way, frequently in front of an audience. It’s essential to learning, so do it now! It takes courage to step outside of your comfort zone in order to learn a language. The benefit is the incredible sense of achievement you will have while speaking to someone in their own language.
Strengthen Your Decision-Making
According to studies, decisions are made more rationally in your second tongue than they are in your first. Contrary to common belief, when we think in a second or third language, we really remove ourselves from the sentiments and prejudices that are closely related to our mother tongue. The outcome? judgments made methodically and rationally using only the facts.
Gain Perspective
We inevitably make parallels to what is most familiar as we learn about a new vernacular and culture. Learning about another culture enlightens us to both positive and negative facets of our own that we may not have previously considered. This will probably lead to a greater appreciation for what one already has and/or give someone the motivation to change things up a bit!
Find out more about how you can start using one of our programmes TODAY to learn a language.
Women have shown to be some of the most inspiring leaders and campaigners. They are always there for those who are in need. Despite decades of oppression and marginalization, women have always risen to the occasion and stood for more than just themselves.
Let’s take a look at five outstanding Arab feminists who everyone should be aware of.
Nawal El Saadawi (Egypt, 1931-2021)
Nawal El Saadawi is an Egyptian feminist writer, activist, and physician. Her works have become a cornerstone of Arab feminism over the years. It includes The Hidden Face of Eve (Al-Wajh al-qari lil-mar’a al-‘arabiyyah), A Daughter of Isis, and Memoirs of a Woman Doctor. In Saadawi’s own words, literature was a weapon she used to combat the state’s authoritarian power and that of the family’s father or husband figure.
Fatema Mernissi (Morocco, 1940-2015)
Professor Fatema Mernissi was a Moroccan sociologist and writer. Beyond the Veil (1975), a fictional memoir, Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood (1994), and The Forgotten Queens of Islam are among her works (1990). Her research debunks the prevalent belief that female subjugation is rooted in religious texts. She claimed that this misunderstanding arose from “hundreds of years of misinterpretation by male leaders focused on perpetuating the status quo.” Mernissi was a pioneer of Islamic feminism and an inspiration to Muslim women. This was particularly for those from low-income families, in their fight for human dignity, equality, and social justice.
Sahar Khalifeh (Palestine, 1941-)
Sahar Khalifeh is a Palestinian author who is most known for her captivating novels Wild Thorns (Al- Sabaar), The Inheritance (Al-Mirath), and My First and Only Love (Hubbi al-Awaal). Her stories are primarily around strong female characters. She expertly connects the nation’s struggle with that of women, emphasising how women’s devaluation thwarts nationalist objectives.
Ghada al Samman (Syria, 1942-)
Ghada al Samman is a Syrian novelist and journalist who is well recognised for her beautiful short stories. Her writings are collected in collections such as (Aynak qadiri, “Your eyes are my fate,”), (La bahar fi Beirut, “No sea in Beirut,”), and (Rahil al-marafi al-qadima, “The Departure of the Old Ports,”). Beirut Nightmares (, Kwabis Beirut) and (Laylat al-milyar, “The Eve of Billion”) are two of her works. Samman’s work is a provocative response to current social and political circumstances. In 1977, she founded Ghada al Samman Publications to publish her own writings without the intrusion of editors or censorship.
Assia Djebar (Algeria, 1936-2015)
Algerian writer, translator, and filmmaker Assia Djebar La Soif (“The Thirst”), Les Enfants du Nouveau Monde (“Children of the New World”), and Fantasia: An Algerian Cavalcade (original title: L’Amour, la fantasia) are some of her best-known works. Despite the fact that her compositions were not written in Arabic, her mother tongue, she had a strong interest in the language and utilised French to “reproduce Arabic rhythms.” Her articles examine the problems she faced as a feminist living under patriarchy and as an intellectual living in the aftermath of colonialism.
Nasma Of NY can help you learn Arabic and explore the language. We are a women-led and women-powered group that offers Levantine Arabic language classes.
Chinatown, like many other New York City districts, has a multi-layered history.
Different signage can be found on Chinatown’s streets: They’re a massive, neighborhood-wide translation project carried out in collaboration with the local authorities.
The expansion, decline, and change of one of Manhattan’s major immigrant populations may be traced through the history of these signs.
1840-1969: No signs, informal street names
A few decades prior, the city’s first Chinese residents began to settle in the neighbourhood around Mott and Pell streets. Thousands of Chinese were recruited to work on the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. This resulted in an increase in Chinese immigration to the country. Chinese immigrants were frequently subjected to deplorable conditions, legal discrimination, and unfair work practises.
After the Transcontinental Railroad’s final spike was driven in 1869, Chinese workmen found themselves unemployed and confronting rising racial animosity and violence in the Western states. A growing number of people began to migrate to Eastern cities. Chinatown in Manhattan had been a popular location for Chinese immigrants by 1883.
Around this time, Chinatown began to see the use of informal Chinese street names on shop windows and in personal letters.
1969: Official street signs come to the Chinatown core
The city has erected new signs above the Chinatown police call boxes in June 1966. In the days before cellphones, this was a simple way to contact a local police station. The placards in Chinese described what the boxes were for and how to utilise them.
The city’s new Chinese-language instructions were an attempt to accommodate the growing number of people who did not speak English fluently. This was fueled by a massive influx of immigrants from all over China. The Chinese diaspora following the passage of the Immigration Act of 1965, therefore, completely overhauled Chinese immigration to the US.
1985: In the viewpoint of the Department of Transportation, Chinatown doubles in size.
To reflect the area’s growth, the Benevolent Association petitioned the Transportation Department to expand the bilingual street naming programme.
Once the streets were decided, the next step was to choose Chinese names. This time, the decision was made by a committee of the Benevolent Association, which included business owners, property owners, and longtime residents who spoke Toisanese and Cantonese.
They were naming a new Chinatown, but the names they chose were still based on Toisanese and Cantonese dialects, ignoring the majority of Chinatown’s newcomers.
They also didn’t pay attention to the neighborhood’s frequent vernacular street names. Different waves of Chinese immigration gave streets names that were more culturally relevant than the English names. Mulberry Street, for example, was dubbed Corpse Street by many in Chinatown because it was bordered with funeral houses, flowers, and effigy stores. In today’s Chinatown, many of these names are still utilised.
1985-the Present: The signs today
Chinatown is a strong cultural centre for Chinese and Chinese Americans, as well as a welcome mat for new Chinese immigrants, but the area is dwindling. In Chinatown, there are only 101 bilingual signage left.
Organizations like the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Benevolent Association still have clout in today’s Chinatown; for example, local politicians seeking endorsement in Chinatown frequently visit them. Their time as the key liaisons between the city and the neighbourhood has past, however, as the community has become increasingly diversified.
None of the citizens, community activists, business owners, or academics interviewed for this article were aware that the signs were being phased down.
Interested in learning more about New York’s cultural history? Head over to Nasma Of NY’s Cultural Center and explore their array of activities now!
