4 ms·

In print, Arabic uses MSA (Modern Standard Arabic) [1]. Much like Latin (now), it's simply a written language. Spoken there are many dialects. There is however

by cletus 16y ago

In print, Arabic uses MSA (Modern Standard Arabic) [1]. Much like Latin (now), it's simply a written language. Spoken there are many dialects. There is however a vast difference between the dialects and MSA. I read one description that said French is to Latin what Colloquial Jordanian Arabic is to MSA. Not knowing Arabic at all I can't speak to the truth of that claim. As one could guess, illiteracy is a bigger problem in Arabic countries because of this. Now as for transcription of Arabic characters to English, it is difficult [2], partly because the concepts don't necessarily translate and also because pronunciations vary between Arabic dialects. Also, the fact that Arabic is spoken in many countries means there is no central authority, much like English. [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Standard_Arabic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Standard_Arabic [2]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanization_of_Arabic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanization_of_Arabic

cabalamat 16y ago
> Much like Latin (now), it's simply a written language. Really? Suppose a Moroccan and an Iraqi are talking. Suppose also that these are educated, literate people who understand MSA. Wouldn't they talk in MSA, or at least something halfway between their local dialects and MSA? (I'm assuming here that Iraqi and Moroccan Arabic are not entirely mutually understandable -- is this correct?)
- gms 16y ago
  They wouldn't speak in MSA. Except in contrived settings, no two people would ever exclusively converse in MSA. In your example, they would meet one another halfway as you said. One would speak slower and substitute MSA words for colloquial ones here and there. Also, MSA is not like Latin in that it's exclusively written. It's spoken in various official scenarios, e.g. news broadcasts and speeches. I'm unsure what the future of it will be. I used to be pessimistic, but now with the shared widespread access to the Internet (blogs, YouTube), the Arab world will need a lingua franca again.
- Mafana0 16y ago
  >I'm assuming here that Iraqi and Moroccan Arabic are not entirely mutually understandable -- is this correct? Moroccan Arabic is very hard to understand for Iraqi people. In fact, if you're an Arab from the Asian part of the Middle east, you may need subtitles to watch a local Moroccan movie. >Suppose a Moroccan and an Iraqi are talking. Suppose also that these are educated, literate people who understand MSA. Wouldn't they talk in MSA, or at least something halfway between their local dialects and MSA? What usually happens between Arabs from close-dialects countries is that they speak their local dialects and use the MSA to express the different, unfamiliar words. But between very far, quite different dialects (e.g. Moroccan and Iraqi), they often speak MSA, entirely. (Native speaker here)

by cletus 16y ago

cabalamat 16y ago

> Much like Latin (now), it's simply a written language. Really? Suppose a Moroccan and an Iraqi are talking. Suppose also that these are educated, literate people who understand MSA. Wouldn't they talk in MSA, or at least something halfway between their local dialects and MSA? (I'm assuming here that Iraqi and Moroccan Arabic are not entirely mutually understandable -- is this correct?)

gms 16y ago
They wouldn't speak in MSA. Except in contrived settings, no two people would ever exclusively converse in MSA. In your example, they would meet one another halfway as you said. One would speak slower and substitute MSA words for colloquial ones here and there. Also, MSA is not like Latin in that it's exclusively written. It's spoken in various official scenarios, e.g. news broadcasts and speeches. I'm unsure what the future of it will be. I used to be pessimistic, but now with the shared widespread access to the Internet (blogs, YouTube), the Arab world will need a lingua franca again.
Mafana0 16y ago
>I'm assuming here that Iraqi and Moroccan Arabic are not entirely mutually understandable -- is this correct? Moroccan Arabic is very hard to understand for Iraqi people. In fact, if you're an Arab from the Asian part of the Middle east, you may need subtitles to watch a local Moroccan movie. >Suppose a Moroccan and an Iraqi are talking. Suppose also that these are educated, literate people who understand MSA. Wouldn't they talk in MSA, or at least something halfway between their local dialects and MSA? What usually happens between Arabs from close-dialects countries is that they speak their local dialects and use the MSA to express the different, unfamiliar words. But between very far, quite different dialects (e.g. Moroccan and Iraqi), they often speak MSA, entirely. (Native speaker here)