Don’t let the title fool you; Arabic can’t be made easy. But we can do our best to clear the air if you’re in a perplexed state of mind about the Arabic dialects you should learn. Or if you are searching for Arabic translation services, we can give a helping hand to settle the facts of the case and guide you through the right path.
When students decide to add this Semitic language into their working languages, they find themselves lost in a maze. Similarly, translation clients face a dilemma when seeking Arabic translation services. Their biggest concern is probably: “will everyone understand me in this specific Arabic dialect?”
From a Germanic or Romance language speaker’s perspective, Arabic can come off as extremely difficult. Complex grammar, intimidating alphabet, unique pronunciation system… The reason why students think long and hard about this matter is probably because they don’t want their tremendous efforts of learning an Arabic dialect to go to no avail when the other party does not understand them. This fear is definitely justified. Arabic dialects are not necessarily mutually intelligible. The last thing you want is to dedicate 3 years of your life learning Tunisian dialect, only to not be understood by an Egyptian, Saudi, Yemeni, Kuwaiti (and the list goes on) person.
Because of the large geographical area that the Arabic language occupies, this ancient Semitic language is very heterogeneous. Linguistic polycentrism is a prominent trait of the Arabic language. This does not, however, preclude the unity of the language. Modern Standard Arabic is still the official variety and the lingua franca within the Arab world. It is the only acceptable variety of the language in the written form in general and in translation in particular.
If you have ever heard that the Arabic language is shared by around 22 different countries and 400 million speakers, you were definitely hearing about Modern Standard Arabic.
From my experience, it seems that people don’t realize Arabic varies in dialects, not languages. I have been asked time and time again “which kind of Arabic do you translate into?”, as if there were many different languages under the umbrella term “Arabic language”. This is definitely not true. At the risk of being redundant, I would like to repeat Arabic has a variety of dialects, not languages. If there were different “Arabic languages”, they would have different names.
The truth is, any translation company will only translate into Modern Standard Arabic. This is the only acceptable form of Arabic, since it is the most suited variety for written communication.
Any language that suffers from diglossia will use the high variety of the language for translation. Dialects are subordinated by languages and generally don’t have a set of grammar rules. This makes it highly inconvenient to translate, to say the least.
For translation clients, this should definitely be great news.
If your goal is to spread your wings in the Arab world, translating into Modern Standard Arabic should suffice. If you’re worried you might not be understood, think again. Even though Arabs use their respective Arabic dialects for ordinary conversations, they understand Modern Standard Arabic to a perfect extent. Communication in Modern Standard Arabic is not an issue at all.
Now that you know you can learn and translate into Modern Standard Arabic, here is a breakdown of the major Arabic dialects:
| Dialect | Areas Spoken | Number of Speakers |
| Egyptian | Egypt | 55,000,000 |
| Gulf | Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE | 36,056,000 |
| Hassaniya | Mauritania, southern Morocco, south western Algeria, Western Sahara | 3,000,000 |
| Levantine | Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Syria | 21,000,000 |
| Maghrebi | Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia | 70,000,000 |
| Mesopotamian/Iraqi | Iraq, eastern Syria | 35,000,000 |
| Sudanese | Sudan, Southern Egypt | 40,000,000 |
| Yemeni | Yemen, Somalia, Djibouti, southern Saudi Arabia | 15,000,000 |
If you would like to read more about this topic, please visit: https://www.pangeanic.com/knowledge_center/diglossia-a-side-effect-on-translation/
Here is An Overview of Arabic dialects uses many words.
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Transition
Therefore, as a result, so, consequently. That is to say, in other words, to clarify. But, however, on the other hand. For example, for instance. Above all, most importantly, certainly. Firstly/secondly, further, and, moreover, in addition. Meanwhile, during, subsequently, after that. Likewise, similarly, in the same vein. In conclusion, to sum up, in short.
Therefore, as a result, so, consequently. That is to say, in other words, to clarify. But, however, on the other hand. For example, for instance. Above all, most importantly, certainly. Firstly/secondly, further, and, moreover, in addition. Meanwhile, during, subsequently, after that. Likewise, similarly, in the same vein. In conclusion, to sum up, in short.
Therefore, as a result, so, consequently. That is to say, in other words, to clarify. But, however, on the other hand. For example, for instance. Above all, most importantly, certainly. Firstly/secondly, further, and, moreover, in addition. Meanwhile, during, subsequently, after that. Likewise, similarly, in the same vein. In conclusion, to sum up, in short.
Therefore, as a result, so, consequently. That is to say, in other words, to clarify. But, however, on the other hand. For example, for instance. Above all, most importantly, certainly. Firstly/secondly, further, and, moreover, in addition. Meanwhile, during, subsequently, after that. Likewise, similarly, in the same vein. In conclusion, to sum up, in short.
Therefore, as a result, so, consequently. That is to say, in other words, to clarify. But, however, on the other hand. For example, for instance. Above all, most importantly, certainly. Firstly/secondly, further, and, moreover, in addition. Meanwhile, during, subsequently, after that. Likewise, similarly, in the same vein. In conclusion, to sum up, in short.
Therefore, as a result, so, consequently. That is to say, in other words, to clarify. But, however, on the other hand. For example, for instance. Above all, most importantly, certainly. Firstly/secondly, further, and, moreover, in addition. Meanwhile, during, subsequently, after that. Likewise, similarly, in the same vein. In conclusion, to sum up, in short.
Therefore, as a result, so, consequently. That is to say, in other words, to clarify. But, however, on the other hand. For example, for instance. Above all, most importantly, certainly. Firstly/secondly, further, and, moreover, in addition. Meanwhile, during, subsequently, after that. Likewise, similarly, in the same vein. In conclusion, to sum up, in short.
Therefore, as a result, so, consequently. That is to say, in other words, to clarify. But, however, on the other hand. For example, for instance. Above all, most importantly, certainly. Firstly/secondly, further, and, moreover, in addition. Meanwhile, during, subsequently, after that. Likewise, similarly, in the same vein. In conclusion, to sum up, in short.
Therefore, as a result, so, consequently. That is to say, in other words, to clarify. But, however, on the other hand. For example, for instance. Above all, most importantly, certainly. Firstly/secondly, further, and, moreover, in addition. Meanwhile, during, subsequently, after that. Likewise, similarly, in the same vein. In conclusion, to sum up, in short.
To ensure students are equipped with opportunities to communicate with native Arabic speakers, to reinforce and develop their linguistic abilities, to encourage practicing what they have learnt and to progress in their studies.
Contribute to helping learners understand the culture, values, customs and traditions of society; This makes it easier for them to interact with and integrate with their members, since interacting with the local community gives the learners a cultural awareness that cannot be achieved within the classroom alone.
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