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MSA vs. Levantine | ||
Tags: Choosing a Language | Arabic | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Specific Languages |  | |
| vikramkr Diglot Senior Member United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 6059 days ago 248 posts - 326 votes  Speaks: English*, Portuguese | Message 1 of 7 30 July 2014 at 9:17pm | IP Logged |
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Hello!
I will be studying abroad in Beirut, Lebanon for four months. I have five months to learn Arabic independently before I leave. Should I be focusing on Levantine Arabic or Modern Standard Arabic? Thanks for your feedback. - Vikram 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| Luso Hexaglot Senior Member Portugal Joined 6051 days ago 819 posts - 1812 votes Speaks: Portuguese*, French, EnglishC2, GermanB1, Italian, Spanish Studies: Sanskrit, Arabic (classical) | Message 2 of 7 30 July 2014 at 9:41pm | IP Logged |
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I tend to defend MSA in this forum, but since the whole thing will be over in nine months, you could go for Levantine.
It all depends on: - what you are going to study: is it something non-Arab? or is it related to their culture? - what you intend do do with it while you are there: go to the market occasionally or try to blend in culturally? - what do you intend to do with it after you come back: drop the study or deepen it? - what your level of commitment to study in the next five months is: will you dabble in it or do an immersion course? The former ones point towards Levantine; the latter towards MSA. I don't know a lot about Lebanon, but in Syria Arab classical culture is highly regarded. They use Levantine but accomodate MSA speakers with pleasure. But the two countries might be different in spirit, so I can't say. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| vikramkr Diglot Senior Member United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 6059 days ago 248 posts - 326 votes Speaks: English*, Portuguese | Message 3 of 7 30 July 2014 at 10:31pm | IP Logged |
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Hi Luso.
I am going to study Middle Eastern politics. I want to try to integrate into Lebanese society as much as possible. I want to study Arabic until fluency (eventually, hopefully, in Lebanese and MSA). I read at this site about how he recommends becoming fluent in a dialect first, then learning MSA (assuming the goal isn't reading proficiency/academically oriented), which prompted me to ask this community. Before I head to Lebanon, I will be making my way (independently) through Mastering Arabic I and II by Jane Wightwick and Mahmoud Gaafar. Additionally, I will be taking a beginner's course in spoken Levantine Arabic at my university. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| Luso Hexaglot Senior Member Portugal Joined 6051 days ago 819 posts - 1812 votes Speaks: Portuguese*, French, EnglishC2, GermanB1, Italian, Spanish Studies: Sanskrit, Arabic (classical) | Message 4 of 7 30 July 2014 at 11:26pm | IP Logged |
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I don't agree with what's written on that page of that site. I agree even less with the way in which it's written. But it's only my opinion.
I also notice that you already have your roadmap (books + course). I won't advise against it. Maybe it's the best one for you. At least you'll hit the ground running. Just keep in mind that most Arabic speakers understand MSA and can keep a conversation in it. Sure, there are pockets of illiteracy and isolated places. But there are also unifying factors. You'll see for yourself, hopefully. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| tarvos Super Polyglot Winner TAC 2012 Senior Member China likeapolyglot.wordpr Joined 4697 days ago 5310 posts - 9399 votes Speaks: Dutch*, English, Swedish, French, Russian, German, Italian, Norwegian, Mandarin, Romanian, Afrikaans Studies: Greek, Modern Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Korean, Esperanto, Finnish | Message 5 of 7 30 July 2014 at 11:36pm | IP Logged |
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Take both. You need the dialect for speaking.
1 person has voted this message useful | |
| vikramkr Diglot Senior Member United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 6059 days ago 248 posts - 326 votes Speaks: English*, Portuguese | Message 6 of 7 30 July 2014 at 11:50pm | IP Logged |
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While I am planning on using the Mastering Arabic series, I am more than open to suggestions and
recommendations! 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| Przemek Hexaglot Senior Member Poland multigato.blogspot.c Joined 6465 days ago 107 posts - 174 votes Speaks: Polish*, English, SpanishC2, Italian, Portuguese, French Studies: Turkish, Hindi, Arabic (Written) | Message 7 of 7 05 August 2014 at 10:51am | IP Logged |
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Generally, on the Internet forums there are two contradicting opinions:
-learn MSA first, then dialect, it will be easier - even if people don't use MSA on a daily basis, they will understand you, -learn dialect first, then MSA - no one speaks MSA, so you'll need dialect to communicate on a daily basis. But... my friends from Arab countries have always encouraged me to learn MSA first. They can communicate in MSA, not only in their respective dialects. Second "but"... As stated above, the answer which version to learn depends on what you need the language for. If it's only for oral communication, dialect seems more suitable. If you want to continue with your studies, then MSA is a must. It seems you need the Arabic for both aims. Such being the case, you need to learn both. I would rather ask: are you ready and do you have enough time and motivation to learn them both at once? If not, I would go for MSA. 1 person has voted this message useful |
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