Arabic

[cjsmith]

I've just started learning Egyptian Arabic from a set of Pimsleur tapes. This is so cool! I'm having a great time!

I like it when Rob's out of the house, so I can respond aloud to the tape without feeling self-conscious about it. This time, Kim walked in while I was in the middle of the lesson. The tape had just asked me something, so she wondered if I was greeting her when I said "Kwayyissa awi, shokran." (Very well, thank you.) :-)

I love trying to guess at elements of grammar and syntax from a small sample of dialogue. I am having fun trying to figure out negation, and so far I'm at a loss for when exactly things are gender-specific and when they're not.

So far, I can say these things:
excuse me
miss, mister, ma'am
yes
no
thank you
a little
I understand
I don't understand
you understand (said-to-female and said-to-male versions)
English, Arabic (the languages)
American (I am, you are)
very well
not very well
how are you? (to-female and to-male versions)
I am well (said-by-female and said-by-male versions)
good morning
light morning (another version of good morning)

I can't write any of it. I think I'm not supposed to start writing until lesson twenty-eight or so. Heh. Too bad; I have another book for that.

Wheee!

Comments

[lkeele.livejournal.com]

You're not the first. My friend Rosie learned arabic from her husband (he took classes while she was busy with other stuff, and she just sort of listened to him do his lessons). She was finally told that she was speaking as if she were male (saying "Ana asif" instead of "ana asfa" for "i'm sorry", for example). Which was thought to be completely hilarious.

Don't worry, you've not wasted time, remember, understanding the language is as important as speaking it, and guys might talk to you when you come here. And, USUALLY, if you mush-mouth things, you really can't tell the difference between "Min fadlak" and "min fadlik". :)