Module 1. presentation 1.

Module: Arabic 1: 2010-2011presentation 1

AS-SALAMU ALAIKUM! AHLAN WA SAHLAN!

Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim

Requires initiative, desire to learn Arabic

Have learned the Arabic alphabet beforehand

Have questions, concerns, suggestions – e-mail [email protected]

VOWELS ADDED TO THE ENDING OF WORDS REFLECT THE GRAMMAR

These are called case endings (there is a, i, and u case endings)

Case endings: they change the endings of words depending on that word’s position in the sentence

U CASE ENDING

The U case is the one used when a noun or adjective is quoted in isolation

Nouns and adjectives are also marked to distinguish between definite and indefinite status (the=definite article; a=indefinite article) In the U case, to mark definite status, we add ‘Al’to the

beginning of the word AND a single vowel marker at the end of the word (in the U case) we would add the damma

In the U case, to mark indefinite status, we add ‘un’ to the end of the word which is written as or

EXAMPLES

Waziir = a minister Jadiid= new Waziirun jadid= a new minister

An adjective follows the noun it qualifies Both the noun and the adjective are marked for

indefiniteness, and both are in the U case in this sentence An adjective agrees with the noun it qualifies with regard to

definite/indefinite status An adjective agrees with the noun it qualifies with regard to

case

THE RULES

We don’t pronounce the ‘u’ or ‘un’ when we say a word in isolation or when it comes at the end of a sentence – you’ll catch on when we practise insha’Allah Ta’ala.

INDEFINITE NOUN + INDEFINITE ADJECTIVE (S) = INDEFINITE NOUN PHRASE

Not a sentence

Baabun kabiir(un) = a big door

DEFINITE NOUN + DEFINITE ADJECTIVE(S) = DEFINITE NOUN PHRASE

Albaabu-lkabiir = the big door

Alwazeer-uljadeed=the new minister

ASSIMILIATION

One sound is adjusted to become similar to or identical with a neighbouring one

The closest English example: all right becomes ar right The definite article is fully assimilated but still written

with ‘lam’ when prefixed to words beginning with: Eg. Ar-Rahman

The assimilation can be indicated by placing the shadda over the letters at the same time writing the article

not

BASIC VOCABULARY

Professor (honorific)

Door, gate House, home New President, chief, boss

VOCAB CONTINUED…

Ambassador

Large/great

Minister

German

American

I You (m)

English

Beautiful

Intelligent

Man Russian Famous

French

Book

Generous

King

he

Boy

Jordanian

Prince/… Iranian

Turkish

Council meeting

That

Mosque Secretary

In(to)/at Office/desk

Chair Dog

Lebanese

Dwelling This Here There There Indian