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L A N G U A G E P R O G R A M S

A R A B I C( E A S T E R N ) I

S U P P L E M E N T A LR E A D I N G B O O K L E T

RECORDED BOOKS™ PRESENTS

Reading Lessons

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3A Note on the Arabic Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Lesson One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Lesson Two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Lesson Three . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Lesson Four . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Lesson Five . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Lesson Six . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Lesson Seven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Lesson Eight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Lesson Nine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Lesson Ten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Lesson Eleven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Lesson Twelve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Lesson Thirteen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Lesson Fourteen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Lesson Fifteen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Lesson Sixteen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Lesson Seventeen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Lesson Eighteen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

The Arabic Alphabet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Reading can be defined as “the act of decodinggraphic material in order to determine its message.”To put it another way, reading consists of comingback to speech through its graphic symbols. Everywritten text represents a possible spoken utterance,but only individuals with some mastery of the spoken language will be able to infer how a writtentext might reasonably be said aloud. Therefore,speaking a language is the necessary first step inacquiring the ability to read a language with meaning.

The recorded portion of the reading materials forArabic (Eastern) I will be found at the end of thecourse. You can do the readings as it is most convenient for you. They can be done along withthe units, roughly at a 1 to 2 ratio, or after completing the full thirty units. Instructions on howto proceed with the readings are contained in theaudio portion of the course.

In this course, your tutor and the native speakersof Arabic will teach you to pronounce and understand written Arabic. You will start with thebasic sounds of the alphabet and progress throughwords and phrases. In the beginning of the lessons,you will be reading words and expressions that you

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Introduction

have already learned to say. In lessons where occasional new words are introduced, they aremarked with an asterisk and the English definitionis given, either at the bottom of the page or on thefollowing page. From Lesson Twelve on, all thewords are new vocabulary items.

Introduction (continued)

Arabic (Eastern) I

4

The Arabic Language can be characterized ashaving one standard, formal, written form that isused and understood all over the Arab world. It isrepresented in its spoken form by many regional,generally mutually intelligible dialects. The standard form is used mainly for writing, but is alsoused orally in highly formal situations (e.g., in written media and books, and in the spoken media,in higher education, religious sermons, and in courts of law).

The basic difference between the formal languageand the many different dialects is that the latter areused in everyday oral interaction, and reflect thepopular spoken language of specific geographicalregions. Eastern Arabic, the dialect taught in thiscourse, is spoken in the geographical area ofGreater Syria, which includes Syria, Lebanon,Jordan, and Palestine. Because millions of peoplefrom these areas work in the eastern and southeastern parts of the Arab world (Arabia, theGulf region, and Iraq), the Eastern Arabic dialect iswell understood there also. Additionally, there isconsiderable inter-marriage among these groups.

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Arabic (Eastern) I

A Note on the Arabic Language

6

Eastern Arabic is based generally on the dialectspoken in Damascus. Damascus is the largest cityin the area, with more than four million people. Ithas been a center of power, culture, and educationover many centuries and is a focal travelling point.Individuals learning this dialect will have no troublein understanding neighboring dialects nor in making themselves understood. The experience oftalking with someone with a different Arabic dialectis much like an American speaking English withsomeone from England, Scotland, or Australia.Communication is possible between such partiesbecause basic English language skills have beenacquired by all.

A Note on the Arabic Language (continued)

Arabic (Eastern) I

Arabic is read from right to left. You will have totrain yourself to read differently than you may beused to. In every reading lesson in this booklet wehave printed an arrow at the top of the word list toremind you of this very important skill you arelearning.

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson One

Occurrences of variations of the same letterappear in parentheses and some words will berepeated in subsequent lessons for reinforcement.

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Two

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Three

21. * guide

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Four

16. * mail17. * Beirut19. * fire

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Five

1. yoghurt10. telegraph15. team16. the team18. the Nile 21. Anatolia, Turkey23. warm24. cold25. jug27. Riyadh (capital of Saudi Arabia)

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Five — Translations

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Arabic (Eastern) ILesson Six

10. Syrian12. piasters (Syrian money, 1 piaster = 1 penny)13. tea15. sushi16. French17. Russian18. bus19. soap20. Sidon, Lebanon23. green beans

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Six — Translations

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson 7

7. hotel8. Sham Hotel

12. Sheraton23. bazaar24. dinar (unit of currency in Jordan)

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Seven — Translations

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Eight

2. greeting similar to “hello”4. garlic5. onion7. lira (unit of currency in Syria and Lebanon)9. car

10. state14. lamb15. women16. ladies18. salt20. meat21. cow24. sweets

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Eight — Translations

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Nine

3. telephone4. Syria5. America9. Peugeot (French car)

10. newspaper13. meeting23. baker / bakery

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Nine — Translations

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Ten

4. Aleppo (second largest city in Syria)5. Amman (capital of Jordan)6. Jordan7. Lebanon9. language

11. Rabat (capital of Morocco)14. rain19. cloudy22. Baghdad (capital of Iraq)

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Ten — Translations

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson ElevenRead the following numbers. Like English, numbersread from left to right.

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Twelve

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Twelve — Translations5. Dar’a (border town in southern Syria)6. Latakia (largest Syrian port)7. Tartous (Syrian coastal town)8. Tripoli (city in Lebanon)9. Tyre (city in Lebanon)

10. Aqaba (Jordanian town on the Red Sea)11. Homs (city in central Syria)12. Hama (city in Syria)13. men14. women15. ladies16. for men17. for ladies18. families (section in restaurants)19. air conditioned20. store21. The store is air conditioned.22. please23. please (variation)24. prohibited

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Thirteen

1. photography2. no photography3. no smoking4. allowed5. not allowed6. entrance7. exit8. exit (variation)9. pull

10. push11. open12. closed13. restrooms (lit. toilets)14. restrooms (lit. water closets)15. no parking16. dead end17. bakery18. restaurant19. café20. carpenter21. library / bookstore22. hotel23. bank (Arabic word)24. bank (foreign word)

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Thirteen — Translations

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Fourteen

1. police2. hospital3. pharmacy4. first aid / ambulance5. telephone (Arabic word)6. public telephone7. telephone (foreign word)8. post9. stamps

10. postcards11. postal packages12. long distance calls13. telegrams14. cigarettes15. fruit juice16. sandwiches17. water18. tea19. coffee20. beer21. street22. cashier (place)23. cashier (person)24 manager / director

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Fourteen — Translations

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Fifteen

1. airport2. passengers3. passenger terminal4. arrivals5. departures6. arrival7. departure8. take off9. tickets

10. luggage11. customs12. passports / immigration13. security14. foreigners15. Syrians16. Lebanese (people)17. Jordanians18. from19. to20. from 5 o’clock21. to 7 o’clock22. museum23. mosque24. church

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Fifteen — Translations

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Sixteen

1. square / plaza2. bar3. buffet4. elevator5. elevators6. stairs7. stairs (variation)8. pedestrians9. train

10. station11. train station12. floor / story (of a building)13. information14. kebob (meat on a skewer)15. roasted chunks of meat on a skewer16. hommos (dip made from chick peas)17. dip made from zucchini or squash18. babaganouj (dip made from eggplant)19. green salad20. tabouli (salad made from finely chopped

parsley, bulgar, onions, tomatos, and lemon juice)

21. kibbeh (dough made from bulgar and meat)22. roasted kibbeh23. fried kibbeh24. meat roasted on a large skewer

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Sixteen — Translations

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Seventeen

1. vegetables stuffed with rice and meat2. zucchini stuffed with rice and meat3. stuffed grape leaves4. hot-dog-like meat rolls5. sheep brains6. falafel (fried patties made from chick peas)7. breaded meat on a skewer8. eggs9. fried eggs

10. omelette11. ice cream12. fried shredded wheat (dessert)13. dessert stuffed with pistachios14. baklava15. pastry stuffed with pistachios16. honey cake17. cake18. beer19. wine20. local, strong alcoholic drink21. lemonade22. fruit juice23. coffee24. tea

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Seventeen — Translations

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Eighteen

1. January 15. Monday2. February 16. Tuesday3. March 17. Wednesday4. April 18. Thursday5. May 19. Friday6. June 20. bank7. July 21. entrance8. August 22. exit9. September 23. customs

10. October 24. telephone11. November 25. restrooms12. December 26. women13. Saturday 27. ladies14. Sunday 28. men

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Arabic (Eastern) I

Lesson Eighteen — Translations

There are two categories of Arabic letters. Thefirst category contains six letters only, which arecalled “one-way connectors” because they connectonly to “preceding letters.” They do not connect to“following letters.” These are:

The other 25 letters of the alphabet constitute theletters of the second category. They connect to bothpreceding letters (to the right) and following letters(to the left), hence the term “two-way connectors.”The following table represents the forms that two-way connectors assume in different word positions.The term “initial” means the first letter of the wordstarting from the right, “medial” means all the letters in the middle, and “final” refers to the last letter of the word, on the left.

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Arabic (Eastern) I

The Arabic Alphabet

40

Arabic (Eastern) I

The Arabic Alphabet (continued)Independent Initial Medial Final

Arabic (Eastern) I

The Arabic Alphabet (continued)

Independent Initial Medial Final

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ARABIC (EASTERN) I

VOICES

English-Speaking Instructor . . . . . . . . Lynne FialaFemale Arabic Speaker . . . . . . . . . Ibtissam AlamaMale Arabic Speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mahdi Alosh

COURSE WRITER

Dr. Mahdi Alosh

Cover image ©PhotoDisc, Inc.

© and ‰ Recorded Program 1991, 1999by Simon & Schuster Audio, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

© Reading Booklet 1991, 1999by Simon & Schuster Audio, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

All rights reserved.

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