Arabic is among the most spoken languages globally, with several countries using it as their national language. Some features of the Arabic language are its rich history and expansive vocabulary. Among other Semitic family languages like Aramaic and Hebrew, Arabic ranks as the most popular due to its many speakers.
The language’s popularity and rich culture are the cause behind more non-native speakers learning Arabic as a secondary language. Learning Arabic makes traveling to Arabic-speaking nations easy and allows you to socialize with natives. You enjoy better insight into Arabic history without relying on translators.
Arabic has multiple dialects, depending on vocabulary differences in their spoken regions. Officially, Arabic has three classifications: Modern Standard, Classical, and Colloquial.
Modern Standard Arabic
Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is the language’s universal version, meaning it is shared by most speakers globally. You can use MSA in different media forms like translations, literature, movies, and news.
As a universal dialect, MSA eliminates the misunderstandings that can come from global differences in vocabulary. Most Arabic scholarly texts have been written in MSA, so learning this dialect makes it easy to understand. MSA is often easier for most Arabic learners since it has a simpler vocabulary and grammar
Classical Arabic
Classical Arabic is often called Quranic Arabic since it was mainly introduced with the revelation of the Quran. Although classical Arabic might sound more traditional, it is simpler compared to medieval Arabic. Quranic Arabic was an enhanced version of the language used at the time (Medieval Arabic). Structural changes in sentences for Classical Arabic made it sound foreign.
Most of the words in Classical Arabic are not applicable today. Learners studying Classical Arabic often do it to understand the Quran better. Classical Arabic includes different written symbols that allow Quran readers to elongate specific phrases. A reader can pause within specific phrases to emphasize particular words during Quranic recitals.
Colloquial Arabic
This refers to the Arabic that natives use in informal speaking. Colloquial Arabic differs according to each region to form many different dialects.
Some qualities of Colloquial Arabic include:
- Speakers can have unique idioms and accents depending on the region they originate from. The differences may cause communication misunderstandings, although speakers are using the same language.
- Pronunciation of words often differs greatly from Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), but Colloquial Arabic has a simpler grammatic structure.
- Not commonly used when writing, except in creative writing when drafting written dialogue.
- Colloquial Arabic can be unique within different places of the same country, for example, rural and urban Arabic.
Other Dialects
Some famous Arabic dialects formed as a result of the region include:
Masry or Egyptian
Egyptian is among the most common informal Arabic dialects primarily within the North African region of Egypt. This dialect has a huge reach among Arabic-speaking nations and is the most understood dialect.
New learners prefer the Egyptian dialect because there are many learning resources available for it. The dialect is unique among Arabic dialects and written using the Arabic alphabet despite having various roots in other languages like Turkish, Greek, and French.
Maghrebi
Maghrebi is a dialect standard among most Western countries like Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. The dialect is mainly Arabic but has Spanish, French, and Berber influences. You might notice that the speakers borrow certain words from these languages. Maghrebi natives rely on the Spanish linguistic styles.
Due to the similarities with foreign languages, other Arabic speakers may have difficulty understanding Maghrebi speakers. It can be easier for Spanish or French natives to learn the dialect.
Levantine
This dialect is common in Lebanon and surrounding countries like Syria, Palestine, and Jordan. Levantine is the closest dialect to Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) as its use is primarily for MSA’s syllables.
Most of the attention Levantine draws is because it has a rich history relating to the shift to Arabic from Aramaic. Arabic media channels and movies often use this dialect, another reason for its popularity. The dialect has a strong relationship with ancient languages, which is why most learners opt for it.
Gulf
Gulf dialect is also known as the Peninsular dialect and is popular throughout the United Arab Emirates (UAE) countries. Different countries using this dialect can cause a disparity in vocabulary and pronunciations. Despite the differences, speakers can understand each other since they share more similarities. Gulf Arabic’s appeal lies in its flexibility and versatility, which invokes power among the different speakers.
Learn the Arabic Language from the Best Experts
Learning Arabic can have multiple benefits, including having a better understanding of the culture and an easier time traveling the world. The popularity of the Arabic language globally can open you up to better opportunities. Arabic can be diverse since it has multiple dialects, including Modern Standard Arabic, Classical and Colloquial classifications. Other dialects result from the region that speakers originate from.
