Introduction to Arabic Phonology and Script

In this course students will be introduced to two modes of Arabic:  the “Standard” language based on the Classical Arabic of the Qur’an, and a “colloquial” version spoken by the educated classes of Egypt.

No one can be said to “know” Arabic unless both types, “standard” and “colloquial,” have been mastered.  This semester begins the lengthy process of doing just that.

Each of the three exams will count for 20% of the final grade; attendance and class participation is also 20%; homework assignments cumulatively will account for 20% of the final grade.  If you show steady improvement during a semester, then earlier, lower grades will happily be “forgotten” in averaging out your final mark.   On the other hand, absences of more than three weeks (six class sessions) will automatically result in Failure.

When learning a language, it is (infinitely?) better to work a little each day than to cram on weekends or over large chunks of time.  In other words, an hour each day of review and preparation during the week is to be preferred over spending the entirety of a Saturday or Sunday – or both – trying to catch up.

Also, in learning a language, it is better to use your out-of-class time to work on material that has already been presented in class, rather than to “work ahead”.  Working ahead risks internalizing faulty linguistic data:  This is NOT a “teach yourself” course!

“I’m not here to hand out bad grades” is one of my mottos.  Every effort will be made to keep you all up to speed, that being one of the luxuries of having a small class.

Most importantly:  HAVE FUN!  Even though Arabic is NOT an easy language, it CAN be enjoyable.  I’ll try to make it that way; if you work, there is that much more chance of making it that way for yourself