Ateneo - UPO

Introduction to the arabic language

Claudia Maria Tresso, Lingua araba contemporanea, Hoepli, Milano, 2019.
Lecture notes

The course is addressed to absolute beginners as an introduction to the study of Modern Standard Arabic, which is currently the the official language of twenty-two States from Iraq to Morocco and the main vehicular language of the Arabo-Islamic civilization. The course is addressed to absolute beginners as an introduction to the study of Modern Standard Arabic, which is currently the the official language of twenty-two States from Iraq to Morocco and the main vehicular language of the Arabo-Islamic civilization.

Its main objective is to provide basic elements of Arabic grammar ( phonology and morphology), as well as the main transcription rules of the standard language.

No preliminary skill in Arabic is required.
A basic knowledge of grammatical terminology is necessary.

45 hours of lessons. Classroom attendance is strongly recommended to allow students face to face interaction with the teacher and the other students.

Support activities with the teacher, by appointment.

Written test lasting two hours which includes questions on the grammatical topics covered in class, vocalization exercises, transliteration and translation.

The program includes:
a. A general survey on the history of the Arabic language and its varieties (Classical Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, dialects and diglossia).
b. The Arabic script.
c. Basic elements of grammar: phonetics, phonology and nominal morphology, to be learned through simple texts.
The following topics will be dealt with during the course:
1. Arabic script (pronunciation and writing).
2. Transliteration in Roman script.
3. Nominal morphology (gender, number, agreement and construct state).
4. Basics on the nominal case.
5. The article.
6. Pronouns: personal, demonstrative, interrogative and relative.
7. Basics on numerals
8. Morphology of the regular verb: Perfect, Imperfect.
9 . Syntax: the nominal phrase; the nominal clause; basics of the verbal clause.
10. Roots and patterns, use of the dictionary.

The level of Arabic to be reached at the end of the course is A1 of the CEFR.
The course will allow students to learn the Arabic script and the basic grammar of Modern Standard Arabic, as used in written and oral communication, as well as a basic vocabulary for simple conversation and reading comprehension.

The student will learn:
1. Writing arabic and transliteration systems.
2.A basic lexicon for conversation and for understanding short simple texts.
3.Grammatical notions necessary to read, with the help of a dictionary texts in Modern Standard Arabic
4.Diglossia in the Arab World.