This text is Half 2 of my Demystifying Arabic Grammar Sequence. Learn Half 1 TIMES earlier than beginning.
When you would have informed me that the important thing to studying Arabic on a decent schedule was to first perceive Arabic grammar, I would not have believed you.
As a result of in the event you’re a long-time Marhabtain reader, that I didn’t study Arabic fluently by studying grammar.
I watched TV reveals, listened to the radio, jammed out to music, and made Anki playing cards alongside the best way.
I deliberately rejected studying any little bit of Arabic grammar, as a result of it jogged my memory of my days in Arabic class feeling confused, not studying to talk, and total making no progress.
So additionally, in the event you would have informed me that in any case of this, that The can be the one preaching about studying grammar, I actually wouldn’t have believed you.
However issues change. Particularly, my schedule.
Because the first wave of the pandemic got here to shut round Summer season 2021, the world beginning opening up once more, and laying all of its calls for on my shoulders (and doubtless yours too!). Then I give up my job, moved to a brand new state, and began a brand new and rather more demanding career.
I dream of the times after I may simply spend 5 hours watching Arabic television reveals and studying articles, to not point out the infinite hours of passive immersion all through the day. Now, if I get 2 hours of energetic uninterrupted immersion per day, I really feel like I need to throw myself a celebration.
Final summer season, as my free time dissolved, I felt my Arabic abilities dissolving proper together with it. All of the hundreds of hours, the training, the power, slipping beneath my fingers.
At first, it was good to have a break from the each day studying schedule. However after just a few months of minimal effort, I may see how my abilities had been stalling, and finally going backward.
I had to select: Make excuses for why I simply couldn’t study Arabic anymore or discover a answer.
As we speak’s article is all about that answer.
That is what you will study at the moment:
- The logic of Arabic, and why grammar is the important thing to this course of
- How studying Arabic effectively can velocity your language acquisition 10x
Life pressured me to determine easy methods to study Arabic on a decent schedule. And truthfully, I am higher off for it, and you’ll be too.
Act 1: The One Idea You Have to Perceive (Notice: When you do something, reread this part till it hits.)
Bear in mind this tree I confirmed you in Part 1 of this sequence? (In case you have not seen this earlier than, return to Half 1 TIMES and skim the article.)
Bear in mind how I informed you that simply by understanding one root, you possibly can study 40+ different phrases instantly? And that the branches of this tree represented all of these phrases?
And bear in mind on the end of Part 1I informed you that in Half 2 of this sequence, I’d clarify to you how one root may immediately grow to be 40+ phrases?
Now, let me present you precisely how the 40+ phrases are fashioned.
Take a look at this chart under. Learn it from proper to left. You don’t want to know or perceive something that it’s saying. Simply observe. What do you discover?
(When you’ve ever taken a proper Arabic class, you have in all probability seen this chart earlier than. And it in all probability intimated the hell out of you and scared you off of studying grammar. Or was that simply me?)
Do you see how every of the phrases in each column has the letters act written in them, and in that order?
Now, change verb with data. What do you see?
Here is the key: This chart is the tree I simply confirmed you, however in desk kind.
Here is one other secret: You would change act on the chart with science and you’ll be creating nearly all of the phrases you see within the branches of the tree.
Here is the final secret: You would change verb with any 3-letter root and you’ll be creating nearly all phrases related to that root.
So this is the takeaway: So long as you perceive this chart, and so long as you might have a 3-letter root in entrance of you, you might have entry to a vast quantity of phrases.
Here is one other view of what I imply.
Act 2: 5 Examples of How this Idea Works in Motion
So now, let me present you 5 examples (to be temporary) of how this chart represents the totally different branches of the tree. Bear in mind to exchange verb with data.
Instance 1.
Instance 2.
Instance 3.
Instance 4.
Instance 5.
Act 3: The Final One Factor You Have to Know Is This…
When you stroll away understanding something, right here it’s: This chart represents Arabic. This chart is Arabic.
And much more importantly, this chart demonstrates the logic of Arabic.
This chart demonstrates precisely how nearly each phrase you have ever heard spoken or learn in Arabic is written and pronounced.
Now, if what I wrote, didn’t cease you in your tracks, I must scroll again as much as Part 2 and take a look at them once more earlier than closing out this tab in your pc.
What I am making an attempt to elucidate right here may not likely be hitting you but, as a result of English will not be designed on this method.
There is no such thing as a chart in English that you possibly can give a non-native speaker and say, “Right here, this chart will present you ways each phrase in English is written or pronounced. It should take a while to know this chart since you should not have it in your language, however when you do, you’ll perceive how our entire language works. It is simply… that… easy. ”
English will not be constructed upon this logic.
That is why when my Arabic instructor confirmed me this chart years in the past, I didn’t perceive its significance. I didn’t perceive that she had simply proven me the important thing to answering all of my questions: How do you say this? How do you spell this? What does this imply?
Previously, I regarded this chart as simply one more reason why Arabic was so exhausting and inconceivable to study. I didn’t understand that this chart, and whoever designed it, was making an attempt to indicate that Arabic was straightforward, scarily straightforward.
I wish to tackle just a few complaints you might need about studying this chart:
Criticism 1. Uchechi, however that chart is in Fusha! I assumed Marhabtain focuses on Ammiya. Ammiya and fusha are two totally different languages!
Actually, I hope we are able to all be a part of fingers in killing this debate as soon as and for all. Spoken Arabic is derived from Fusha. They’re totally different, and but one in the identical.
I consider the them as fraternal twins – they arrive from the identical supply, however they don’t share the very same DNA.
I do know this can be a exhausting capsule for Arabic learners to swallow (I rejected the thought for YEARS myself, belief me), as a result of it provides one other layer of problem to the language. However the reality is the reality.
And if we take a look at Arabic with open eyes and open understanding, we’d find yourself changing into grateful for Fusha. * gasp *
And see that solely Fusha, with its deeply engrained grammatical patterns, may have helped Arabic develop right into a language that’s so extremely logical and environment friendly.
Criticism 2. However, Uchechi, this chart doesn’t bear in mind for the best way phrases like – [insert random irregular verb] or [loaner word] or [slang term] – are constructed! What about these?
No, this chart doesn’t account for each potential phrase you will come throughout in Arabic.
However as a substitute of being discouraged, give it some thought one other method.
What if I informed you that 90% of Spoken Arabic was based mostly on the construction proven on this chart. And even 80%? Or simply 70%?
That is nonetheless the vast majority of the language.
Sure, in the event you go to Beirut proper now, relying on who you are speaking to, you possibly can hear them communicate Arabic, English, and French in the identical sentence. But when the Arabic they communicate (which is the language you are making an attempt to study) is at the very least 80% based mostly off the construction of this chart, why hassle your self with the irregularities of the remaining 20%?
Criticism 3. However, Uchechi, do I actually need to do that to grow to be fluent? This looks like quite a bit to tackle, on high of every little thing else I am doing.
No, you do not want to study this in any respect.
I used to be capable of attain conversational fluency in Arabic with out understanding grammar in any respect. Via immersion, I started to intuit the logic that this chart places forth so clearly. And I do credit score these hundreds of hours I spent inefficiently studying, as the explanation for why the grammar appears attention-grabbing and extra pure to me.
However now that I do know what I do know, I understand that I may have realized 10x as many phrases 10x as quick, and that this methodology of studying is strictly what I would like with my tight schedule.
Closing Act: So What Do You Do Subsequent?
Within the subsequent grammar articles I write, I might be breaking down this chart, column by column from a Levantine Arabic perspective, and present you easy methods to study Ammiya is an easy, logical, and intuitive method. By the tip of this sequence, you’ll perceive easy methods to kind all of the branches of the Levantine Arabic tree, and grow to be extra assured in your vocabulary acquisition talents.
In closing, it is okay if you don’t get the entire image but or perceive why it will change your entire method to studying Arabic.
However I’ve the sense that one thing is clicking for you proper now.
You are asking your self: Are you telling me that Arabic is that this… easy? Are you telling me…?
Sure, that is precisely what I am saying.
That is why understanding this chart has been such a breakthrough for me.
And that is why over the course of the following few months, I will clarify this chart column by column from a Levantine Arabic perspective, and present you easy methods to study Ammiya is an easy, logical, and intuitive method.
Briefly, you deserve a bit extra free time in your life. I do know I do…
