Modern Iraqi Arabic with MP3 Files is an introductory textbook—suitable for classroom or self-study—for those with no previous knowledge of Arabic or those who know Arabic but want to learn the Iraqi dialect. A detailed discussion of the consonants, vowels, and other characteristics of Iraqi phonetics—including pronunciation exercises on the CD—serves the needs of travelers, businesspeople, diplomats, archaeologists, and scholars who want to learn to speak the language quickly and efficiently.
Using the dialect of middle-class Baghdad, twenty lessons are arranged in a story-like format and are based on everyday travel situations. From arriving at the airport to getting to the hotel, students will learn proper greetings and introductions; how to ask for directions, take a taxi, and tell time; and prepare for daily activities like visiting the bank, museum, post office, and restaurants. The book contains basic dialogue, grammar, vocabulary, drills, and an extensive glossary. A section of idiomatic phrases, accompanied by their cultural, religious, or proverbial explanations, offers insight into current Iraqi culture.
NEW TO THIS EDITION:
• Arabic script has been added so the reader has a choice of following the Arabic writing or the transcription in the Roman alphabet.
• Four entirely new lessons cover medical care, media (radio, television, and journalism), telephone conversations, and cultural and folkloric tales.
• All audio materials from the first edition—plus new audio materials for the new lessons—are included as MP3 files on a CD bound into the book.
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Arrangement of the Book
List of Abbreviations and Symbols
Lesson 1: Arabic Alphabet and Vowels
The Iraqi Alphabet
The Iraqi Vowels
Phonetics of Iraqi Arabic: Pronunciation Exercises
Drills
Lesson 2: Greetings and Courtesy Expressions
Basic Dialogue
Additional Expressions
Some Basic Greetings
Vocabulary
Grammar and Remarks
• Independent Pronouns
• Word Stress: Stress Syllable
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Lesson 3: Asking for Directions
Basic Dialogue
Vocabulary
Grammar and Remarks
• Attached Pronouns (Pronoun Suffixes)
• The Article il-: the
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Lesson 4: Arrival at Baghdad Airport, Part I
Basic Dialogue
Vocabulary
Grammar and Remarks
• The Helping Vowels: i, u
• The Negation
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Lesson 5: Arrival at Baghdad Airport, Part II
Basic Dialogue
Additional Expressions
Vocabulary
Grammar and Remarks
• The Preposition ma9a: have, with
• The Preposition Prefix b- / bi-: in, by, at, with
• The Noun: il-isim
• The Cardinal Numerals 1-10 arqaam
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Lesson 6: Taking a Taxi
Basic Dialogue
Vocabulary
Grammar and Remarks
• The Adjective: is-sifa
• The Relative Adjective
• Noun-Adjective Agreement
• The Word aku: there is/are
• The Cardinal Numerals 11-20
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Lesson 7: At the Rashid Hotel
Basic Dialogue
Vocabulary
Grammar and Remarks
• Nouns of Occupations with Suffixes -chi and -chiyya
• The Word abu: father (of)
• Imperative Verb: fi9il il-amur
• Cardinal Numerals 20-100
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Lesson 8: Introductions
Basic Dialogue
Vocabulary
Grammar and Remarks
• The Verb: il-fi9il
• Past Tense Verb: il-fi9il il-maadi
• The Regular Verb
• The Hollow Verb
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Lesson 9: Speaking Arabic
Basic Dialogue
Additional Expressions
Vocabulary
Grammar and Remarks
• The Past Tense Verb
• The Double Verb
• The Weak Verb
• The Past Tense Verb with Attached Pronoun
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Lesson 10: Telling Time
Basic Dialogue
Additional Expressions
Vocabulary
Grammar and Remarks
• Time Expressions: il-waqit
• Days of the Week: ayyam lis-buu9
• Months of the Year: ashhur il-sana
• The Four Seasons: il-fusuul il-arba9a
• The Preposition wiyya: with
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Lesson 11: Visiting the Iraqi Museum
Basic Dialogue
Additional Expressions
Vocabulary
Grammar and Remarks
• The Present/Imperfect Tense Verb: il-fi9il il-mudaari9
• The Present Tense Verb Paradigm
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Lesson 12: Trip to Babylon
Basic Dialogue
Additional Expressions
Vocabulary
Grammar and Remarks
• The Present Progressive Prefix da- -ing
• The Future Verb Prefixes rah
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Lesson 13: At the Bank
Basic Dialogue
Additional Expressions of Money Matters
Vocabulary
Grammar and Remarks
• The Participle raayih: going, having gone
• The Demonstrative Words: asmaa il-ishaara
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Lesson 14: At the Post Office
Basic Dialogue
Additional Expressions
Vocabulary
Grammar and Remarks
• The Verb chaan / ykuun: was, were/will
• The Words il, 9ind, maal: have, to
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Lesson 15: In the Restaurant
Basic Dialogue
Additional Expressions
Vocabulary
Additional Vocabulary Related to Food
Grammar and Remarks
• The Preposition 9ala / 9a-: on, upon, about
• The Interrogative Words: adawaat lis-tifhaam
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Lesson 16: Family and Relatives
Basic Dialogue
Additional Kin Names
Vocabulary
Grammar and Remarks
• The Participle yyaa-
• The Feminine "t" Ending
• The idaafa Construction
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Lesson 17: Medical Care
Basic Dialogue
Additional Medical Expressions
Vocabulary
Some Additional Body Parts
Grammar and Remarks
• Ordinal Numbers First to Tenth
• Cardinal Numbers Higher than 100
• Counting: hsaab
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Lesson 18: Media: Radio, Television and Journalism
Basic Dialogue
Vocabulary
Additional Vocabulary on Media
Grammar and Remarks
• Comparative and Superlative
• The Colors
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Lesson 19: Telephone Conversations
Basic Dialogue
Vocabulary
Additional Vocabulary and Phrases on Telephone
Grammar and Remarks
• Conditional Sentences (if)
• The Relative Pronoun (i)lli
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Lesson 20: Cultural and Folkloric Tales
The Story of the Caliph Harun ir-Rashid and Abu Nuwas
Vocabulary
The Story of the Lion and the Wolf
Vocabulary
Grammar and Remarks
• Conjunctions
Idioms and Common Phrases
Drills
Creative Dialogues
Glossary
Arabic-English
English-Arabic
Reviews
"In sum, this book makes an excellent introductory text material for classroom and self-study purposes. The book introduces the reader to the basic expressions, lexicon, and grammar of Iraqi Arabic."—eLanguage.net
About the Author
Yasin M. Alkalesi is founder and president of Arabico, Inc., a California corporation that offers language translation, educational audiovisual materials, and crosscultural programs to American businesspeople and companies working in the Middle East. Modern Iraqi Arabic is the summation of his thirty years of experience in teaching Arabic at Yale University, the University of California, Los Angeles, Berlitz Language Centers, and Arabico.
