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Guest Article
23 posts
Fresh perspectives. We invite fellow learners, teachers, and linguists to share their unique insights and personal methods for mastering Arabic.
Muraija: The New Arabic Collocation Dictionary
Learning Arabic is challenging due to multiple word meanings. Mirko Vogel's new tool, Muraija (مُرَيْجَع), aims to revolutionize this. This article explains how Muraija, an Arabic collocation dictionary, shows how words are truly used, helping learners and translators improve their understanding and production of natural Arabic.
Why Is كَأَنَّ a Sister of إِنَّ but لِأَنَّ Is Not?
This article delves into a fascinating Arabic grammar question: Why do classical grammarians list كَأَنَّ as a sister of إِنَّ, but not بِأَنَّ or لِأَنَّ? We explore the nature of the particle كَ, analyze common use cases, and examine examples from the Qur'an and classical poetry to find answers and invite further discussion.
Learning Hebrew as an Arabic Speaker: A Practical Guide to Grammar, Vocabulary, and the Alphabet
Learning Hebrew is much easier if you already know Arabic. This article reveals the strong connections between these Semitic languages, from shared roots and grammatical structures to alphabet similarities. It also uncovers a fascinating mistranslation in the Old Testament concerning Moses and the "Red Sea."
How to Retain Multiple Languages: Tips from a Polyglot Who Mastered Arabic
Polyglot Reginald Hefner shares strategies for maintaining many languages. He offers practical tips on routines, methods for skill retention, and overcoming challenges to prevent language decay.
The Gray Zone: A New Technique for Teaching Arabic to Beginners
Learning the Arabic alphabet is tough. Dr. Roger Anderson's "Gray Zone" technique helps. It supports simultaneous alphabet and vocabulary learning by signaling unstudied letters. This method aims to reduce learner discomfort and improve foundational Arabic acquisition.
The Ultimate Guide to Learning Arabic with ChatGPT
ChatGPT has made waves in AI, but how well does it handle Arabic? We test its ability to assist with Arabic vocabulary, grammar, writing, and translation, providing an honest assessment for language learners.
Is Arabic a “Foreign Language” in America? Why ACTFL Should Rebrand to ‘World Languages’
This guest article argues the term "foreign language" is problematic in the U.S. due to its historical inaccuracy and marginalizing impact on bilingual individuals, including Arab-Americans. It advocates for ACTFL to adopt "World Languages" to reflect diverse linguistic realities.
Sunnah.com & Shamela.ws: Investigating the Authenticity of Their Digital Sources
sunnah.com and shamela.ws are popular Islamic resources, but their digital sources are often unverified. This guest article by an open-source developer examines their origins and raises critical questions about the authenticity of online Hadith and Islamic texts.
The Ultimate Guide to Gender-Neutral Language in Arabic
This guest article by Lisa Schor examines gender-inclusive language in Arabic, discussing grammatical androcentricity, societal taboos, and how the Quran's language influences the debate. It offers practical strategies for gender-neutral communication.
The Surprising U.S. Military Origins of a Classic Arabic Language Course
This guest article by Reginald Hefner details the unexpected origins of widely used Arabic language courses. It traces how U.S. military language labs, phonograph records, and "survival language" methodologies influenced early Arabic textbooks.
