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“Every time I cried because of it, I cried for it when it’s gone” | Mahmoud Gomah | 9273 Roots #12
He’s the award-winning Egyptian poet and linguist who isn’t afraid to correct the common grammatical mistakes of native speakers. Mahmoud Gomah discusses his work as an editor, his love for the poetry of Ahmed Shawqi, and why he considers the Egyptian dialect a language in its own right.
For many, the nuances of Arabic grammar can be daunting, but for Mahmoud Gomah, they are a field of expertise.
The award-winning Egyptian poet and linguist has made a name for himself by dissecting the common mistakes made even by native speakers, sharing his knowledge with a wide audience.
This passion for linguistic precision is rooted in a deep love for the language’s literary heights, from the classical poetry of Ahmed Shawqi to his own acclaimed work, making him both a guardian and a creator of beautiful Arabic.
Mahmoud Gomah
ู ูุญูู ููุฏ ุนูุจูุฏ ุงูุฑูุงุฒูู ุฌูู ุนุฉ
The man who tells native Arabic speakers what mistakes they make.
- Date of birth: 19th September 1980
- Place of birth: Al-Mansourah, Egypt
- Place of residence: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Website: nahw.w.sarf
Poet (ุดุงุนูุฑู), linguist (ู ูุฏูููููู ููุบูููููู), editor of the Journal of Iranian Studies at the International Institute of Iranian Studies. Mahoumd won several awards and prizes for his literary work and poems: 2007: Award for Young Poets (ุฌูุงููุฑูุฆูุฒุฉ ุงููู ูุฌููุณู ุงูุฃุนูููู ูููุซูููุงูุฉู ูู ุดุนุฑ ุงูููุถุญูู ููุดุนูุฑูุงุก ุงูุดุจุงุจ) 2008: First prize for Fusha poetry (ุฌูุงุฆูุฑูุฉ ุนูุจูุฏู ุงููู ููุนูู ุงูุตูุงูู ุงูุชููุดูุฌููุนููุฉ ููุดุบุฑู ุงููุถุญูู); in 2007 Mahmoud was awarded with the second prize. 2005: First prize in the competion “Read!” (ุงููุฑูุฃู) for Fusha poetry in Egypt.
Besides being a poet, Mahmoud Gomah is an expert on Arabic grammar. On his Facebook page, Mamoud discusses common language Arabic speakers.
The book is aimed primarily at native speakers of Arabic as the kind of mistakes committed by native speakers are pretty different from the mistakes of non-native speakers.
How would you introduce yourself to someone who doesn’t know you?
I am a poet and linguist.
What was your first Arabic grammar book?
ุงูููุงุนุฏ ุงูุฃุณุงุณูุฉ ูู ุงููุญู ูุงูุตุฑู
Remark: This book was used in Egyptian schools.
What is your favorite Arabic book (novel, etc.)?
The book/diwan ุงูุดูููุงุช by Ahmad Shawqi.
Remark: Ahmed Shawqi (ุฃุญู ุฏ ุดููู) was one of the greatest Arabic poets laureate (1868 – 1932). He was nicknamed The Prince of Poets (ุฃู ูุฑ ุงูุดุนุฑุงุกโ).
He was an Egyptian poet and dramatist who pioneered the modern Egyptian literary movement, most notably introducing the genre of poetic epics to the Arabic literary tradition.
How much time does a native speaker of English need to master Arabic?
3 full years.
What is your favorite Arabic word?
ุณูููู ูู
Which Arabic word do you like least?
ููููุฏ
Remark: The word may denote fetter, shackel, chain; bond, tie; thong.
picture credit: Gerald Driรner
Which Arabic dialect do you like best?
Egyptian LANGUAGE.
What is your favorite Arabic colloquial word or expression?
.ู ุงููุด ูุฑูุฉ ูู ุงูุดุฌุฑุฉ ุฅูุง ููุฒููุง ุงูููุง
Every leaf in the tree has been moved by air.
What is your favorite Arabic quote or proverb?
.ูู ุฃุจูู ู ู ุฒู ูู ุฐู ู ุชู ุตูุฑูููู ุฅูุง ุจููุช ุนููู ุญูู ูุฒูู
Every time I cried because of it, I cried for it when it’s gone.
What is the best thing that was ever said about the Arabic language?
—
picture credit: Mahmoud Gomah
What is the best piece of advice you were ever given?
Do your best to earn money as long as it’s halal.
Which three people would you like to invite for dinner?
My wife, my daughter, and my mother.
What was the last great meal you had?
A year ago.
What is your favorite city?
Istanbul.
Which book would you give to a dear friend?
ูููุงุนูุฏู ุงูููููููุฉู ุงููุฃูุฑูุจูุนูููู
The 40 rules of coffee. It is one of my books.
Remark: Mahmoud’s book is not only for coffee lovers. However, if coffee has not been part of your daily routine, it will be after reading his book.
Mahmoud sets his own rules for dealing with coffee and opens a new window to a daily but also hidden world full.
What is your all-time favorite movie?
Friends.
What music do you listen to?
Classic eastern.
When were you happiest?
In 2013, when I got married.
Mahmoud’s Facebook page. He discusses typical mistakes of native Arabic speakers.
What is your greatest fear?
To die before I prepare my daughter for life.
What is your life motto?
Fuck all!
Mahmoud, thank you for your time!
CALL FOR SUGGESTIONS: Who should we interview soon?
Do you know an interesting person who has a special relationship with the Arabic language? Then tell us why we should interview this person!
People who were also featured in this series:
- “Arabic grammar is a science” | Antoine-Robert (Abu Farรจs) El Dahdah | 9273 Roots #1
- “Arabic is a very organized and systematic language” | Mohammad Wehbe | 9273 Roots #17
- “Arabic is dead โ and yet it keeps living” | Karina Karatamakova | 9273 Roots #40
- “Arabic is the ‘endurance sport’ of the worldโs languages” | Dominic Herbert | 9273 Roots #32
- “Being a lexicographer is a lifelong sentence” | Jan Hoogland | 9273 Roots #31
Wanna cite this article?
Driรner, G. (2019, June 4). “Every time I cried because of it, I cried for it when it’s gone” | Mahmoud Gomah | 9273 Roots #12. Arabic for Nerds. https://arabic-for-nerds.com/interviews/9273-roots/interview-mahmoud-gomah/
Published: June 4, 2019
Please check the citation before use, especially if your style guide has local requirements.
Publication ISSN: 3055-1730
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