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“I am a highly motivated person, who would always go one step further” | Yassir Abbassi | 9273 Roots #14
He’s the man behind the voice of Al-Jazeera. As Sales Manager for Text-to-Speech leader ReadSpeaker, Yassir Abbassi makes Arabic texts talk. The Moroccan tech expert discusses his love for his native dialect, the power of Raรฏ music, and the drive to always go one step further.
When you click the “listen” button on an Al-Jazeera article, you are hearing the result of cutting-edge technology that brings written Arabic to life.
Yassir Abbassi is one of the people who makes this possible. As a Sales Manager for ReadSpeaker, a global leader in Text-to-Speech (TTS) solutions, the Moroccan tech expert is at the forefront of developing lifelike, synthesized Arabic voices.
His work combines a deep appreciation for his native language with a passion for innovation, driven by a personal motto to always go one step further.
Yassir Abbasi
ูุงุณุฑ ุงูุนุจุงุณู
The man who makes Arabic texts talking.
- Date of birth: April 20, 1980
- Place of birth: Tรฉmara (ุชู ุงุฑุฉ), Morocco
- Place of residence: Casablanca (ุงูุฏุงุฑ ุงูุจูุถุงุก), Morocco
How would you introduce yourself to someone who doesn’t know you?
My name is Yassir Abbassi. Iโm 38 years old and I work as a sales Manager for ReadSpeaker which is a leading Text-to-speech/TTS company. I can describe myself as a highly motivated person, who would always go one step further.
What was your first Arabic grammar book?
My first grammar book was called ูุฑุงุกุฉ.
What is your favorite Arabic book (novel, etc.)?
I really do not have any preference. I’m a newspaper reader.
How much time does a native speaker of English need to master Arabic?
It all depends, but I think 3 years.
What is Readspeaker?
Yassir works at ReadSpeaker, a company that makes websites and robots talk – also in Arabic.
The website of Al-Jazeera, for example, uses this technology for text-to-speech (audio). Read Speaker is a global voice specialist, providing dozens of languages and lifelike voices. Using its own industry-leading technology, the company delivers some of the most natural-sounding synthesized voices on the market.
ReadSpeaker uses next-generation Deep Neural Network (DNN) technology to structurally improve voice quality at all levels.
Here is an example: If you prefer listening to reading, try aljazeera.net. Just click on the loudspeaker symbol. The quality is amazing!
What is your favorite Arabic word?
ุงููู
Which Arabic word do you like least?
ุฌุงููู
Remark: It means not knowing; ignorant.
Yassir lives in Casablanca – home to one of the biggest mosques in the world. The Grande Mosquรฉe Hassan II (ู ุณุฌุฏ ุงูุญุณู ุงูุซุงูู)โ is the largest mosque in Africa and the 5th largest in the world. Its minaret is the world’s tallest minaret at 210 meters (689 ft).
picture credit: Gerald Driรner
Which Arabic dialect do you like best?
Moroccan.
What is your favorite Arabic colloquial word or expression?
ุงูุนู ู – hard working
What is your favorite Arabic quote or proverb?
ู ููู ุฌูุฏูู ููุฌูุฏ
Every serious/ambitious person will reach his goal.
Remark: This is a very famous Arabic proverb (ู ูุซููู). The full version often reads as: ู ููู ุฌูุฏูู ููุฌูุฏู ููู ููู ุฒูุฑูุนู ุญูุตูุฏ. It means: Who toils, will succeed; and who sows, will reap. In other words, if one takes no risks, one will not gain any benefit.
What is the best thing that was ever said about the Arabic language?
That it is the language of the Qur’an.
What is the best piece of advice you were ever given?
Always keep trying.
Which three people would you like to invite for dinner?
My mother, my father, and my wife.
What was the last great meal you had?
Fish.
What is your favorite city?
Marrakesh (ู ุฑุงูุด).
photo credit: Gerald Driรner
Which book would you give to a dear friend?
I don’t have a preference.
What is your all-time favorite movie?
Scarface (1983).
What music do you listen to?
Raรฏ music (ุฑุงู).
What is Raรฏ?
Raรฏ is a type of Algerian popular music that arose in the 1920s in the port city of Oran (ููููุฑุงู) and that self-consciously ran counter to accepted artistic and social norms.
It appealed to young people who sought to modernize the traditional Islamic values and attitudes. Regional, secular, and religious drum patterns, melodies, and instruments were blended with Western electric instrumentation. Raรฏ emerged as a major world-music genre in the late 1980s.
Singers of Raรฏ are called cheb (ุดุงุจ) which means young. Cheb Khaled was the first musician with international success. Many Raรฏ performers mix hip-hop, electronic sounds, etc.
From the legendary 123 soleils concert at Pari by Khaled, Rachid Taha & Faudel. This Khaled original, performed by the trio, is one of the (many) highlights of that show.
Abdel Kader was released as the lead single to support the release of the insanely successful live album/dvd. Both the single and the album reached the top 10 of the French charts. The album went selling over 2 million copies.
When were you happiest?
When my first child was born.
What is your greatest fear?
I have no fear.
What is your life motto?
Getting better every day.
Yassir Abbasi, 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!
Wanna cite this article?
Driรner, G. (2019, July 6). “I am a highly motivated person, who would always go one step further” | Yassir Abbassi | 9273 Roots #14. Arabic for Nerds. https://arabic-for-nerds.com/interviews/9273-roots/interview-yassir-abbasi/
Published: July 6, 2019
Please check the citation before use, especially if your style guide has local requirements.
Publication ISSN: 3055-1730
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