Browse Tag
Classical Arabic
46 posts
Classical Arabic (العربية الفصحى) is the form of the Arabic language used in literary texts mainly from the 7th to the 9th centuries, including the Holy Qur’an.
Who Was Sibawayhi? Meet the Persian Scholar Who Defined Arabic Grammar
"Al-Kitaab" is more than a textbook; it's Sibawayhi's monumental Arabic grammar. This article explores the life of the brilliant Persian grammarian and his enduring contribution to Arabic linguistic science.
“How a dive trip to Egypt led a 14-year-old to teach himself Arabic” | Georg Binder | 9273 Roots #29
Long before the internet, a dive trip to Egypt inspired 14-year-old Georg Binder to teach himself Arabic in his small Austrian town. He discusses his lifelong passion, his love for Khalil Gibran's The Prophet, and his "have a go" approach to mastering the Egyptian dialect.
“I went from zero to fluent in Levantine Arabic in one year” | Uchechi Kalu | 9273 Roots #28
After struggling with traditional methods in college, Nigerian-American writer Uchechi Kalu tried a new approach. Using mass immersion, she went from zero to fluent in Levantine Arabic in just one year. She explains her method and why you should believe in possibility.
Arabic Nunation (تَنْوِينٌ): Its Origin and Deeper Grammatical Idea
This article delves into the origin and core idea of Arabic nunation (تَنْوِينٌ). It explains why this pronounced-but-unwritten "n" ending is more than just an indefinite marker, analyzing Sibawayhi's "light" and "heavy" word concepts.
“I became just knowledgeable enough about Arabic to be really annoying at parties” | Connor Seidenschwarz | 9273 Roots #25
He started learning Arabic in Montana and became "just knowledgeable enough to be annoying at parties." Connor Seidenschwarz shares his journey through a Master's in Arab Studies, his work promoting Arabic education at QFI, and his love for over-complicated board games.
“If only I were happy with my fate, I would be free” | Yehia Moldan | 9273 Roots #24
Yehia Moldan is a Palestinian writer and graphic designer who takes Arabic calligraphy to a new level. Now based in Sweden, he discusses his favorite historical novel about Ibn Khaldun, the beauty of the word for "reflection", and the classical poetry that inspires his modern art.
How Do You Say ‘To Be Very Red’ in Arabic? The Power of Verb Forms XI-XV
Often overlooked, Arabic verb forms XI to XV are crucial for a deeper understanding of the language. This guest article by Reginald Hefner explains these "rare" verbs, their meanings, and how they intensify expression in contemporary Arabic texts.
The 5 Greatest Western Scholars of Arabic Grammar
This subjective list features the top five Arabic grammarians from Europe. It highlights pioneers like Edward Lane (Lane's Lexicon) and Hans Wehr, discussing their contributions to Arabic language study and the historical interest in Arabic in the West.
“I believe that design can change the world” | Ghada Wali | 9273 Roots #20
She's the first Egyptian woman on the Forbes Europe Arts list and a TED speaker who believes design can change the world. Ghada Wali discusses her award-winning Arabic typography, her famous project using LEGO to teach the alphabet, and her love for Naguib Mahfouz.
“In Arabic, everything means itself, its opposite, and a camel” | Zora O’Neill | 9273 Roots #18
She wrote the book on rediscovering a passion for Arabic. Author Zora O'Neill discusses her travels in Egypt, Lebanon, and Morocco for "All Strangers Are Kin," why she loves ancient neologisms, and the proverb she translates as "Bros before roads."
