The Arabic Language: An Overview
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The Arabic Language: An Overview

The letter ع ‘ayn The Arabic Language                اللغة العربية Arabic belongs to the Semitic family of languages. Currently spoken languages in this family, besides Arabic, include Modern Hebrew, Amharic, Tigre and Tigrinya, Syriac, several Aramaic dialects, and Maltese. Arabic is spoken by about 422 million people (native and non-native), making it one of the 5…

Cultivating the Pleasure of Extensive Reading in Arabic (Part 1 of 2)
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Cultivating the Pleasure of Extensive Reading in Arabic (Part 1 of 2)

In the current climate, audio and video sources are on the rise, but reading remains a key skill for language learners. For those learners who already love to read (in any language), extensive reading can be a powerhouse for their progress toward increased proficiency in Arabic. This 2-part series is based on research in language…

Iznik Blossom in Jerusalem

Iznik Blossom in Jerusalem

Introduction This is one of my favorite pieces of art. Those of us who are partial to the color combination blue and white may already know of Dutch Delftware or English willow pattern dishes. Both are seventeenth and eighteenth century European porcelain designs inspired by Chinese pinyin, literally ‘blue flowers’ wares, dating from the fourteenth…