Arabic Dialects, by Alison Priebe

The Arabic language is spread over a large area in the Middle East and Africa; because of this, the language comprises many different dialects in each country and within each country. E. T. Rogers writes in Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, “The language is so rich in itself, that it can well afford to be broken up and to supply the foundation of several dialects, each correct in itself” (365). These dialects do not simply differ between countries; there are also many sub-dialects within dialects, which differ because of factors such as the region, setting (city, rural, or Bedouin), economic class, and social class.

Although these dialects are spoken, they are not written. The only way to tell between the regional forms of Arabic in writing is the lexicon. Many Arabic words are used specifically in one dialect and not another. E.T. Rogers writes that the word for what in Egyptian is ay, in Northern Syrian is aish, and in Palestinian is shû (369). Since Arabic has so many dialects, it can be difficult for someone learning Arabic and who has not been around the Arabic language to understand the various dialects. Word differences are not the only major difference.

The sounds in Arabic are also said differently in many dialects. One major dialectal difference that E.T. Rogers points out is the pronunciation of ; the Egyptians pronounce it as a hard g, as in gauge, the Syrians pronounce it as a softer g, as in George, some people in the Damascus area pronounce it as a z, and some people in the Lebanon area pronounce it like the French g in the name Gigi. With all the differences in simply one Arabic letter, it is necessary for Arabic speakers to hear speakers from other areas in their youth to be able to understand the various dialects. Rogers states, “Words in common use in Morocco which are unintelligible to the uneducated in Syria” (365). The same is possible for the differing of sounds in Arabic Dialects.

Since there are so many lexical and phonetic differences in Arabic dialects, there must also be a dialect that people everywhere are able to understand. A generalized and standard dialect is sweeping the Arab world so that people educated in this dialect can all understand each other. In The Modern Language Journal, T.B. Irving writes, “This general version of Standard Arabic or Fushà is understood and used by educated Arabs from Morocco to 'Uman, and its use is increasing as the Arabs regain control of their educational, information and broadcasting systems” (313). The Arabic language is vast, old, complex, and teeming with many dialects, each correct on their own and each deserving to be heard by all.