Revive Arabic in our homes - Do you Speak 'Arabizi?

[islamirama]

Do you Speak ‘Arabizi?

Many westerners have been speaking ‘Arabizi for years - long before it became popular amongst the ‘Arab youth. We tend to do so because we are not fluent in the ‘Arabic language - not because we desire status.

In a country like America, a non-’Arab with the ability to speak the language (fluently) is somewhat raised in the eyes of the people. This person is often asked to teach, translate scholarly works, etc. After reading a few articles online, I see that it’s the other way around in ‘Arab countries. Here are some excerpts I found on-line…

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Catchword: ‘Arabizi

Quotation: The banter is a form of speech that mixes ‘Arabic with English. It is widely used among Jordan’s Western-educated elites, drawing ire from language purists and exposing a widening social and economic gap in the small kingdom. Dubbed by some “Arabizi”— a slang term for Arabic and “Inglizi,” or English in Arabic — it is also a means of expression for many young Jordanians who have been educated abroad and do not share Jordan’s conservative values.

~ Source: “In Jordan, the young and hip speak “Arabizi.”
~ Author: Ibon Villelabeitia, Amman, Jordan

Eamonn Fitzgerald shares an example of ‘Arabizi: An ‘Arab youth says, “Give me an allo alligator. OK, habibi?”

What does he mean? No idea? Actually, he’s saying, “Give me a call later. Will you, darling?”

Middle-Eastern linguists see a connection between the growing use of ‘Arabizi and the global Anglo-American pop culture that is flooding the Arab world. “Some young people look down on the Arabic language. They think it is old and that English represents life and desires,” Haitham Sarhan, a linguist and professor at Jordan University, told Gulf News. “If this trend continues Arabic could be in danger.”

Moosa Shteiwi, a sociology professor at the University of Jordan and director of Jordan’s Centre for Social Research, added that the use of ‘Arabizi has become a status symbol among middle- and upper-class Jordanians. “It’s an expression of class position.” For many, this is one more sign of the intellectual crisis in Arab countries, which was outlined in a controversial United Nations Arab Human Development report.

Eamonn Fitzgerald asks, “So, does this mean that language can divide people, instead of uniting them, or does it mean that the Arab world is opening up to new ideas?”

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‘Arabizi is also spoken in Saudi ‘Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and Lebanon.

http://desertdiaries.wordpress.com/2008/12/26/do-you-speak-arabizi/

[islamirama]

Revive Arabic in our homes

Sheikh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah

BECOMING accustomed talking to one another in a language other than Arabic – so much so that it becomes a habit in the land, with one’s family, with one’s friends, in the marketplace, when addressing government representatives or authority figures or when speaking to the people of knowledge – is undoubtedly Makrooh (disliked). Arabic is a symbol of Islam and the language of the Qur’an.
When early Muslims went to live in Syria and Egypt, where people spoke Byzantine Greek, and in Iraq and Khurasaan, where people spoke Persian, and North Africa (Al-Maghrib) where people spoke Berber, they taught the people of those countries to speak Arabic. Arabic then became the prevalent language in those lands. All people, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, spoke Arabic.
This was also the case in Khurasaan in the past. Later, they became lax with regard to language and got used to speaking Persian until it became prevalent and Arabic was forgotten by most of them. This is without doubt disliked.
It is best to be accustomed in speaking Arabic. Young people will learn it in their homes and schools, and the symbol of Islam and its people will prevail.
This will make it easier to understand the Qur’an and Sunnah, and the words of the Salaf (pious predecessors - Sahabah, Tabi’een etc).
Language has a clear and strong effect on one’s thinking, behavior and religious commitment. It also helps one to resemble with the early generations of this Ummah, the Companions and the Tabi’een. Being like them improves one’s thinking, religious commitment and behavior.
Moreover, the Arabic language itself is part of Islam, and knowing Arabic is an obligatory duty. If it is a duty to understand the Qur’an and Sunnah – and they cannot be understood without knowing Arabic – then the means needed to fulfill the duty also becomes obligatory.
Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to Abu Moosa Al-Ash’aree (May Allah be pleased with him), “Learn the Sunnah and learn Arabic. Learn the Qur’an in Arabic for it is Arabic.”
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) also said, “Learn Arabic for it is part of your religion, and learn how the estate of the deceased should be divided (Faraa‘id) for these are part of your religion.”
This command of Umar, to learn Arabic and the Shariah combines the things that are needed, as religion involves understanding words and actions. Understanding Arabic is the way to understand the words of Islam, and understanding the Sunnah is the way to understand the actions of Islam…”

– Iqtidaa‘us-Siraatil-Mustaqeem (2/207). Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728H) is one of the great and exceptional scholars known in Islamic history.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=20081010188 21

[Muzzy]

Me and all my bros can't but my lil sister can, mashallah.

[Danah]

“Some young people look down on the Arabic language. They think it is old and that English represents life and desires,”

agree, its an affect of the new american culture that invade the middle east

“If this trend continues Arabic could be in danger.”

mostly by the university students, because they learn arabic very well in schools but when they enter universities and collage they study everything in English, they start losing their ability in writing those amazing paragraphs that they used to in their school days. they even lose their ability in returning their nice arabic hand writing.
but most of them gain the language after the graduation, because they get jobs in governmental institutions where Arabic is the official language their

many youngsters here cant resist, like if they are talking to their friends they feel that the English word come faster than the arabic one, its something that they dont have control over

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[بنــuaeــت]

This poem on the Arabic language

Atorgomha not translated into English because Hlaot destroy the meaning of


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لغتي ام البيان وبها دوما اباهي

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كم وكم مرت عصور وهي في الفواه نور

ان بدات منها سطور في الورى فاح العبير



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