Bil 3arabi: Kaman marra
This is another entry dealing with the linguistic gala that is hosted on Jordanian tongues. Again, employing transliteration. This is not a game, it is a serious study of the linguistic situation in Jordan. It should be noted that this so-coined “trend” does not only exist in the Arabic language. English words seem to be invading other languages as well, such as Italian. If you want to be cool in Rome, say Magazine instead of Rivista. For more information about the first entry, “Bil 3arabi”, click here.
Lamma katabet el entry “Bil 3arabi”, kont bedi ashof keef momkin el slang language t2asser 3ala el seriousness tab3et el box, o iza 3an jad bet2asser 3aleeha ma3nato fi eshe kaman mosh mazboot bil daily messages tab3onna. Keef el wa7ad be2dar ykon someone 3arabi, bas bi nafs el wa2et ma ye7ki 3arabi? Identity crisis at its best.
El youm, a friend of mine sent me the following article, o needless to say, I am thrilled that this phenomenon is being studied. El article bil inglizi, o hada ra7 ysa3ed el nas elle ma be2daro ye2ro 3arabi inhom yefhamo sho 3am beseer 3inna bil ordon. Ana kteer mehtammeh b hada el mawdou3, o inshallah ra7 aktob entries Bil 3arabi bil mosta2bal kaman.
Akeed fi nas ma beshofo addesh had el mawdou3 elo ta2seer 3al lo’3a el 3arabeyyeh, o 3al haweyyeh el 3arabeyyeh, iza 3am ne7ki ino fi eshe ismo haweyyeh 3arabeyyeh in the first place. O akeed fi nas ma beshofo eshe ‘3alat bi hay el “lo’3a” el jdeedeh, bas hada ma byemna3 ino nefham mazbot sho elli 3emelha men el asas, o heyye lasho mawjodeh. Iza btekhdemna, then so be it, bas iza asarha el salbeyyeh aktar men ejabeyyat-ha, I don’t think it’s a good thing.
FEATURE
- In Jordan, the young and hip speak “Arabizi”
By Ibon Villelabeitia
AMMAN (Reuters) - The waiter with dreadlocks and a Bob Marley T-shirt glides among a group of chic Jordanians sipping cappuccinos and smoking hookahs, or water pipes.
A call to prayer from a distant mosque is drowned out by the sound system playing rock band Coldplay and the lively chatter of young customers: “What’s up? Keefak?”, “Thank you, habibi.”
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,” English in Arabic — it is also a means of expression for many young Jordanians who have been educated abroad and who do not share Jordan’s conservative values…
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December 18th, 2005 at 8:10 pm
Toly very glad you had the minutes to spare for this subject dealt by the ” Bad” article .
The subject very alarming all over the Arab world .we have a generation that lost both forging and national languages ,where is it leading us to. can we invite your reader ship to to comment ?kindly do give the pros and the cons values ,in your Souk Okaz the BOX .
thanks, Furat
December 18th, 2005 at 8:16 pm
please correct my “freign” instead forging . Furat
December 18th, 2005 at 9:12 pm
I do not have the capability to edit comments, Furat. Moderating comments simply means rejecting or publishing them, no editing involved. I apologize on behalf of blogger. I just wish this was Souk Okaz!
Why do you find the subject of this new lingo “alarming”?
December 18th, 2005 at 9:27 pm
Thanks for a great post. Actually it was through blogging that I started to witness the “arabiziation” of Jordanians. In fact, I remember making a comment on Roba’s blog, that her brother’s graduation ceremony was more westernized than ceremonies here!
This arabiziation trend can even be seen in western countries. Many new immigrants embrace English and begin to use it as part of their daily speech, as if they have forgotten Arabic already.
I read a post on “huna dimashq” on the same subject, please have a read..
?? ???? ?? ????? ???? ????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ??????? ???????? ?? ???????? ???????. ?? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ??????? ??????? ???????? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ???????? ?? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ??? ?? ?????? ???????
???? ????? ??? ????????? ????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ???? “???????” ?? ?????? ???????? ???? ??????? ????? “???????”. ???? ?? ???????? ???? ??????? ??? ??????? ??????? ????????? ???? ?????? ????? “?????”. ??? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ???????: “??????? ??” ?? ????? ????? ??? ???????: “?? ??? ??????” (???? ?? ?????). ?? ????? ????? ?? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ?????? “???????” ??? ????? “???????”. ??? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?? ????? ???? ?? ??? ???????? ????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ??????: “????… ?? ???????!”
?? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ???????. ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ????? ?? ?? ????????? ?????? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ?????. ???????? ????? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ????? ????? ?? ???????? ????? ??????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ??????
http://hunadimashq.blogspot.com/2005_04_01_hunadimashq_archive.html
December 18th, 2005 at 9:38 pm
Tololy, I think the point you are trying to make from your “bel 3arabi” entries will be made even clearer if you actually use Arabic font.
I admit thought it’s a challenge to use both arabic and english font in the same paragraph, it seems to never work out.
So here’s a different idea, maybe to get over this font problem, you can do these entries in pod casts! :D
Anyway, this is a good topic that I also think very seriously of, and I might come back with a lot more to say about it.
Thanks.
December 18th, 2005 at 9:47 pm
????? ?? ??? ??? ????????. ????? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? ? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ??? ????? ??? ?????, ??? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ??????, ? ???? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ????? ?????, ???? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ???????, ? ??? ?? ???? ????? ????? ???? ??????? ?? ?????? ???? ???????, ??? ???? ??? ??????, ?? ?? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ? “????? ??? ???????” ??? ??? ????? ?????????
December 18th, 2005 at 10:03 pm
Hello Hamzeh and welcome to my box. Your idea is brilliant but I honestly have not attempted to implement it, I would try to do that in upcoming posts. If it proves impossible, I will stick to transliteration, which is another phenomenon I am highly interested in.
To tell you a little secret, I have been contemplating starting a podcast for over five months now, I just need to commit myself to it.
Do participate in this open forum, I value different opinions. Enjoy your stay :)
December 18th, 2005 at 10:53 pm
?? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ? ???? ???? ?? ??? ???????!
???? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ???????? ?? ?????? ? ???? ??? ????? ????? ?????
???? ????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?????!
???? ???? ??? ??????? ? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ??? ??? ???????? ?????? ??????? ? ????? ? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?? ???? ? ???? ??? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ? ????? ? ?????!
December 19th, 2005 at 9:51 am
Thanks for bringing up the subject…I believe that Arabic is a very special language in many terms, actually i dont mind a lot hearing people mixing English with Arabic (It piss me off some time) but what annoy me the most is seeing youth holding a book in Arabic and cant read it in a proper way…and am not talking about a book like quran or old poetry ..no am talking about a med level arabic language book and people cant read it right..it’s a Shame..THATS Identity crisis at its best!!
December 19th, 2005 at 11:15 am
Israelis are constantly throwing English words and phrases into their Hebrew. Sometimes, it just makes me laugh, because the individuals are clearly trying to sound like they are trendy or more cosmopolitan or something. Other times, I find it a very useful tool, for whenever I can’t come up with the word I need in Hebrew, I just say it in English with an Israeli accent, and nobody realizes that I threw in the English because of a hole in my Hebrew vocabulary.
An American friend living in Norway tells me that when Norwegians want to say that something was absolutely crazy or huge, they say that it was Texas. Makes her laugh every time.
This is what happens when the world gets smaller, I guess. Cultures become blurred, and any country that imports foreign television shows and movies or has high rates of internet usage are bound to have these other cultures seep into their own, whether it be through words and phrases, fashion, etc. The question is, do we see this as a positive thing or a negative thing, and how do we adapt to the changes? Should they be embraced and incorporated, or should they be rejected?
December 19th, 2005 at 11:36 am
See Toloy, when you are blogging in Arabic, you only get Arabic readers, and these aren’t much in comparison to the number of possible international readers, if you blog in English. There’s more accessibility in writing in English.
The term Arabizi, is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard, I heard it in Jordan from people who have absoloutly no connection to Jordanian, even Arab, culture, and who are just trying to sound like activists in foreign countries, but they know nothing of what they are talking about.
HOW many people speak ‘arabizi’, 2% of the population? Its not a phenomena as the Reuters’ article describes it, and I really feel there’s something sketchy about that Reuter’s article, because the writer doesn’t even exist in the lists of Reuters reporters, if reuters wants to write about Jordan, they would ask people like Suleiman Al-Khalidi to take the job.
I am a Jordanian speaking fluent Arabic and English, I dont see the harm in using any, and I have no identity crisis, as your post suggests.
December 19th, 2005 at 2:26 pm
Toly,Why do you I find Arabizi or any new lingo “alarming”?
If we devise a regional easy means of communications technique, we will revert to it and restrict using on hand thousands of Arabic years, that allows us reach millions, plus the use of English or other languages of commerce, trade and since that allows us reach the world .I am not talking this from the Nationalistic side, as much as from the sensible practical side. Any easy lingo may spread and help the weaklings to flourish, but on the long run it forces on us isolation.
I stand to be corrected if I am presented with a more sensible logic that new lingo may prevent Isolation, thus we stop the wide use of present linguistic norms.
December 19th, 2005 at 3:27 pm
This is a beautiful debate, I’m in love!
I do not want to monopolize the scene by responding to each and every comment. I respect all opinions and I think all points are valid, in varying degrees.
My only response goes out to Rami Abdelrahman, you are right in some points you make. The number of people using this new lingo is marginal compared to the overall population of Jordan, true. But what this new lingo does is widen the social gaps we already have, and some suffer from. Whether this is inevitable or not is not my business to judge.
As for the authenticity of the article, I received the link as is, and made no investigations about its origin. The material it presents is valid enough in my views, even if not authentic. Should that upset anyone, I apologize.
Arabic texts attract Arabic readers, positive. Italian texts attract Italian readers and enthusiasts, true, and so is the case with every other language.
English, on the other hand, would attract people from Africa, the Arab world, Japan, and Sweden, to name but a few places in a random fashion. Does this mean the whole world should blog in English and abandon every other language? I’d like to think otherwise.
Do not mistake this for a rejection of the English language, I love that language, but what I am trying to make clear is that -accessibility aside- Arabic is by no means less valuable, and never less beautiful.
Again, if I come too direct in a repulsive manner, I take that hint of an attitude back. You speak Arabic, excellent, what sort? I did not mean to accuse you of having an “identity crisis”, if that term does not find your liking them by all means you do not have to tolerate it. I was clearly talking about my own opinion in people, such as myself, who mingle Arabi and English when they speak. That is, if I enlarge the linguistic issue to fit a bigger frame. Most people who use “Arabizi” think they know exactly who they are, no identity crisis whatsoever, and that is brilliant, it works for me.
December 19th, 2005 at 3:33 pm
You see this stuff a lot in the West. Arabs who come here try so hard to be “more American than the Americans” but often fail miserably and just end up looking like idiots.
Now I mix English and Arabic, but being that I have just been speaking Arabic for a few years now, that is normal. Here in the USA you get kids born in the Middle East who cannot speak more than a few words of Arabic and certainly cannot read or write it.
I see this as being a class issue as well. I think many Arabs in the Middle East do this as a way to sort of show their education, their “western”, hence monied, credentials.
I have seen this theme in many countries and on many blogs. Those who have not had the opportunity, or the wish, to travel and school abroad, against those who have, and those who use this fact to seem superior to others.
December 19th, 2005 at 5:12 pm
My collogues the debaters, with the grace of the Box owner Toly ,to go on, and ask you kindly to do so and pitch in your opinions.
It is not the credibility of the source ,as much as it is a fact that Arabizi is taking place ,hopefully as a fad like all fashions may go as fast as it comes.
What is troubling me, I can’t help but repeat myself! One of the questions in ‘Arabizi’ is why we don’t use living languages WHY? Why do some young people find it easier to express themselves in English?? Some said it’s a more versatile modern hip language compared to Arabic which is too dramatic and poetic… some said it’s part of the cultural and economic invasion of globalization (the over-used cliché, blame it on globalization, or the great conspiracy)! Some condemn the fact that sciences are taught in English at our universities, and professors explain it in Arabic, so this creates the duality in use of language! the core of the problem our Arab specking world suffers enough factors to defeat us from advances to stand and stop a growing fad to go out of proportions ,the answer to a problem is to face it, we need to work on our mother tongue ,and same on all other languages that open doors ,and not enforce isolation by creating walls of cotton .
None of this would change the energy and thoughts we put into Arabic or other languages, again, because I love the idea of crossing borders and overcoming the language barriers!! It’s just that Arabizi disturbed me as means of isolation .Take Chinese language in 10 years to come with the economic invasion, world wide elementary schools started teaching Chinese to give an edge for smart enterprising student ,it is not the Arabizi ,that will stand the future economic challenges or allow us to read sources that are not available except in translation .
Again ,I am to be corrected ,if I find other points or means that may have passed ,as I look for the work of time languages legitimate ones that took mankind stumbling block of years to reach us ,for a reason to communicate effectively with others than our reagions .
I beg ,Tololy’s Box a pardon for taking this space as a podium of debate for such a vital issue .
December 19th, 2005 at 6:42 pm
hey Abu sinan!
i doubt any of the well-off educated jordanians speak english or arabizi to show off about anything…. the only people who try to show off any knowledge of arabic are the really poor people who picked up a few words.. they keep annoying me with their english greetings (i’m jordanian but i look like i’m russian or something).
i think they might be losing their arabic, and they spend their lives watching english tv, english movies, reading in english, internet’s in english.. classes in many highschools are now in english.. and that kind of thing.
maybe i should start a movement to bring back fus7a!
i love fus7a.. im hoping to get real good at it and speak it all the time … would be funny to shout at “arabizi” speakers in classical arabic. and i dont mean modern day newspaper-style classical arabic. i mean words from the the middle ages and before.
but seriously (well, that was partly serious), i’m more worried about the loss of classical arabic than i am about the loss of colloqial. May God always keep the majority of the arabs poor, so that there are always people who actually remember God and always people who speak arabic!
December 20th, 2005 at 2:51 am
I’ve looked up and studied a psychology paper on trilingualisim for my psychology class at university. It used 12 families as samples, and it talks about language mixing for a page.
It mentions the lingual background of the parents as a factor. Parents that were monolingual were more likely to correct or translate for the child when language mixing occured. On the other hand, bilingual parents didn’t mind and sometimes encouraged children to mix languages (inderectly, by mixing languages themselves).
I will understand no english when my son talks to me …
Also, children that attended a local mono-lingual school were less likely to mix languages.
I think I am proud to say that I can speak only Arabic when the crowd needs so. Since my dad is not fond of english, I was allowed to only mix German with Arabic, which I actually did, and sometimes still do… but my friends require a non-German Arabic, I ended up speaking clean Arabic.
I find alot of trouble talking to my father about my studies, or the projects I’m planning to work on, since all our engineering books are in english.. I tend to switch all english when me and friends explain things for each other or talk ideas, but when I have to speak all arabic about “Tell us about the design process”.. I will be in alot of trouble!
On a different note, Arabizi is similar to the problem in India (I think), I watched an indian movie once, and they spoke english a third of the time! I wonder what India thinks and is doing about this phenomenon.
Good day to you, interesting post!
January 30th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
hi