Moreover, why is that no one can transliterate Arabic properly? Why must numbers be used?

Sinan, the reason why they aren’t responding to you in Arabic is b/c they want to practice their English with you. Not b/c your Arabic isn’t up to par.

-Talib

Sure love that Arabic

I know I am not a native speaker, my my Arabic isnt that bad, and I know they understand me because they respond to my Arabic in English.

Rami,
” Is language sufficient to preserve an identity?”. Among other things, I believe it is. Language, in my humble opinion, is closely attached to identity, yet it is not the sole representative of it.

“Is attire sufficient to deduce the whole spectrum of characteristics of person one is dealing with?”. Of course not. It is a sad state of affairs that the majority of people cannot go beyond the two layers of textile one has on, and think themselves fit to issue verdicts. I prefer the no labels policy myself.

Basem,
I agree with you that is is tragic that some think in English, and I am perhaps one of said people, and this pains me greatly.

Anonymous person,
To remark on your sharp view: “The question I would like to pose to linguists is “How does one define language, and a particular language, as ‘pure’ or ‘impure’?” Language which is a beautiful gift and medium of human expression, unique to humans; which shapes culture and worldviews and is in turn shaped by culture.”, I find myself obliged to offer additional explanations.

The liberty I took to use the word “pure”, is matched with a contrast in the same phrase: “That broken form of pure Arabic”. What I meant by pure Arabic is proper language with strict adherence to grammar, also called “Standard Arabic”, or ??????? ??????

You would have doubtlessly noticed this should you have had a conversation, in Arabic -mind you, with a fresh learner of the language. Such a novice would “miss a proper tense here or there,” or “use the wrong pronoun”, to quote my entry. A normal occurance through the course of learning any new tongue.

You presented some very interesting opinions in your last passage, I must say I enjoyed your comment tremendously. Thank you.

Omar,
I have vistied Syria a couple of times, and I say that I have not touched the same influence of English on Arabic in the daily speech of the people I met. but then again, I did not meet many people, and the people I met were mostly merchants or employees at restaurants. I would not know about other layers of society.

And speaking of this situation, perhaps in other countries of the Arab world other languages intrude, or to use a more gentle term, mingle with Arabic. It is not strictly English in all cases, but English/Arabic are the languages I am concerned of since they are dominant in my community.

Tunisiano,
Yes, so it seems to many, many people.

Anonymous Coward,
Ah. Possibly the feeling of inflating the concept struck you due to the fancy words I sometimes use, all too poetic for your taste perhaps, also for mine at times. I am glad you could join this discussion, and I value your opinion.

“sometimes you cant see the wood for the trees”

i guess i potentially agree with what you say.. only i think you mightve amplified it more than i would in a place or too.. maybe more

peace