History of Dialects

Dive into the Arabic language

So, have you ever wondered why people from different parts of the world speak differently? Like, why do some people say ‘fries’ while others say ‘chips’? Well, that’s where languages come in. Dialects are major to human communication, reflecting the rich diversity of languages and cultures around the world. Dialect is a variety of language that signals where a person comes from. The word dialect comes from the Ancient Greek dialektos “discourse, language, dialect,” which is derived from dialegesthai “to discourse, talk.” That shows how the language has developed and changed over time.

Throughout history, languages have demonstrated themselves as linguistic changes influenced by factors such as migration, trade, immigration, and cultural contacts, these changes are often reflected in differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and phonology.

Dialects are the Guardians of Cultural Heritage

Dialects act as guardians of cultural heritage, preserving the unique identity, traditions, and history of communities. They provide windows into the past, carry stories and music, and illuminate historical evolution. Dialects are used to preserve the cultural distinctiveness of local communities in the face of globalization. Recognizing and honoring dialects helps preserve cultural diversity and ensures that the stories, opinions, and perspectives of various communities are valued and respected.

Dive in Arabic Dialect
Arabic is a fascinating Semitic language from the Arabian Peninsula. What makes it even more impressive is that it is written from right to left, showing off a beautiful elegant, and engaging script with lots of words and the unique way that Arabic has a way of capturing the hearts and minds of the people around. It has many varieties spoken in different countries, and over time, even more languages have emerged. From Maghrebi to Sudanese, Egyptian Mesopotamian, Levantine to Peninsular Arabic, each group has its own unique pronunciation, use of slang, culturally relevant vocabulary, and grammatical structure. If you want to find a language with a history and multicultural environment, Arabic is the perfect option. From its stunning writing to its diverse language, this language never ceases to amaze.

Modern Standard Arabic

Modern Standard Arabic is the official currently evolved version of Classical Arabic, the language of the Qur’an, and the Arabic literature of the early Islamic era. It is used as a common language in the Arab world, allowing speakers of different languages to communicate with each other. Modern Standard Arabic is widely used in newspapers, magazines, academic articles, and government administration in Arabic-speaking countries. It is also one of the official languages of the United Nations. Although classical Arabic is the most common language, no one actually speaks it. Although some writers still use classical Arabic to write literature. Standard Arabic is still important for religious purposes and is taught in religious public schools and language courses. Modern Standard Arabic is used to translate foreign languages into Arabic to provide a standardized format that all Arabic speakers can understand. This is relevant in official documents, such as contracts or agreements between Arab countries or between Arab countries and other countries.

Egyptian Arabic  

Egyptian Arabic, also known as Masri (مصرى ) or slang Egyptian (عامية), is the most widely spoken Arabic language in Egypt and is used by the majority of the population. Masri is comprehensible by more than 300 million Arabic speakers around the world due to the huge influence and historical presence of the Egyptian media industry; be it music, movies, or drama. There are also historical influences on the dialects by languages such as French, Italian, Turkish, and Greek. Below are some examples:

 English, Modern Standard Arabic, Egyptian Arabic:

What = ايه = ماذا (eeeh)

Neck= زور = رقبة (zor)

like= زى = مثل (zay)

still= لسه = ما زال (lesa)

wait= استنى = انتظر (estana)

fine= كويس = بخير (kowayes)

Levantine Arabic

Levantine Arabic, also known as Shami, is an Arabic language spoken by about 30 million people in the Levant region. The region includes Jordan, Palestine, Syria and Lebanon. Scholars use the term “Levantine Arabic” to describe all the dialects spoken in the Levant that can be understood by everyone. The Lebanese dialect is too close to Syrian because Levantine Arabic shares most phonological, structural, and lexical features with other forms of Arabic. Below are some examples:

English , Lebanese Arabic :

Shrimps = قريدس (Kredas)
Artichoke = أرضي شوكة (ardy shoka)
Tomato = بندورة (pandora)
Bread = خبز (khobz)
Orange = ليمون (laymoon)
Lemon = حامض (Hamed)
Curtain = برداية (berdaya)
Guardian = ناطور (Natoor)

Gulf Arabic

Gulf Arabic is a unique Arabic dialect spoken in Eastern Arabia, especially in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates etc. There are two main dialects of Gulf Arabic: Badawi (Bedouin) and Hadari (sedentary). Badawi is spoken by Bedouin tribes, who have traditionally lived a nomadic life, Hadari is spoken by people living in urban areas. Languages including Farsi (Persian), Urdu, Indian, and English all had a linguistic influence over the years on the Gulf dialects. Below are some examples:

English , Gulf Arabic :

Good = زين (zein)
Where = وين (wein)
Car = سيارة (sayyaara)
Cheese = جبن (jibin)
Ice cream = موطة (muuTa) or دوندرما (doonderma)
Thing = شى (shee)
What = ايش  (eesh)

Maghrebi Arabic

Maghrebi dialect is a continuation of the Arabic spoken in the Maghreb region, including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Western Sahara, and Mauritania. it has over 70 million speakers worldwide, and it is the hardest dialect among the Arabic dialects to be understood because it is characterized by a unique mixture of dialects that is extremely different from other Arabic varieties. Although Maghrebi is mainly derived from Arabic, but it is influenced by French, Turkish, Italian, Punic, English, and Berber or it is called Amazighi (امازيغى ) which is spoken by millions of people in Morocco and Algeria, as well as in small towns in Libya, Tunisia, Mauritania and Egypt in siwa oasis. The Maghrebi Arabic vocabulary continues to include new French or English words. Below are some examples:

English , Maghrebi Arabic :

A lot= بزااف (bezaaf)
Now = دابا (Daba)
Or= اولا (Awla)
Want = بغيت (Bghit)
Beautiful = زوين (Zwin)
Good = مزيان (mezyan)
Bad = خايب (Khayb)
Agreed = صافى (safy)

Fascinating, isn’t it? The Arab world is wide and rich, with a long history that has given the chance for many linguistic forms to rise. So if you are seeking to expand in the global market, it is essential to conduct research and study the linguistic landscape of your target market to effectively communicate with your audience, respecting their culture and avoiding any misunderstanding.