Formal Spoken Arabic: Basic Course

by Karin C. Ryding

Book Overview

This new edition, updated and with additional exercises, equips those who work, travel, and study in Arab countries with an educated form of spoken Arabic that functions flexibly in the face of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0878402799
• ISBN13: 9780878402793
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Georgetown University Press
• Length: 412 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.0" x 9.9"

Customer Reviews

Formal Standard Arabic is a fabulous resource for Arabic language learners.

I completely agree with the other reviewers. Formal Spoken Arabic is one of the few books I go back to again and again, along with any book by Shukri B. Abed and Munther Younes (Cornell). If you can get your hands on the Second Edition (2005 - ISBN 978 1 58901 060 4), then do so. It contains a CD with MP3 files of the audio of all conversations and vocabulary. Many of the other and better known textbooks, particularly of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), are enough to drive any budding language enthusiast crazy. Thankfully, Ryding's book is mostly in Arabic script, and this is exactly what you need as a student of the language. Don't buy books written in transliteration as they aren't what you need and you'll bin them in minutes. I couldn't recommend Formal Standard Arabic more highly. Now go buy it!

Simply GREAT

I agree with Michael Akard. This is one of the few books that contains dialogue and vocabulary that is useful to a student who wants to work in the Levant. Its combination of standard dippo language with practical vocab for use in ordinary life is miles ahead of other books. Having bought practically everything I can to enhance my Arabic skills, I picked this up and would envy any student who gets to work from this book (with a teacher) as opposed to the opaque linguistic didacticism of the orange MSA books. Assuming you are working with a teacher (and especially if one on one or small class) and you want to work in Jordan or Syria, etc, I would highly recommend this book. I am disappointed that this wasn't followed by intermediate and advanced texts - and that Ryding's later books use english phoneticization instead of arabic text. (For an intermediate student, English phonetics just slow you down and are a turn off). The other book that I would recommend is the State Department course on Saudi Urban Hijazi, for the same reasons: vocab you hear and can use (in KSA).

Great blend of conversational and literary styles.

This rare volume presents conversational usage via Arabic orthography. It is very useful; in fact, it is the only book I've seen which uses primarily Arabic medium (rather than English) to give the reader easy, accessible, engaging subject material. Admittedly, the boring blue cover and complete absence of illustrations gives it a rather dry appearance, but it was a pleasure to use, and I heartily recommend it. Best with tapes.