-ic - 3 i C ~ 'o x '6 Sri "..I Ir -- CAJ I 11. I -, I ci, - " I$ I I ) 0 J 4 I EGYPTIAN COLLOQUIAL ARABIC Uniform with this volume THE PHONETICS OF ARABIC A Phonetic Inquiry and Practical Manual for the Pronunciation of Classical Arabic and of one Colloqual (the Egyptian>. By W. H. T. GAIRDNER, AdOv is e r in Arabic Studies at the School of Oriental Studies, Cairo. EGYPTIAN COLLOQUIAL ARABIC R~EADER Compiled by E. E. ELDIER1,Supcrintcndcnt of Arabic Studies at the School of Oriental Studies, Cairo. HUMPHREY MILFORD OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS P~rinted in England at the OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS By John Johnson Printer t-o the University THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY AT CAIRO ORIENTAL STUDIES EGYPTIAN COLLOQUIAL ARABIC A Convers~ation Gram mar W&." J~T~'IGAIRDNEIR B.A. Oxon.; C.311S. Egypt; Adviser on Arabic Studies at the School of Oriental Studies, Cairo SECOND EDITION revised & mostly rewritten L OND ON OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS HUMPHREY MILFORD 1926 I I I ALUMNIS SCHOLAE STUDIORUM ORIENTALIUM AL-CAHIRENSIS QUORUM IN CORPORIBUS, MINIME VILIBUS FACTUM EST EXPERIMENTUM PRIMUM DELNDE ALTERUM I PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION THIS edition represents the experience gained by the use of the first edition, for nearly a decade, by class on class of keen language-students at the School of Oriental Studies, Cairo. Threefourths of the material is entirely new, and the remaining fourth has been recast or thoroughly revised. But the main plan and the method of the book, having stood the test of practical experience and use, have been retained. I desire to emphasize once more the frank limitation of aim mentioned in the preface to the first edition-that this work envisages primarily the ensemble of teacher-and-student. It is a book for oral use, for study with an Arabic teacher. At the same time, the needs of students working alone and at a distance from Arabistan have been more clearly remembered in this edition, and it is hoped that these will find nearly all the contents of the book (apart from pronunciation) self-explanatory. The Englishing of the Arabic will no doubt please nobody. It was necessary to keep it as literal as possible, so that each Arabic word should be self-explanatory, and it was also necessary to hint at colloquial equivalents. No mortal man could produce decent or even consistent English when trying to balance two such contradictory aims. If the so-called English is merely intelligible, still more if it is intelligible on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, I beg of stylists to consider it sufficient. I am most of all, and deeply, indebted to my colleague in the School of Oriental Studies, the Rev. E. E. Elder, of the American Mission, Cairo, for placing at my disposal the fruits of his recent study in linguistics and the wide experience gained in supervising the work of Arabic teachers and students. Some very important features of this edition are due to his suggestions, without which I should have been at great disadvantage during the progress of this work. viii Preface Although my Arabic coadjutor in the first edition, Sheikh KURAYYIM SALLAM, had no hand in the preparation of the present one, the permanent value of his work is still evident in these pages and must be again acknowledged. I am indebted to Sheikh ABDUL-KHALIK, of the S.O.S., for his valuable co-operation in the preparation of the new material for the present edition. I also received special assistance from MILAD Effendi SALEEB, of the S.O.S., in revising the old material. My thanks are further due to my wife and children, who assisted me in preparing the Vocabulary, and to the kind friends who at various stages helped with copying. W. H. T. G. Sept. 1926, FROM THE PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION OF all Arabic colloquial dialects, the best work, and the most work, has probably been done on Egyptian Arabic. What has been accomplished in this field by Spitta, Willmore, S. Spiro, and others, will certainly not be superseded. This being so, it is incumbent on the newcomer to justify his entrance into that field, by indicating the special need which he is attempting to meet. That need in the present case can be summed up by the word presentation. It seemed to the writer that an effort should be made to apply to Egyptian Arabic some of the modern methods now used in teaching living languages; that a book needed to be compiled which should have constantly in view the ensemble of teacher-and-pupil, and the oral conversational work in which they are supposed to be engaged. Among the special features which have been included, the following may be mentioned:1. The abolition of disconnected sentences, which are destitute of context, and whose reason for existence is to illustrate some grammar rule. With few exceptions all the sentences in this book have a context, consisting either of objects, pictures, or actions which are immediately intelligible; or of a definite subject-matter, the elements of which are intelligibly connected inter se. 2. The abolition of the dry-bone verb conjugations and paradigms. Each verb-unit is clothed in an appropriate sentence, and these sentences are arranged in dialogue form, thus giving living practice in the use of the various persons and attached pronouns. 3. The abolition of grammar rules preceding each exercise, and the substitution of leading questions which enable the student himself to deduce the grammar illustrated by the subject-matter of each section. Thus each student compiles an Arabic grammar for himself. 4. The medium of instruction is Arabic from the very outset, English being dispensed with. Even the insertion of the English parallel pages, for which I apprehend the censure of Reform x From the Preface to the First Edition Method enthusiasts (to whom I owe so much), is intended to accord with this aim; for a glance at the English in print will save having to drag English into the conversation. (Moreover the English section will be useful for retranslation, which is so valuable a way of conserving the results of each lesson.) It must not be forgotten that in the east good language-teachers are rare, not common; and it would not therefore be safe to argue that, because trained language-teachers of the direct methods in the west can throughout and entirely refrain from calling in the aid of English, this will be the case when so difficult a language as Arabic is being taught by eastern teachers to Europeans. It remains to add a few words about the notation which has been used in this book. In regard to the use of a Romic rather than the Arabic system no apology at this time of day is needed. It is sufficient to say that all who have worked seriously at any Arabic Colloquial have found Arabic symbols for it not only inconvenient, but utterly impracticable. So little does the use of Romic symbols interfere with the study of the Classical in the Arabic character that the parallel use of the two has been found an advantage, in helping to keep the two forms ocularly, and mentally, distinct. But what kind of Romic? It is unfortunate that all who have written on Arabic have employed systems more or less different from each other; so that the introduction of yet another system —and so different a one-needs an apology, especially seeing that the Egyptian Government's recent adoption of one of the others (Willmore's) for the place-names in its maps and plans might seem to have gone some way to standardizing that system. The following considerations, however, determined the writer to abandon Willmore's system, and adopt that of the International Phonetic Association (with the necessary modifications). 1. The multiplicity of the diacritic points below the letters and the length-marks above; the unsoundness, scientifically, of having so many marks above and below the eye's line of travel; and the proved insufficiency of those marks to arrest the attention; and to ensure correct habits of pronunciation. In the present book the diacritic marks have been introduced into the body of each letter, and the length-mark is now in the same line as the letters themselves. 2. The unsoundness of using two letters to indicate one sound, as Willmore's [sh] for [J], [gh] for [g]. This defect was still From the Preface to the First Edition xi more apparent when the letters had to be doubled, and the clumsy groups [shsh], etc., were produced. 3. The advisability of adopting a scientific phonetic notation which would be internationally valid, because internationally recognized. Only the International Phonetic Alphabet appeared to satisfy the necessary conditions; and in consequence it was finally adopted for this work. Experience has shown that there is no need whatsoever to be alarmed by its apparent novelties. Students have experienced no difficulty in slipping into it from the very first lesson. If this book aids any student to a surer and speedier acquisition of a grammatical and idiomatic Arabic, I shall feel greatly rewarded. CAIRO Nov. 9, 1916. I~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONTENTS (The c7aapter-headings in the text afford a vocabulary of grammatical terms.) DIRECTIONS...... xi ALPHABET..... xii I. SUBJECT and PREDICATE. MASCULINE NOUN (indefinite). ADJECTIVE, as predicate and as attribute....... 2 II. The DEFINITE ARTICLE il.... 4 III. DEFINITE ARTICLE with 1 assimilated. FEMININE NOUN. ADJECTIVE as attribute to definite noun 6 IV. FEMtNINE NOUN and ADJECTIVE.... 8 V. Some PREPOSITIONS... 10 VI. DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES, "this " and "that" (nm., f, andp.). COMPARATIVE (simplest method) 12 VII. DUAL of MASCULINE and FEMININE NOUNS. PLURAL, "sound" and "broken".. 16 VIII. DISJUNCTIVE PRONOUNS of Nominative Case. PARTICIPLES, Active and Passive.. 20 IX. CONJUNCTIVE or SUFFIX PRONOUNS, of Possessive (Genitive) Case.... 26 X. CONJUNCTIVE or SUFFIX PRONOUNS, of Objective (Accusative) Case. COMPARATIVES and SUPERLATIVES........ 32 XI. The FIVE SENSES, with their Verbs... 38 XII. The POSSESSIVE (GENITIVE) Case with bita:'. 42 XIII. The GENITIVE Case by " ANNEXATION"..46 XIV. " To HAVE " by means of mala, Cand, and li. 52 XV. The Verb "To BE" in Past and Indefinite. "There is, was, will be." "Had, will have" 56 XVI. The " STRONG" TRILITERAL VERB. Past, Indefinite, and Imperative; a General Survey. 62 XVII. The INDEFINITE AND IMPERATIVE of the " Strong" Triliteral Verb... 68 XVIII. The PAST of the " Strong" Triliteral Verb. 76 XIX. Verb followed by INDIRECT OBJECT, in DATIVE 82 XX. The NUMERALS. Days of Week. Months. Seasons of the Year..... 90 xiv Contents XXI. COMPOUND TENSES...... 98 XXII. MooDS.-Can, Could, Must, Should, Should have, May, Might, etc....104 XXIII. The PASSIVE: in- or it- prefixed to Active Verb........ 112 XXIV. ORDINAL NUMERALS. COLOURS. DEFORMITIES. 114 XXV. " REDUPLICATED" VERBS (with second and third radicals the same)... 120 XXVI. " WEAK " VERBS, with first radical w or. 124 XXVII. " WEAK " VERBS, with second radical w or j. 128 XXVIII, " WEAK " VERBS, with third radical w or j. 132 XXIX. RELATIONS and IN-LAWS..... 140 Introduction to Chapters XXX to XXXV. The " INCREASED FoRMS " of the Verb..145 XXX. Verbs formed as kattib: with the QUADRILITERAL VERB......146 XXXI. Verbs formed as itkattib.... 152 XXXII. Verbs formed as iktatab....158 XXXIII. Verbs formed as?aktab.... 164 XXXIV. PARTS OF THE BODY..... 168 XXXV. Verbs formed as ka:tib and itka:tib..172 XXXVI. Verbs formed as istaktib.... 178 XXXVII. THE RELATIVE PRONOUN. 184 XXXVIII. CONDITIONAL SENTENCES..... 192 SUMMARY OF EGYPTIAN COLLOQUIAL ARABIC VERBS facing 198 APPENDIX: S.O.S. SHANTIES...... 199 VOCABULARY. 202 DIRECTIONS FOR THE MOST ADVANTAGEOUS USE OF THIS BOOK 1. Let the teacher teach the subject-material of the early chapters in Arabic and without reference to the Arabic text on the part of the student.1 The Arabic text should at first not be read. It is for revision and private study. 2. The literal English translation will help the student to dispense with explanations in English during the lesson. 3. After going over each lesson again and again, the student should cover up the Arabic side and read off the English into Arabic. The student's ability to do this easily, and also to runoff the Memory work, is the sign that he is ready to proceed to the next chapter. 4. Orthography will be secured by the careful correction of the Compositions, and by dictation. This might consist of a few sentences of each new lesson before it has been studied. Fullest use should be made of these Composition and Memory-work sections. 5. With regard to the Systematic Grammar syntheses, they should be worked up and worked out by each student in a special note-book. In this way every one will build up and compose a comprehensive Colloquial Arabic Grammar for himself, as he goes along. If any student hankers after the old analytic arrangements of the verbs, " I love, thou lovest ", etc., he can work them out very easily from the Verb-Drill sections, where the first paragraphs of each give all the simple forms. This will benefit him far more than to have dry verb-tables constructed and printed for him. The oral working out of these conversational VerbDrills (preferably, of course, by two or three students working together) may seem dry enough, but it is there that the road to freedom in speaking Arabic lies. 6. This scheme of teaching Egyptian Arabic is completed by the Reader which forms a companion volume to this one. It is contemplated that students will make a start with this Reader after completing Chapter XVI of this book, and that thereafter work will be carried on in the two books together. 1 And still more on the part of the teacher, who should have mastered the contents of each chapter before teaching it. And it is for the student to see that he does so, ALPIHABET THE characters used in this book for the Arabic consonants and vowels are those of the International Phonetic Alphabet, with a few necessary modifications. We give them here, with the corresponding Arabic symbols, arranged in the usual Arabic order of consonants. For their values, see the Author's The Phonetics of Arabic. Consonants:??alif b t 91 II x d r z 5 s C 3 ) be: te: ha xe: da:l re: 1 i e e:n f -. fe:?2 k 1 J J ze:n m r qn:f ka:f la:m mi:m nu:n he: waw je: Um uO si:n Jim n h w J Vowiels: (Long vowels denoted by sign:; half-long by '.) a (near I. P. A. ae). fatha J a (when short, near I. P. A. A; when long, near atia I. PA. a). D (near I. P. A. x)). kasrc e i ou a Indeterminate. 1 Pronounced in Cairo as in " get "; in Upper Egypt as in " gin ". 2 Pronounced in Cairo 9; in Upper Egypt 9; in Classical q. ACCENT Important:In order to avoid the multiplication of diacritic signs, the sign for accent (') has been employed as sparingly as possible. This sign is placed at the beginning of the syllable accented; e. g. (below) ka'man (accent on second syllable), 'fahma (on first syllable). If the following two points are remembered, they will be found a sufficient guide to almost all the words which have no accent-mark: (1) a long vowel (: or ) is invariably the accented vowel; (2) if there is no long vowel, the accent is on the last syllable but one, unless otherwise marked. N.B.-The following expressions are liable to be used in teaching from the outset: Again! Once more! Right! Not right! See! Say! Means what? (Do you) understand? Understood? Yes. No. min ta:ni! ka'man marrc! ta'mam! muf tamam! u mf (c.s.) J:f (is.), Ifls (r.)! fu:l (m.s.) fu:li (fs.),?u:lu (pl.)! jacni?e:h? fa:him (m.s.) 'fahma (f.s.) fahmi:n (pl.)? mafhumr? aiwa. la:. B 2 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER I [Grammatical Scheime:-SUBJECT and PREDICATE. MASCULINE NOUN (indefinite). ADJECTIVE, as predicate and as attribute.] Conversation. 1. A book! 2. This (is)... a book. This is a book. 3. What is this? Say "This is a book"! —This is a book. 4. And what's this?-That's a book too. 5. What is this?-That's a handkerchief. 6. And what's this?-That is paper. 7. See! This is a owite handkerchief. Do you understand "white"? This is paper, isn't it?-Yes, that's paper. 8. Well then, this is white paper. And what's this?-That's a shirt. 9. So then, this is a white shirt. This is white, and this is white, and this is white. This is a white handkerchief; and this, white paper; and this, a white shirt. 10. What is this?-It's ink. 11. Is it white?-No, it's not white, but black. 12. Is this a black handkerchief?-No, it isn't black, but white. Towards Composition, and for Orthographiy. [Arabize these sections to the Teachcer first, orally. When they are mastered orally, write them down and have the orthography corrected.] Is this a black shirt? No, it's not a black shirt, but white. And this is white too, isn't it? You understand white and black now (dilwvt). A Conversation Grammar3 3 mubtada wvi xizboyr. ism m~zakka~r (nakirct). seifa. 1. kita-.b! 2. da kita,.b. da_,Ikta-.b. (See note below.) 4. w' '?eh da?-da kta,.b kaman. 6. wi?eh da?-da w-Drn?. 7. fu.f! da mandi:1L _abj-Dl. fa-him "abjDI"? da wnDrn?. muf kida?-?ai'wa da wDr-D?. 8. ba?a da w-DrD?~,abjDIA. wi?eh da?-da 7rDmi:'s'.. 9. ba~a da?-Dmi:'.s,?abjDiA. da?abj-D6 wi da?abj-Dli wi da?abjnDt. da mnandi:1.,abj-DA, wi da w-DrroabjDlA, wi da?m:s -Dbj-Dl. 10.?eh da? —hu-.wa tibr. 11. hu-.wIabj-DA? ---la,., hu —wa muf abj-DI la,-kinjswid. 12. da mandi.ljswid?-la., hu~wa mnufiswid la —kin~,abj-rI. Note-important. The first version shows how the two words are pronounced separately: the second how they are pronounced together in fluent speech. The full unelided form of a word will usually he given the first time it occurs. Much use has been made of the half-prolongation sign (,), from which it is to be understood that with full fluency and speed prolongation would disappear; but that with imperfect fluency and speed some prolongation not only may but must appear. For the rest, the student must get the teacher to give him the full forms if he wishes to pronounce the words of any sentence slowly or 8eparately. For rules for such elisions see W. HI. T. GAIRDNER'S A rabic Phonetics, pp. 68-71, 78-9, 80-2. For Memory-work. HIi hifzi -%e-ban. aiwa, da 'j-Dmi:-,sD-bj-n4, wi da mandi:1l,abj-D. da hi'br; hu:wa muf abjvod la:kinjswid. 4 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER II [Grammatical Scheme:-The DEFINITE ARTICLE il.] 1. See, this is a big book and this is a small book. 2. Is this one big or small?-That is big [small]. 3. Is this a big book? - Yes, it's a big book. 'No, it's a small book. 4. See, this is a door. This is an open door,... and this is a shut door. rYes, the door's open now. 5. Is the door open now?- No, the door isn't open now; it is L shut now [open]. 6. Is the book shut now, or open?-It is open now, not shut. 7. This is a window. This is an open window, and this, a shut window. Say that again. 8. Is the paper white, or black?-It 's white, not black. Lhandkerchief J 9. What's this?-That's a (lead) pencil. 10. This is a long pencil, and this a short one. 11. What are these?-These are the book, pen, paper, ink, and handkerchief. 12.... And I, and you, and he, and she! Towards Composition, and for Orthography (See directions, Chapter I.) This is a book, and this a pencil. The book is large and the pencil is long. See, this is a door. The door is shut now. Now it's open. So then (baa), it is an open door. A Conversation Grammar O5 2. fwl itne:n. la:m it tajri:f. 1. Ju:f, dakta'b kibi:r wi dakta'b sut'gjjcr. 2. dakbi:r, wall{DsDJjar? — dakbi:r. dDs-gDjjar. 3. dakta-b kibir?- f?aiwa, hu:waakta'b kibi:r.. la:, hu:wa kta'b -suI jjcr. 4. fu:f! da ba:b. da ba'b maftu:i,... wi da ba'b mafu:l. raiwa, il ba'b maftu'li dilw?tt. 5. il ba-b maftuli dilwx'?t?- la:, ii ba'b muf maftu'h dilw-Dt, dilw-?ti hu;wa ma?fu:l [maftu:lil. 6. il kita-b ma?fu'l dilw-?ti walla maftu:li?-hu:wa maftu'i dilwT?ti muf ma?fu:l. 7. da Jibba:k. da fibba'k maftu:li, wi da Jibba'k ma?fu:l.?u:] min ta:ni!. i wmrn d l abjo wallaswid?-hu:w abjDt, mufiswid. 9.?eh da?-da?alam (russD:). 10. da?alam tDwwi:l wi da?alam?us-Djjcr. 11.?eh do:l?-do:l il kita:b wil?alam w il w-Dr? wil iibrl wJil rnandi:l. 12.... wi?ana wi?inta wi hu:wa wi hi:ja! For Memory-work. lil hifzi We:ban. da ba'b maftulh wi da ba'b ma?fu:l. il ba:b ma?fu:l. dilwitt hu:wa maftut:i. For Systematic Grammar (Chh. I, II). It is observable from the above: (1) That the indefinite article is absent in Arabic. (2) That the "copulas" is and are are absent in Arabic,'-the predicate in such sentences being simply juxtaposed to the subject. (3) That this adjective when qualifying a noun is placed after that noun. 1 Except as we shall see later, p. 60, rule (4), in subordinate clauses. 6 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER III [Grammatical Scheme:-DEFINITE ARTICLE with 1 assimilated. FEMININE NOUN. ADJECTIVE as attribute to definite noun.] r book? rbook! handkerchief? handkerchief! 1. Where'sthei doordoor! pencil? pencil! paper? paper! window? window! 9 ( ceiling ceiling! I envelope? t envelope! 2. Where's the chalk? -Te re'sthe chalk!: [newspaper? J newspaper! cupboard? cupboard! wall? wall! duster (napkin)? duster! pen-nib? pen-nib! 3. Whei'e sthe^ j ar et > -T-ere'sthe | 3. Whete's the carpet? the carpet! watch? wJ atch! table? table! 4. Where are the books? - There are the books! things? things 5. Here (we have) a large book and a small one. Is the large book open? Yes, the large book is open. No, the large book isn't open. 6. Where is the open book?-zThere's the open book! 7. Where are the big open book and the small closed book? -There are the big open book and the small closed book! 8. Is the big open book open now?-No, the big open book is shut now. rthe high window open? 9. Ism the black pencil long? -Yes, the etc. Ithe white handkerchief clean? Towards Composition, and for Orthography. Here (we have) a high door, and here one not high. Where is the high open window?-There is the high open window. But the high door is shut, isn't it? 1 The? of il is elided and with it the weaker of the two vowels o, i. 2 For the complete list of consonants which thus attract the 1 of the definite article, see " For Systematic Grammar ". A Conversation Grammar 7 3. f~bli tala:ta. liuru:f fansijja. ism nf?annas. sifa. 1. - krita'b kita:b! or il kita:ba'ho! r ba'baio, man'di1 | niandi:l! or il rnandiilaho'! ili ba'b S^ fe:n?-?ahoij ba:b! or il ba:b aho!?alaim?| 'alam! or il?alamllaho! w vDrDJ L w^Drt?! or il wDrD?,faho! 2. if Jibba-k2 '?aholJ Jibba:k or iJ fibba:kaho! is sa' r?ahovs sa?f or is safaho '! i; -Drf 1 I?aho., Dz-rf or iz vDrfaho' it taba'i'r i?ahovt tabati:r or it tabafi:raho! ig gurnal?ahoyg gurna:l or ig gurna::l,aho' id dula'b J?aho^d dula:b or id dula:b,aho! 3. il he:{-D /?ahel 1 e:3D or il le:{D (a)he' 3 il fu:iT)?ahe_,l fu:^D or il fu:irDhe! ir ri:fa i?aher ri:la or ir ri:Ja he'! is siqqa:da * * - ahes sigga:da or is sigga:da he' is sa:ia?ahes sa:5a or is sa:7a he'! it yntDrDbe:za?ahe, f lTrDbe:za orit +triDbe:za he! 4. ii kutub k fe:n?-?a/hummaj kutub or il kutub,a'hunm! il Taga:tJ aa:t4t or il iaga:ta'hum! 5. hina,kta'b ki'bi'r wi,kta'b su'lpjjar. il kita:bjil kibi:r niaftu:l?-?aiwaxl kita:bil kibi'r maftu:l or la:,?il kita:bil kibi'r muf maftu:i. 6. il kita:bil maftu-li fe:n? —?aho,l kita:b<,il maftu:li. 7. il kita:b,il kibi:ril maftu:li, wil kita:b i's su'g-Djjcar,il ma?fu:l, fe:n?-?ahol kita:b,il kibi:r,il maftu.; wijl kita:bs,i' suj_'Djaril ma?fu:laho! 8. il kita:bil kibi'r maftu'Ii dilwD?t?-la:, il kita:bil kibi'r ma?/fu'l dilwvD?t. 9. iJ Jibba:kAil 'a:li maftu:l? il?alam liswid5 t~ wi:l? -?aiwa... il mandi'l ',,abj-d5 niii:f? For Memory-work. lil lif-i g.e:ban.?ahol kita:bil kibi:ril ma?fu:l; wis' s'uqDjjcarDho'; wit tDnrDbe:za he'. 3 For il he:fD?ahe'! We shall be continually seeing this omission of initial? which carries with it the omission of one of the two vowels thus brought together. 4 Sing. lia:a. 6 When a noun begins with a vowel, il loses its vowel and the 1 connects with the vowel that succeeds. 8 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER IV [Grammatical Scheme:-FEMININE NOUN and ADJECTIVE.] 1. What is this?-This is a table. 2. See, the table is long, is it not?-Yes, the table is long. 3. Is not the long table broad too?-Yes, the long table... 4. And isn't the long, broad table high too?-Yes, the long, broad... 5. The chair is low, not high. The table is high, not low. The table is high, but not as high as the door. The door is very high. Now say that again! 6. Look, the carpet is broad and long too, is it not?-Yes, the carpet.. 7. I it clean or dirty?-It isn't dirty, but clean. Towards Composition. "The white handkerchief is clean and the white duster is clean too, but not like the handkerchief. The big door is high and the big table is high too, but not like the door." For Systematic Grammar (Chh. III, IV). From the above it is observable: (1) That the consonants J, s,, t, F, d, g, attract the 1 of the definite article, so that it doubles the succeeding consonant. The other consonants of this class are z, r, n, ai. (2) That the normal feminine ending for both nouns and adjectives is a (a, m-.-It is understood that these phonetically different a-signs are grammatically equivalent). (3) That the adjective which qualifies a definite noun must A Conversation Grammar 9 4. fs-DJlrbaja. lism il mn?annas. sifa wi mawsvu:fa. 1.?eh di?-di upr-be:za. 2. Ju:f! it tfDr-be:za tDwi:la, muf kida? —aiwa, it t-DrDbe:za tfwi:la. 3. muf it tr!r-Dbe:z),t t-Dri:la cri:TD kaman?-aiw.tj +DrDbe:zD... 4. wi muJ it +TDrube:z-D t+Dwi:lal ~cri:fTD jalja aman?aiwD,. tDrDbe:z... 5. il kursi wa:ti muf ca:li, wit f-Dr-be:za lalja' mulu wDtja.2 it t-DrDbe:za Calja wala:kin muJ zajj.il ba'b. il ba:b 5a:li._kti:r (?awi, X:dlis)?u:l da min ta:ni ba?a! 6. Ju:f, is sigga:da kaman tDwi:la wi actri:ifT, muJ kida?-aiwas sigga:da tDwi:la wi lcarii:B. 7. hijjannai:fa walla wisxct? 3 —hi:ja muL wisxca la:kin nidi:fa. For Memory-work. As an aid to the memory, analyse the substantives used in these two chapters into (1) parts of a room, (2) furniture in the room, (3) smaller articles. For Memory-wor7c. lil Rifz-i ge:ban. it t+DrDbe:za.l kibi:rcLt alja, la:kin muf zajjiil ba:b. il ba:bil kibi'r Ca:li la:kin muJ zajjjil le:tI. il le:.j, l cari:fxD 'alja la:kin muJ zajjil be:t. take the definite article, while the adjective that stands as predicate is normally indefinite. Thus it is of cardinal importance to distinguish il kita:b,il kibi:r ' the big book from il kita'b kibi:r "the book is big ". (4) When more than one adjective qualifies a noun they follow the noun without conjunction: and if the noun is definite each adjective is made definite by il. 1 for Sa:lija. 2 for waCt:ija. 3 for 'wisixa. 10 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER V [Grammatical Scheme: —Some PREPOSITIONS.] 1. Where is the duster Madam? — There's the duster, sir. 2. Well, where's the duster now?-Now it's under the table. 3. Right! And the carpet?-The carpet's under the table too. 4. Good! And where's the duster now?-Now it's on the tiles. 5. Good! And now?-Now it 's on the table. 6. Look at the handkerchief here! It is under the black book.. and now it 's above the book,... and now it's inside the book. Repeat it, you! 7. Here (we have) an envelope and a letter. The letter is in the envelope, and the envelope is outside the letter. Repeat it, you! 8. The pencil is in the book, see, and the book is in the drawer, and the drawer is in what? —The drawer is in the table.Yes, and the table's in the room, and the room is in the house, and the house is in Egypt. 9. And I am in Egypt, and you're in Egypt, and he's in Egypt, and she's in Egypt, and they 're in Egypt! 10. See this short pencil here! It is now under the large book, and now it's above the open book, and now it's between the two, that's to say, between the big book and the open book; and now it's beside the white chalk. Repeat. 11. See here. Here we have three things, a book, a handkerchief, and a pen-nib. The book is in front of the handkerchief, and the handkerchief is in front of the pen-nib. So then, the pen-nib is behind the handkerchief, and the handkerchief is behind the book. Repeat. 12. Now this is beside that, and this beside that, that is, they are by each other.... And so also, they are now in front of each other (or behind each other)..... And now above (upon, on the top of) each other (or underneath each other). 13. See, here is chalk, and here books round the chalk. So then, the chalk is among (in the middle of) the books. For Memory-work. First arrange the necessary articles in position and then repeat, with the eye upon themahor rusD:s illi1 fil?alam, illi gu:wal mandi:l, illi fo:? it tDr-Dbe:za wi tatit il kita:b is sug-Djjar. 1 =" (which is)". A Conversation Grammaar 11 5. fodli xamsa. jwSMjja min 1iuru:f il acrr. 1. il fu:tn fe:n, ja sitt? }-i fu:.he', ja si:di I ja sitt:? ) 2. ba?a,l fu:f-D fe'n dilwv?t?-dilwD?ti hi:ja talit it Drvr)be:za. 3. tamam! wi.s siqga:da?-is sigga:da talt it tDrDbe:za kaman. 4. kwaijis! wil fu:~r fe'n dilw\rt? -dilwvr?ti hi:ja jalaal bala:t. 5. t-ojjib! wi dilwn?t?-dilwD?ti hi:ja aalDt +tDrrobe:za. 6. fu:fil mandi:laho! hu:wa tatil kita'b 'ljiswid... wi dilwtti hu:wa fo:?jil kita:b... wi dilwD?ti kaman hu:wa gu:wavl kita:b.?u:l inta! 7. hina z-rf, wi gawa'b. il gawa'b fiz iz-rf, wi Z * Drfi barrD j gawa:b.?u:linta! 8. il?alam fi,1 kita:b, wi,ll kita'b fid durg, widurgi fi?e:h? — id durgi fi, tDr-be:za.-aiwa, wi t tDrrDbe:za fil?o:3D, wi.l1 o:fTD fivl be:t, wi._l be't fi mvser. 9. w.ana fi mDsr, w,intajf myDr wi hu:wajf mnDr, wi hi:ja_,f mDer, wi hummaf mDsr! 10. Ju:f.il?alamil?u~sDjjctr.Dho! hu:wa dilwD?ti tahlt,_il kita:b.il kibi:r, wi dilwDvti fo:? il kita:b,il maftu:Si, wi dilwDti be'n 1_,itne:n, janni be:n_.il kita:bil kibi:r wi,,l kital:b.il maftu:.i; wi dilwDti gamb it tabaSi'r l1abjvDf.?u:lIinta! 11. Ju:f! hina 'talat liaga:t, kita:b, wi mandi:l, wi ri:Ja. il kita'b?udda:mJil mandi:l, wil man'di'l?udda:m.ir ri:Sa. bacar ri:.a wDrDl, mandi:l, wijl mandi:l wDrmDl kita:b.?u:linta. 12. wi dilwD?ti da gambi di, wi di gambi da:, jajni humma gambi ba... wi kida kaman, humma dilwD?tt?ud'da'm ba5c (walla wDrD bacSf)... wi dilw-D?ti fo'? balS (walla taliti bact). 13. Ju:f, hina tabaJi:r, wi hina kutub lawale:nit tabaji:r. ba?at tabaSi'r fi wusft,il kutub. In running speech, thusaho,.r ruso:DsJilli fil?alamnilli gu:wa._l mandi:lvilli fo:? it t*rDbe:za,w taltJil kita:b i -s ugvjjar. 12 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER VI [Grammatical Scheme:-DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES, "this" and "that" (m.,f., and p.). Comparative (simplest method).] 1. See, here on the table is a pencil. And there, on top of the book is another pencil. This pencil is long, and that pencil is short. 2. Is this pencil short?-No, this pencil is long; that pencil is short. 3. Here is a wall, and there another wall. This wall is broad, and that wall is narrow. 4. Is this wall narrow?-No, this wall isn't narrow, but broad. That wall is narrow. 5. Right. Look again. Here are some books, and there are some other books. Where are these books, and where are those? -These books are on the table, and those books are under the window. 6. This paper is clean, that dirty. This nib is new, that one old. These books are on the table and those upon the carpet. 7. See now: this door is high, and this window is high too. But the door isn't high like (as high as) the window. So then the window is higher than the door. 8. Is this door lower than this window?-Yes, etc. 9. Is this wall broader than that?-Yes, etc. 10. Look at these books. This one is bigger than this one here, and this one is bigger than this one here, and this bigger than that one there. 11. And this sheet of paper is bigger than this one here, and this than this one, and these than those over there. 12. So then, these things are bigger than those there. A Conversation Grammar 13 6. fnSli sitta. ism il ifa:ra. it tDffi:l. 1. Ju:f! hina 7)A' t+DrDbe:za?alam. kaman hina:k fo:?,il kita'b?alam ta:ni. il?alam da fvnwi:, wil?alarn dukha?u'sDjajr. 2. il?alam da?,s'ljjcr?-la:. il?alam da +^Dwi:l; il?alam dukha?us-jjar. 3. hina he:tD wihna:k lie:tD tanja. il 1te:9t) di atri:ffT wil he:{D dikha kinza.2 4. il hie:fD di kinza? —la:?il ie:-tD di muJ kinza la:kin acri:fTD. il tie:tD dikha kinza. 5. tamam! Juf ta:ni macrrc! hina,kutub wi.hna'k kutub tanja. il kutub do:l fe:n, wil kutub dukham fer:n?-il kutub do:l D ' t-DrDbe:za, wi.l kutub dukham qamb.iSj fibba:k. 6. il wvrr'? da_,nfi:f, wi dukha wisix. ir ri:ja di gidi:da [div gdi:da], wi dikha?adi:ma. il kutub do:l ]vj tDr-Dbe:za, wi dukham cas sigga:da. 7. Ju:f dilwDt, il ba'b da ja:li wiJ Jfibba'k da Ca:li kaman. la:kin il ba'b muJf a:li zajjijf Jibba:k. ba?a,Jf fibbak Ia:li 7an il ba:b. 8. il ba'b da wa:ti ian,iJf ibba'k da?- aiwa,1 bab... 9. il le:mr di cari:fuD Can (il hie:gt) dikha?-?aiwa... 10. fu:fil kutub do:l! da.kbi'r 5an daho', wi da.,kbi'r Can daho', wi dakbi'r 7an dukha. 11. wi.,l wDrTD?a dikbi:ra Ian dihe', wi di Ian di, wi do:l Can dukham. 12. ba?al l aga:t {di lkbi:ra }can dukham. dofl kubcturj 1 for Salr,, and so gat tabafi:r for Sala,t, Sas sufra for 5alaas, 5S*idr for Sal),, 5al be:t for Salal, Sar rDml for 9alctr, gaz zanb for gala,,z, 9af Jfams for 9alavj, i9n Drf for 9alm). 2 for 'kiniza, f. of kiniz: see p. 9, note 3. 14 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Towards Composition. See, here we have three things, this duster, this handkerchief and that chalk over there. Is that chalk whiter than this handkerchief, or the handkerchief than the chalk? The chalk is whiter than the handkerchief; and the handkerchief is cleaner than the duster. So then, the chalk is cleaner and whiter than the duster. For Systematic Grammar. (1) Put down the m., f., and p. of the Arabic words for "this" and "that ". (2) N.B.-In Arabic da is often used where we should say in English "that ", as dukha is reserved for cases where the object is really remote, or where it is being expressly contrasted with a nearer object. A Conversation Grammar 15 For Memory-wvork. El hif-zi ge-.ban. il w-nr-D? da,,_n~i.-f wi dukha wisix. hina ba:b -Nvi,_hna'k dula:b. il ba-b da ja-.li cIan id dulavb dukha. (3) Notice the demonstrative follows the subject and this substantive must be made definite by il.' (4) In this simplest method of comparing two things Ian is used with a positive adjective; it is equivalent to " rather than 1Unless it is already definite, e. g. mohammad da, "Ithis Mohammed," mahlammad dukha, " Ithat Mohiammed ". 16 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER VII [Grammatical Scheme: —Dmal of MASCULINE and FEMININE NOUNS, Plural, "sound " and "broken ". 1. One book and one make two books. These, then, are how many books?-These are two books. 2. Good. One pencil and one make how many pencils?-Two pencils. (And so, two doors, two handkerchiefs, etc.) 3. See now: one picture and one make how many pictures?Two pictures. (And so, two watches, two rooms, two dusters, two schools, two pairs of spectacles.) 4. See, I am a teacher, and Sheikh X. is a teacher, and Mr. Y. is a teacher; so then, we are all teachers. 5. This door is high (low), and that one is high (low), and this window is (high); so, they are high (low). 6. And similarly: this book is small, this is small, and that one there is small. this pencil is short, this etc. this piece of paper is dirty, this etc. this envelope is open (shut), this etc. So thensmall, short, these are dirty, open, shut. 7. The first lesson is understood, the second is understood, and the third is understood: so then the three are understood. 8. I understand, you understand, he understands, and she understands.-Thank God! all of us understand, then. 9. So you understand? Well then, here's another nice thing... hand me the book.- Which book?-This big book. 10. Hand me the pen-nib.-Which7 pen-nib?-That clean pen-nib. A Conversation Grammar 17 7. fDsli sabca. it tasnijja. il gamn is sa:lim wi gam] it taksi:r. 1. kita'b wi kta:b, kitabe:n. ba?a do:l karnt kita:b?-do:l kitabe:n. 2. *ojjib,?alam wi?alam, kam?alam?-alame:n. (wi kida babe:n, mandile:n...) 3. Juf dilw'Dti su:racw su:ra, kam ru:ra? —surte:n. (wi kida sa:ia.. sante:n,?odD..?of-e:n, fu:t.. futye:n, mad'trsa.. madrDs'te:n, nDfftD:ra.. nDtfDrrte:n.) 4. fu:f,?ana m&jallim, vwif fe:x fula:n m51allim, wi fula:nm afandi mjaallim, ba?a, ilna kullinaimCallimi:n. 5. il ba'b da Ca:li (wca:i), wil ba'b dukha na:li, wif fibba'k da 5a:li; ba?a humma jalji:n (wDfji:n). 6. wi kida tamam: il kita'b dDsmDjjar, wi d-Dsj jar, wi dukhDm gDjjar. il?alam da,?stDjjar, wi etc. il war-T?a di wisxa, wi etc. i oDrfi da mftui Wi etc. ma?fu:l I ba?a r sugDjjcari:n (or il liaga:t di s.tjjcLra). [?u -DjjcLri:n (,,,, Tjjtra). il liagaA:t do:l s(,,,, wisxn wxa). | maftuii:n (,,,, maftu:i.a). ma?fuli:n (,,,, ma?fu:la). 7.?awwil darsi mafhu:m, wi,t ta:ni nmafhu:m, wi t ta:lit mafhu:mn; baa.,t tala:ta mafhumi:n. 8. ana fa:him, w,inta fa:him (inti fahma), wi hu:wa fa:him, wi hi:ja fahma?-il liamdu lilla:h! kuPlina fahmi:n baa. 9. ba'?anta fa:him? tDjjib, Ju:f tia:ga kwaj'jisa tanja!.. ha:t il kita:b!fil kita:b, anho? —il kita'b dal kibi:r. anho.,kta:b?? (or il kita:b il ki'bi'r da). 10. ha:t ir ri fa.- fir ri:J(a)_anhe? -ir ri:.a din naii:fa (or anhe ri:ja? ir ri:jfan niffi:a di). 1 For octe:n, by attraction. C 18 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic 11. Hand me the books.-Which books?-Those big books. 12. Hand me one book..two books..three books... I thank you! Towards Composition. These two books are open and those two books over there are shut. I don't understand this (one)-it is Arabic (ctarDbi). The master and the Sheikh understand this Arabic book. For Systematic Grammar. (1) We notice that the dual of a masculine noun is invariably formed by suffixing -e:n to the singular. For feminines ending in -a, a is changed to t and e:n is then suffixed. (2) The simplest plural ending is-i:n suffixed to the masculine singular,-called the "sound" plural because it, like the dual, does not alter the structure of the singular. It will be found, however, that this simple form only occurs in limited classes of nouns and adjectives, and especially participles, while the large majority of plurals involve changes in the structure of the singular and are therefore called "broken" plurals.l (3) By a peculiar Arabic idiom inanimate plural nouns may be accompanied by feminine singular adjectives, whether as attributes or predicates. (4) If a demonstrative is used with a qualified substantive, it may either come after the substantive or after the adjective. 1 The "sound'" therefore correspond to English plurals in -s, and the " broken " to plurals like " mouse, mice ". A Conversation Grammar 19 11. ha:t il 'kutub.-il kutub anhum (or anhe)?-il kutub do:lil kubc:r (or il kutub il kuba:r dod; or il kutub dil kibi:ra, or il kutub il kibi:ra di.) 12. hat kita'b wa:iid... kitabe:n itnen... talat kutub.. kattar xe:rvkk! For M]emory-work. lil iifzi %e:ban. hina mjallime:nmitne:n. wa:lid trDwi:l wit ta:ni,?s'Djjar. il m]jallinmen do:l litne:n kwajjis:in xD:li'. "Broken" Plurals. Having introduced this form (e. g. kutub from kita:b) we may run over the nouns already employed in these chapters, and ascertain their plurals. They exhibit some of the commonest types of "broken" plurals. These types are numerous, and all plurals should be carefully noted as they occur, and ranged under their respective types. il manadi:l kubc:r r il kutub il gcarDni:l } do:l + tuwa:l j an -4 lawrv: dukham. ijJababbi:k J L urDat J L I^abwa.b J il?umn:n } do:l nuf.D;f Nan iz uru:f dukham. il 9awaba:t 2 ir 'rijaJ do:l{?uda:md } an ]ila:m dukham. il '?uwnDf. kwajjisi:n il 'fuwn)t | s u.Jjacri:n I is, "suwa r do:l wn ji:n jan dukham. il buju:t | |alji:n il duru:s J fuwa:l 1 All these plurals might be replaced by feminine singular. See ~ 3. 2 This termination - a:t is the characteristic of the "sound" feminine plural, e.g. saga:t, iaga:t, forDbeza:t. But it is rare and never used with adjcctives orparticiples, the fern. plurals of which are either broken or take - i:n. c2 20 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER VIII [Grammatical Scheme: —DISJUNCTVE PRONOUNS of Nominative Case. PARTICIPLES, Active and Passive.] A Conversation. 1. Look. I am standing... Now I am sitting. Are you standing or sitting?-I am sitting; I am not standing, 2. And you, madam? Are you standing or sitting?-I am sitting, I'm not standing. 3. So then, we are sitting, we are not standing?-Yes, we are sitting, we aren't standing. 4. And you (m.), you are sitting; and you (f.) are sitting: so then, you are both sitting?-Yes, we are both sitting. 5. Now look at this picture. There is a boy; where is he walking? -He's walking in the garden. 6. And this girl, where is she walking?-She 's walking in the garden too. 7. So then, they're both walking in the garden. 8. Is that boy sitting?-No, he's walking. Is that girl sitting? -No, she's walking too. Are both of them sitting?-No, they're both walking. A Domestic Scene.-ZAKY BEY. MME. ZAKY. A GUEST. BOY. AHMAD (the servant). Z. Who's there? Guest (outside). It's me. Z. Who are you? Guest. Fowzy Bey. Z. Welcome (come in), Bey! Guest. Welcome to you (i. e. thanks very much)! Z. Do sit down!-Ahmad, bring coffee. Ahmad (half asleep and half awake). Yessir. Mme. Z. My good fellow, hurry up, why are you asleep? The Bey's asking for coffee, and I want a syrup-drink. A. Yes'm. I'm not really asleep, only sort of a bit tired. Z. Get along; look sharp. Boy. Where are you off to so quick, Ahmad? A. The Bey's asking for something, and Mistress is asking for I don't know what. A Conversation Grammar 21 8. fiSl nimrit tamanja. danma:jir munfosila marfu:5a. ism fa:lil, ism mafju:l. mnhadsa. 1. fu:f, ana wa:?if... dilwv-?tana?a:cid. inta wa:?if walla?a:jid? —ana?a:5id, ana muf wa:?if. 2. winti ja sitt? inti 'wa?fa walla '?anda?- ana /?acda, ana muf 'wafa. 3. ba?a, ilna?acjdi:n, ihna muJ wa?'fi:n?-aiwa, iina?acldi:n. iina muf wa?'fi:n. 4. w inta ja xowct:ga, inta kaman?a:cid, winti ja sitt, inti kaman?acda. ba?a, intu 1,itne:n?ajdi:n.-aiwa, ilina litne:n?acdi:n. 5. dilwtti Ju:fis -su:rD'di:.?a:di walad; hu:wa ma:Ji fe:n?hu:wa ma:Si fig gine:na. 6. wil binti di, hi:ja maja fe:n?-hi:ja majfa fig gine:na kaman. 7. baa, humma litne:n maJji:n fig gine:na. 8. il walad da?a:iid?-la: hu:wa ma:Ji. il binti di?acda? —la:, hi:ja mafja kaman. humma litne:n?ajdin? —la:, humma litne:n majji:n. riwa:ja betijja.-zaki be:h. mada:m zaki. As 3e:f. walad. almad (il xadda:m) p: (1) zaki. mi:n?! ae:f (barra). ana! zaki. inta mi:n? iiT: e:f. ana fawzi be:h. zaki. '?ahlan wi sahlan ja be:h. id re:f. '?ahlan wi sahlan bik. zaki. itf-oDt-Dl ja be:h!-hat?ahwa j,,atimad. atmad (be:n na'jim wi seD:ii). hlit:ir ja si:di. mada:m. ja gadaS, ru't?awa:m, na'jim le:h? il be'h tD:lib?ahwa, wana rlba carba:t. almnad. lia:tir ja sitti. ana muf na'jim tamara, bass,. kida tasba:n Jfwjja! zaki. ru'i?awa:m. walad. rD'jii fe:n j,aimad kida?awa:m? atimad. il be'h tD:lib hia:ga, wis sitti ftlba muJ 5a:rif e:h. 22 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Z. (to Guest). Well, how are you? Guest. Very well, thanks. Hlow are you? Z. Very well, thank you._ Why hasn't Ahmad come? or, So-so, thank you. I Boy. He's coming at once. Z. Go and fetch the madman, quick. A. Here's the pencil, Sir. Here's the stockings, Ma'am. Z. Idiot! The pencil's not wanted; what's wanted is COFFEE! don't you understand coffee? A. Yes, I understand coffee. Coffee is quite understood. Madam. And these stockings are not wanted at all. What's wanted is a SYRUP-DRINK. Don't you understand syrup? A. Oh yes, I understand syrup quite well. So you're asking for coffee and syrup. All right!-Isn't that so, my young master? Boy. Yes, they're asking for coffee and syrup,-but not in the same tumbler, idiot! In two tumblers i A. Right you are, my Lord! Another Scene. A. Aren't you asking for stockings too, my little mistress? Girl. No, I'm not asking for stockings; I want a syrup-drink. A. Aren't I fine, ma'am? Mine. Z. No, you're not fine, you're bad! Girl. Aren't I fine, Mamma? Mie. Z. No, you're not fine, you're (as) bad as Ahmad! Boy. Yes, Ahmad is a perfect idiot. Girl. No, he's not an idiot-he's a horrid pest! Za7i Bey. Well, I never! Isn't that girl a female imp! Mme. Z. No, she's not an imp, she's wickeder than an imp. Children. Aren't we nice, Papa dear? Z. No, you're not nice; you're extremely nasty. /Mme. Z. Yes, that boy and that girl are dreadfully naughty. Z. (aside to Mme. Z.). They're not naughty; they're just little angels! A Conversation Grammar 23 zaki. iz zajji aictdritak? i[ te:f. lilla:hil 1namd! iz zajji hacrita'kinta? zaki. il hamdu lilla:h! (or il hamdu lilla:h jala kulli ia:1!) altmad ma gaJ le:h? walad. hu:wa qajji (or gaj) ha:lan. zaki. ru:i, ha:til magnu:n?awa:m. aimad.?aho l?alam ja si:di,?ahiJ JtrDba:t ja sitt. zaki. ja ~abi:^, il?alam muj mrntlu:b.-il m-Dnlu:ba?ahwa!! inta muf fa:him?ahwa? almad. aiwvana fa:him?ahwa. il?ahwa mafhu:ma?awi. nada:m. wiJ Jfcarba:t di muJ mntDlu:ba bil marrca! il mntlu:b Jarba:t, inta muJ fa:him Jacrba:t? atlmad. aiwana fa:him farba:t?awi. ba?a,ntu fDlbi:n farba:t wi?ahwa. Ica:iir! kida tamam i aafandi? walad. aiwa humma tDlbi:n?ahwa wi Jarba:t-la:kin muf fi kubba:ja waida ja jctbi:f. fi kubbajte:nitne:n! alimad. ticutir ja ba:Ja! (2) atimad. muf inti tDlba JaLr)ba:t kaman ja sitti.s -Dsiirac? bint. la:, ma/niJf Dlba [or ana mufS VDlba] fcrhba:t, ana trlba farba:t. al. muJfana ca:l ja sitt? mada:m. la:, tmantaf [or inta mufl Ca:1, inta wihif. bint. muJfana ca:l ja ma:mna? mada:m. la:, manti:f [or inti muj] 'a:l, inti wilia zajj.armad. walad. aiw.,ahmad acbi,' tamam. bint. la:, ma'huf [or huiwa muJ] cacbi:&, hu:wa balijja wihla. zaki be:h. ja sala:nm! muf il binti 'afri:ta? mada:m. la: ma'hif [or hi:ja muf] cafri:ta, hi:ja fa?ijja' 5an il 'cafrita. il wila:d. muJihna kwajjisi:n ja bac:ba [or 'malinaJ]. zaki be:h. la:, mantu:J [or intu muj] kwajjisi:n, intu wilhi:n xT):li'&1. mada:m. (li zaki) aiwal walad wil binti fu,?a'j kiti:r xT):li'. zaki (li mada:m zaki). ma humma'J [or humma muf] fua'j, 'humma malaika2 tamam! 1 'Sa?i the regular family word for "naughty'' "wild ' The opposite is Ca:?il (Fr. "sage"). 2 Sing. mala:k. 24 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Towards Composition. Don't you know what the boy is asking for? Don't you understand he is asking for milk? Bring it at once! And bring some syrup-drink for the girl too,-she is sitting in the garden. Off you go, be quick! For Memory-work. Scene I above. For Drill and Substitutions. First speaker. inta gajj? (or ga:j),, rD:jii?, tmlib?ahwa?,, fa:him? inti gajja? (or 3a:ja),, ria?, tDlba laga?,, fahma? intu gajji:n? (or gaji:n),, r-iDi:n?,, tblbi:n ha:ga?,, fahmi:n? Second (answers First). aiw.ana gajji (or gaj) ta:lan.,, rrjil lha:lan.,, tmolib?ahwa.,, fa:him?awi. aiwana gajja ta:lan!,, rDiha ia:lan!,, tDlba?ahwa!,, fahma?awi. aiwajlina gajji-n ha:lan!,, rrnihi'n ha:lan! {, Dlbi-n?ahwa!,, fahmi'n?awi! Third (echoes Second). manlu:m! hu:wa gajji (or gaj) hla:lan etc.,,,, rD:jih la:lan.,,,, tf:ilib?ahwa.,,,, fa:him?awi. manlu:m hi:ja gajja a:lan!,,,, rDiha lia:lan!,,, 7 T*lba?ahwa!,,,, fahma?awi! maqlu:m humma gajji'n ha:lan!,,,, rvniii'n ha:lan!,,,, tvDlbi'n?ahwa!,,,, fahmi'n y'awi! A Conversation Grammnar 25 For Systematic Grammar. (1) Write out these personal pronouns of the nominative case, called " disjunctive " because they are separate and independent words. (2) Write out the two ways of negativing these pronouns, i. e. of saying, " I am not," "You aren't," etc. N.B -mantaf is for ma inta f(e), the ma and the f exactly equalling French e...pas. This is the regular method of negativing in Egyptian Arabic. (3) In the Active Participles and Passive Participles: 1n:lib nmtlu: b fa:him mathu:m I I i II?a-. i d ma?fu:l I I I I wai? if maftu:ih I I etc. lic:tir etc. notice the regular arrangement of the three radicals. It is the arrangement of vowels, prefixes, etc., in relation to these that forms the participles, viz. - a: - i - (active) ma - - u: - (passive). Apparent varieties met with so far can easily be accounted for phonetically. 26 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER IX [Grammatical Scheme:-CONJUNCTIVE or SUFFIX PRONOUNS of the Possessive (Genitive) Case.] A Domestic Drama. SALEEM, a Bridegroom. IBRAnEEM, his Father. FAHEEMA, the Bride. GUESTS. SCENE 1.-Early Harmony. S. My house is yours, my Bride! My father is your father, my brother your brother, and my sister your sister I F. I know it, dear. Your house is mine, your father my father, your brother my brother, your sister my sister. I. Yes indeed. I am your father. My house is yours. Come here, son Saleem; come here, my daughter Faheema, come. Guests. Do you hear, everybody? He is his father and hersfather of them both. Praise to God! S. (to F.). See, there's our father and mother! There's our house, our brother, and our sister. Thanks be to God! Guests. Do you hear, everybody? She is their daughter, truly! There's her home and her father and her mother and her sister. God be praised! SCENE 2. After certain days. S. (to F.). What! that's your book? That's not your book. That's mine! F. How your book? Isn't " your house my house "?! I. No! That's his book. It's not hers. Guests (to Sal.). Well!! If that's not odd! Wasn't "your house her house "? Well then, why on earth isn't your book hers? S. I'm wrong. My book is hers too. 1st Guest. Are you quite happy now? S. Yes, I'm quite happy. 2nd Guest. Thanks be! He's happy. Let's hope her ladyship's happy too. S. Yes, she's happy now, I can see! Guests. Thank God I You are all happy. S. Yes, we're all happy. Guests. Good-day to you, Mr. Saleem. S. Good-day. Guests. Good-day, Madam. Good-bye all. A Conversation Grammar 27 9. fs l nimrit tisca. Dmna:jir muttDsila magru:ra. riwa:ja be-tijja. sali:m —wa:iid cvri:s. ibrDhi:m-abul crsi:. fahi:ma —il jaru:sa. 6uju:f. awwil majhad-il wihda. sal. be:ti be:tik ja ctru:sa, wabu:ja?abu:ki, waxu:ja?axu:ki, w^,uxti?uxtik. fah.?ana'actrfa ja habi:bi. be:tak be:ti, wabu:k^abu:ja, w, axu:k axu:ja, w uxtak uxti. ib.?ai nacam,?anabu:kum, wi be:ti be'tkum. tacia:la jabni jasli:m, winti ja binti ja fahi:ma taqa:li. tuju:f. samji:n ja na:s? hu:w abu:h w~abu:ha, jacni?abu:hum humma litne:n. il lamdu lilla:h! sal. (li fah.).?a:di?abu:na w.,um'mina! wa:di betna w.axu:na wux'tina! il liamdu lilla:h! 3uju:f. samji:n ja na:s? hi:ja bin'tuhum tamam! a:di be'tha wvabu:ha w.um/maha wux'taha. lilla:h9il hamd! 1 Praise " from man to man is madli. ta:ni maJhad. (baddi kam jo:m.) sal. (li fah.). hu:wa daskta:bik? da muf kita:bikinti, da kta:b(i),ana! fah. kita:bakinta zza:j! mu l be:tak be:ti"?! ib. la:! da.,kta:bu hu:wa, muf kitabha hi:ja. tuju:f (li sal). sublia:n ottDh! Je gctri:b! muJ "be:tak betha "? —?ummrn:l kita:bak muf kitabha zza:j? sal.?ana cDt+n:n. barlu,_kta:biktabha hi:ja kaman! awwil tfe:f. licbtritak mabsu:t dilwv?t? sal. aiw.ana mabsu:U. ta:ni ee:f. il fDffli lilla:h, iatIritu mabsu:^! ijja'k tiku:n lact/ritha mabsu:;-D kaman. sal. aiwa liafritha mabsu:TD dilwDt, ana jajif kida.?uju:f. iJ Jukri lilla:h! licatritkum kullukum mabsufri:n! sal.?ai nanam kul'lina mabsuti:n. tuju:f, nahac:r)k saii:d ja: si sal:m. sal. nahca:rk muba:rDk. Ztuju:f. nahcurik saai:d ja mada:m! na'harku saci:d gami:aan. 28 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Towards Composition. What have I to do with your brother? He owes me ten pounds! Am I1 his father? Why, I2 understand that he is just a Satan! It is all his fault, not mine. We don't want one like him in our house. Say to him and to your father, "The door is open; have the goodness (to go) outside." For Systematic Grammar. (1) Notice that these suffixes are the "possessive pronouns" of Arabic, and are also the complements of prepositions and other particles. (2) Notice that they never exist independently, and that they never receive accent by themselves. When one desires to emphasize a possessive pronoun in Arabic, as in "her sister ", "your book", one must not say uxta'ha:, kita:.bak, but must simply add the corresponding disjunctive, and say uxtaha 'hi:ja, kita:bak inta. (3) Collect and review these suffixes according to their several cases. This having been done, it will be seen that some of them have alternative forms, of which one form begins with, or is, a vowel, and the other begins with, or is, a consonant. The vowelsuffixes attach to nouns (or particles) ending with a consonant, and the consonant-suffixes to nouns (or particles) ending with a vowel. Table: Vowel-suffixes. Cons.-suffixes. 1. sing. -i -ja 2. m.s. -ak -k 2. f.s. -ik -ki 3. m.s. -u -h 3. f.s. -ha 1. p. -na 2. p. -ku(m) 3. p. -hum I hu:wana. 2 d ana. A Conversation Grammar 2 9" " Cr FoUr Memory-work. Scene I above. (1) For drill in the suffix pronouns. First speaker. kita-.b' 7?uxt'iJ kita-.:bi?uxt::i ~?uxt'tina J Se~cond speaker.?uxt:akj J kita-.b.ik?uxt~ik J Ce kitab::kum c '?ux'tu kuru, Third speaker. la,. ki'ta.b'u?uxt~uj?uxfta~haJ la:- kitab~hum 1?ux'tu~humJ (2) For drill on the various particles which take the same series of suffix-pronouns (see pages 30 and 31). This drill should he done before studying the Systematic Grammar section below. (4) Note that a helping vowel is required when a consonant suffix is attached to nouns (or particles) ending in two consonants, and that that helping vowel is i before -na, e. g. ux'tina, 5an'dina, in'nina. a,,-ha, e. g. ux'taha, cjanfiaha, in'naha. u,,-kum, hum, e. g. ux'tukum, cjanduhum, in'nukurn. (5) With regard to inn (- the conjunction " that ") the pronouns governed by it (see last table on next page) are accusative, not genitive. But as the two series of pronouns a-re practically identical (see p. 36) no difference appears in actual speaking. The very important thing to notice is that after inn a suffix, not a disjunctive pronoun must be used: e. g. innak "Ithat you ", not inn inta. 30 30 Eg~,y ptian Colloquial Arabic be:n. jala. land. Ii. bi. (Note changes 1. That 's between you and wom? Where are you going with me (i. e. taking me to)? Don't you owe me a shilling (lit. "Have I not [as property] with you [temporarily] ")? Are you wrong, or right? da bemnak wi be'n mimn r-Djih bijja [or bi-,] fe:n 5ali? 9 muf lijja [or ii:] ciandak filmin il liia??ji Ijale,.k walla lak [uik] da be,.nik wi bemn mimn ja ze-.nab? r-njha bijja [bi:] fe,.n, muf lijja [lii:] ciandik filin, il haj-1 jale,-ki walla 'liki,, da benkum wi bemn mi,.n ja na,.s? r-DjIhi,.n bina fe.n I miuf lina cjanldukumn filin, ii ha'~?? cjale:kum walla luku'm,, macia. w-ojja. (Note lengthening Are you going with me; or what? r-njihi wbijja:ja (maja~ja) rnhlja wnDjja.-ja (macja:ja) ~ riDliji~n w-Djjana (macja:na) J - min. cIan. (Note doubling That letter's not from me [about me]! gawa'ib da muf minni [5anni]! ii gawa',b da muf nminna [janna]!1 inn le. g.,?ana J'ajifinni ma-hmu-.d I think that you're lazy. a-t-unn~,_nnak kaslaln. I tell you that I'mi energetic. a?ul lakj_,nni fcutir! There 's no doubt lie is lazy. mia fijf fakk,_,,innu kasla~n. A Conversation Grammar 31 in the terminations of jala, bi, li.) - --- -- r ---- -~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. da be:ni wi be:nummi. r-:jili bi:k [bak] li trDntn. aiwa lik [lak] jandi. il ta??i lijja muJ 5alajja. 3. tarmam!!eu be:u i be ummu.,, rD:jih bi:h[bu] li {Dntr.,, luh 5andu.,, il ia??i luh mu Cjale:h..... da be:ni wi be:nummi. rDjtia 'biki li xnt. aiwa 'liki 5andi. il ha??i lijja muf jalajja. da be'nna wi be:n um'mina. rDjti:n bukum li tDnntrP. aiwa lukum 5an'dina filin. il ia??i lina muf Cale:na. benha wi be:num'maha. r-Djta 'biha Ii tDnntD. laha cantdaha. il Ta??i laha muJf ale:ha.,,benhum wi be:n um'muhum., rDjhi:n buhum li t'DntD.,,luhum jan'duhum filin.,, il ha??i luhum muf jale:hum. of the final vowel.) rD:jili wnjja:k (maja:k) 1 - rD:jih wnjja:h (maia:h) - rDjha wDjja:ki (maja:ki) M Z,, wnjja:ha (maSa:ha ' c rDJhi:n wnjja:ku (maSa:ku) J,, wDjja:hum (maSa:hum) 4 *' J c of the final consonant.) la:, hu:wa minnak [iannak]! la: muJ minnu [Sannu ].,, hu:wa minnik [Sannik]! la: muf minha [janha].,, hu:wa minkum [Cankum! la: muj minhum [Canhum]. ito:D:n, " I see that M. is mistaken "]. ctLaunninnik kasla:na. acunninnuhum kaslani:n. a?ul lak,inni frtra! a?ul lak in'nina fntri:n! ma fi:l Jakkin'naha kasla:na. ma fi:J fakk in'nuhum kaslani:n. 32 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER X [Grammatical Scheme:-" CONJUNCTIVE "or SUFFIX PRONOUNS, of the Objective (Accusative) Case. Comparatives and Superlatives.] Conversation. 1. Please, take hold of this book. Now, are you holding the book, or not holding it?-Yes, I'm holding the book: I'm holding it good and well. 2. Here, Madam, take. Now, you too are holding your book, aren't you?-or are you not holding it?-Yes, I'm holding it. 3. And I too am holding a book. So now we are all holding books, all holding them. 4. Now look at the book that is in your hand. See, there's its length, there its breadth, and there its depth (thickness). The length is greater than the breadth, and the breadth than the depth; so then, the length is the greatest of the three. Similarly, the depth is less than the breadth, and the breadth than the length; and so the depth is the least of the three [or, greatest (least) of all.] 5. Now take this piece of paper. Have you got it tight?-Yes, I've got it all right. 6. And you, Madam, have you got it?-Yes, I have it all right. 7. Well then; look at this book and this sheet of paper. The paper is longer and broader than the book, but the book is heavier than the paper. How is that? It's because the depth in the case of the book is much greater than in the case of the paper. Thus the paper is lighter than the book. 8. See now these four books. Which is the biggest book of the four?.. And which is the smallest one of them?... 9. Similarly, the window is higher than the door, and the room higher than the window, so that the window is the highest of the three. And you are taller than X there, look! 10. And, contrariwise, the door is lower than the window, and the window than the door, and so the door is the lowest of the three. And X there is shorter than you. Do you understand this point? 11. A last question. Which is the nicest lesson of all these lessons? What, "Not one of them nice! All of them horrid!" No, really! Some of them must be nicer than A Conversation Grammaar 33 10. fi* nimrit Cajarca. itDma:jir muttns'ila nronsu:ba (l1ism il fa:cil). Isi: it tDfti:l. mliadsa. 1. min ft>n'lakxud il ki'tab da; dilwDnt' titaritak ma:sik.il kita:b walla muf masku?-aiw,.ana ma:sik il kita:b, ana masku?awi. 2. xudi ja sitt! dilwDjt.inti maska kaman kita:bik muf kida, walla muJ maska:h?-aiw, ana maska:h. 3. wvana kaman ma:sik kita:b, ba?a kul'lina maski:n 'kutub, kul'lina maski'nhum. 4. dilwrti fu:f [Ju:fi ju:ful il kita:b illif?i:dak. a:di 'u:lu, wa:di _,prau, w a:di sumku [or tuxnu]. iA fu:l?akbar mil $-Drf, wil iDrff?akbcar mis sumk, ba?-D) tu:l 1.akbar fit tala:ta. wi kida.,s sumk a/?alli mil CDrl, wil jDr6 a/?alli mii t u:l, ba?a,s sumk a'?allit tala:ta. [or akbar akbctr i [or akbllr mil kull or akbllr il kull.] 5. dilwYt,.imsikil 'Twar'?a di; ma'sikha kwajjis hct'tritak?aiw ana ma'sikha kwajjis. 6. winti ja sitti mas'ka:ha?-aiw\ana maska:ha?awi. 7. D rjjib, fu:f il kitab da wil warDa di. il warr?a?x4twal mil kita:b wacjr-D6 minnu kaman, wala:kin il kita:b?atral mil wctr-?a, janni ta?i:l janha. izzaj da? da aalaJa:n is sumki fil kita:b.aktctr kiti:r minnu fil wct'Da. wi 5alaJan kidal war-?(a) a'xcffi mil kita:b, janni xafi:fa rannu. mafhu:m? 8. Su:f dilwtvil kutub latrbaja do:l. anho?akbar kita:b filctarbana [or 1lakbar fil,acrbaja or akbar il kull or akbctr mil kull]?.... wanho?DseC1or wa:tid fi:hum?.... 9. wi kida kaman, if fibba:kajla mil ba:b, janni ja:li 7annu, wil?o:iav?acla miJ Jibba:k, ba?al?o:ftD hi:ja lanla fit tala:ta. wi lctafritak?-Dtwal min fula:n, Ju:faho! 10. wi bil Caks, il ba:b?awtD miJ Jibba:k wiif ibba:kawfD mil?o:igD, ba?a,l ba:b,aw.Dt tala:ta. wi fula:n?a?s-Dr min hlctfritak jajni?usDijjar Cannak. fa:him (fahma, fahmi:n) in nutD di? 11. su?a:l axi:r! anho '?atla dors fid duru:s do:l? "wala wa:lid minhum hilw, kul'luhum wihi:n?" deh da! la:zim fi:hum,aila min baSl, wi minhumawlafJ min bac5t, wi D 34 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic others, and some horrider than others! And some harder or easier, heavier or lighter, than others! Well then, please tell me of the nicest of them. the nastiest of them, the easiest, most difficult, heaviest, lightest, greatest and smallest of them!-Shall I tell you, Effendi? The nicest of them for me was the shortest of them, and the worst of them the longest! 12. That so? Well, at any rate, you understand all these points. Oh yes, I (we) understand them first-rate. Towards Composition. Do you see the Great Pyramid (htarvm) yonder? Bigger than it there is not. It is the biggest thing in the world, yes, the biggest of all (the) things that are in the world:-but not the highest of them. But as for the Arabs who are there-well! worse than them there are not! Ah, there's the little pyramid. That one (which is) in the middle is bigger and higher than it, and the Great Pyramid is the biggest and highest of the three. 4 Conversation Grammar 35 minhumn.SDab wvashal, wat?al wvaxaffi min bcta! tDjjib?ul li min fotlak ]ala ai'la:hum w.aw'thaJhum w^rashalhum w.Ds'rabhum w atValhum w axctf'fuhum, wak'barhum wTD,'oTrrhum. —a?ul lak j.,afandi, aI'la:hum nandi?asDrrhum, w-awvhlaJhumj{Df'walhum! 12. kida? 5ala kull lia:l inti fahma kull in 'nuDt do:l.Lintu fahmi:nIl rfa'himhum ) aiwa J fah'ma:hum. kwajjis x:.liNs. Lfah'minhumJ 1. (A boy speaks.) ma'sikni le:h, ja jali maska:ni,,,, fDma. mas'kinni,,,, gidna:n. 2. (A girl speaks.) ma'sikni le:h ja cali. maska:ni,,,, ftma. mas'kinni,,,, gidna:n. 3. (Both speak.) masikna le:h ja cali. maska:na,,,, fitma. maskinna,,, gidna:n. Why are you holding me? For drill. 2. maniJ inaskak. rnaska:k. mahlFnaf maski:nak. manif 'maskik.,, maska:ki. mathnaJ maski:nik. manif ma'sikkum.,, as'ka:kum. mah'naf mas'kinkum. I'm not holding you. 3. s&tii:l mahuj 'masku. 7,, mahiJ maska:h. ma'hummaf maski:nu.,, mahu mna'sikha.,, mahiJ maska:ha.,, mahummaJ mas'kinha.,, mahuJ ma'sikhum.,, mahiJ maska:hum.,, mahummaj mas'kinhum. Quite right, he's not holding him. For Memory-work (intone rhythmically). 'ahla dctrs hu'wa?sDr dars! 'wawlia dars hu'w.,Dtwal dars! il farDnsa:wi -sib, wilvalma:n(i) -DCab, la:kin il ]ctrpbi hu'wiDjsab il kull. 36 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic For Systematic Grammar. Active Participle with suffixes. (1) These suffix pronouns (being direct objects to these verbparticiples) are pronouns of the objective or accusative case. In form, however, they are exactly the same as the suffixes of the possessive or genitive (see p. 28), with the single exception that the consonant-suffix -ni " me" replaces the vowel-suffix -i my ". (2) Observe that the rule for suffixing vowel or consonant pronouns to participles is exactly the same as that for suffixing them to nouns (see p. 29). Thus: Vowel-suffixes to consonant- Consonant-suffixes to endings. vowel endings. 3. sing. maskiu, maski:nDu but maska:.h. 2. sing. (m.) maskiak, maski:nmak but maska::k. 2. sing. (f.) masik masi, ki:n':ik but maska:kki. (3) Notice the elisions of vowels, loss or gain of length, and shifting of accent, consequent on suffixing (see Phonetics of Arabic, pp. 68-72), which here receive a complete and summary exemplification: ma:sik, but masku (for ma:siku). 'ma:sik, but ma'sikni (for ma:sikni). maska, for ma:sika. 'maska, but mas'ka:ni. mas'ki:n, for ma:siki:n. A Conversation Grammiar 3 37 Gompiarcttives and Su~eltvs (1) Turn back to VI, sentences 8-12, and compare now the two ways of effecting comparison in Egyptian Arabic:-kibihr Ijan.. akba~r min... (2) Note the two ways of rendering the superlative as in " the oldest man " akba~r rD:qil and ir r-D:.il 1Lakbaxr. The former, being very peculiar and also the commonest method, should be minutely noted. If the _plural is? used the definite article must also be used; thus akbctr ria:,qil but akbcur ir riggcad.a or L,-,akbcir fir rigga.la, (see sentence 4 below). (3) The following columns show clearly the arrangement of the consonants and vowels when (a) all three radicals are different and " strong" (b) the third radical is " weak " (i. e. is w or j (c) the second and third are the same. (a) (b) (C) kibi.-r-'ak bar hilw-'ahla(-:) xctfi,.f a'xctff I I I I I! 11~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I f-Dwi —l-'Dntwal Wa:'.i~j)- aWt() '?ali,.l a?a 11 I I i I I~ etc.?u~s-jjar-'1a'?,sor jali(j) - aj Ia(.) I I I ~ ~~~etc.,sugb-jjar-'Th~sq-Dr etc. (4) The original initial? almost always disappears in connected speech (hu.w,_,akbcLr not hu~wa?akbctr); and the definite article is reduced to 1 (1lakbar, 1jvw 1, lDjohctr "the Al Azhar mosque "). (5) Note the phonetic effects of suffixing. 'akbar but ak'ba~rhum a'xctff,, axctf'fuhum a'ala,, ah'la-.hum. 38 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XI The FIVE SENSES, with their Verbs. 1. Look! This is my eye! I see with my eye. That is your eye, and you see with your eye. I have two eyes and you have two eyes. 2. This is my nose, and I smell with it. And you smell with your nose. 3. This is my ear and these are my ears. I hear with my ears and you hear with yours. 4. This is my tongue, and I taste with my tongue. Do not you taste with yours? 5. Thus we have now four senses; first, sight; secondly, smell; thirdly, hearing; fourthly, taste. And there remains to us one more sense, touch-a general one, for I touch with my hand, my foot, and my whole body. 6. Let us say together: "I see with my eye, and hear with my ears, and smell with my nose, and taste with my tongue, and touch with my hand." (The b in the Arabic of these verbs is for " now" or for " habitually", and the a is for "I "). " And you see ", etc. (The t is for " you ".) 7. Listen now! See this rose, how sweet it is! Smell its scent, it is lovely. Touch its leaves, they are smooth, not rough. Taste a leaf of them, it is bitter, not sweet. rsee ' taste 8. To-morrow you shall tat, this rose again, D.V. Ltouchi (The iacL in the Arabic here is for the future, that is to-morrow, the day after to-morrow, the day after that, and all the after time, just- as the b is for the present.) Towards Composition. With what do you touch? I touch with my whole body in general (jumu:man), and with my hand in particular (xuSu:nDn). Touch is the one general sense: sight, hearing, smell, and taste are particular (xususaijja) senses. A Conversation Grammar 89 11. fvsl nimrit hida:ctar. il liawass il xamsa-bi?afia-lha. 1. Ju:f! di ce:ni. ana bafJu:f bi Ce:ni. wi di Ce:nak, w inta bitJu:f bi Ce:nak. ana lijja Cene:n, winta lik Cene:n. [f. inti liki.] 2. di manaxi:ri wana b aJimmi bi:ha, winta bi.tfimmivb manaxi:rDk. 3. di widni wi do:l wida:ni, wmana b.asmaS bi_,wda:ni, wvinta,b tismal bivwda:nak. 4. da lisa:ni, w.,ana badu:? bi),lsa:ni, mufinta bi tdu:? bi, lsa:nak? 5. jala kida ian'dina dilwD?tcarbaC liawa:ss. (fil awwil) in nD~zmr; (fit ta:ni) iJf amm; (fit ta:lit) is samaj; (fir rD:bic) id do:?. wi fcu:il Cale:na hlassa wahda kaman, il.lams, wi hijja jumumijja, alaaJa:n.an almis bi:di wib rigli wi, b kull' gismi. '6. niu:l sawa —"ana b,aJu:f bi Ce:ni, wTi basmac bivwda:ni wi b_,afimmib manaxi:ri, wi badu:? bijlsa:ni, wi bvalmis b,.i:di. (il be: til afa;:l do:l ialafan ' dilwtti ho' walla ' tamalli', wil?alif Jalafan ' ana' )." "w inta bitJu:f" etc. (it te: hina calaJan 'inta'.) 7. islmac dilw-ot! fu:f il warda di,?add e:h hi:ja hilwa! wi Jimmi ri'tiitha, hi:ja kwaj'jisa xD:lis'! wilmis wD'rD?ha, hu:wa na:Sim muj xiJin; wi du:? 'wDrD?a minha, hi:ja murrc muf liilwa. 8. bukra thatju:f ) wi liatduimm wi*ia ilmis f il warda di ta:ni in / a?-DTT): wi ha tilmis J (il ha hina ]alaJan il musta?bil, jaini bukra wi ba?di bukra wi bacdi baSdi bukra wi kull.il wD?t illi bacdi kida, zajjil be: Calafan il ha:l). For Memory-work. ana bafIu:f bi Ce:ni, wi baJimmi.b manaxi:ri, wi badu'? bilsa:ni, wi basmai bi,_wda:ni, wi bjalmis bVi:di. a:divl ia'wassil xamsa-in nD-mr, wif famm, wid do:?, wis samaq, wil lams. 40 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic For Drill. (Between three speakers.) 1, (Imperative.) Ju:f (Ju:fi)! du:? (du:?i)! Jimm (Jimmi)! 'ilmis (il'misi)! 'isma5 (is'magi)! 2. (Future.) iafJu:f bi?e:h? li,adu:? bi?e:h? li aJimmib?e:h? tialmis bi?e:h? itasman bi?e:h? 3. (Vague.) tifu:f (tiju:fi) bi je:nak(-ik). tidu:? (tidu:7i) bilsa:nak. tijimm (tijimmni) bi manaxi:rrk. tilmis (til'misi) bi:dak. tisllma (tistmaji) bi,,wda:nak. A Conversation Grammar 41 1. ana Juft..,, du?t;...,, famme:t....,, lamast...,, simijt ii. The next day. 2. inta Juft (f. Jufti) e:h?,, du?t (du?ti) e:h?,, Jamme:t (jamme:ti) e:h?,, lamast (lamasti) e:h?, simint e:h? 1 " Your voice." 1. Jufti warda. duti wDrba minha. famme:t riliitha. lamasti wDrD?a minha. simiWti so:tak.' 42 lEgyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XII [Grammatical Scheme: The POSSESSIVE (GENITIVE) Case with bita:].] Introduction. (For committal to memory.) Here is a man upon his donkey, and a lady on her she-ass, and two servants riding their donkeys. Look! In this picture there is a man, a merchant, riding his donkey. This man is rich and contented. His name is Girgis, and see, here is his wife, named Maryam, she being likewise mounted on her she-ass, Here, see, are two of their servants riding behind them, the man-servant behind Girgis and the maid-servant behind Maryam. The man-servant's name is Fareed, and the maid-servant's is Fareeda. See, here too is something nice, a little girl riding in front of the maid here, she being her daughter. FOR DRILL. 1. Miasculine. the mansthe man's Girgis's Girgis's my donkey?- your donkey. your horse?- my horse. Where is 1 his study?- Here is his s study. '? hbell?- bell, our etc. your etc. your our Ltheir their Towards Composition. Look at this picture and at that! In this (there is) a merchant riding his ass, with his wife and his servants. In that, a king (malik) riding his mare, and behind him lots of people (na:s), all of them riding their horses (xe:l). Both the pictures are very good. Tell me, who would-you-think (ja turn) is contented-the king or the merchant? Perhaps (jimkin) neither (la:) this-one, nor that. Perhaps this peasant is more contented than both of them [or than this one and that]. I -4 I 4 Conversation Grammar 43 12. f~Dl nimrit itnat:ar. il?itD:fa bi " bita:j ". tamhi:d —lil hiif- g~e:ban. '?aho rD:gil fo:? il liuma:r bita:cju wi walda sitti fo:- il liumclarDbta'itha wi xaddame:nitne:n rvkbi:n il hami:r bit uhum. Ju:f! fis su:ra di rm:gil ta:gir ra:kib il humcur bita:cu. wir rv:gil da gani mabsu:*, wjismu girgis, wis sittibtaStu he! is'maha marjim, wi hijja kaman r-Dkbal liumac:rnDbta'itha. ahummaftne:n mil xaddami:n bituchum rDkbi:n warv:hum, il xctdda:m war-D girgis wil xctdda:ma wcarD marjim. ismil xadda'm bita'c girgis fari:d, wism il xadda:ma b'ta:cit marjim fari:da. wi Ju:f kaman ha:g9a ]ilwa, bintisDjjctra, rDkba?udda:m il xadda:ma wi hi:ja bin'taha. For Drill. (a) followed by word or suffix beginning with a vowel. (b) followed by word or suffix beginning with a consonant. (c) where shift of accent is required. r(a) bi'ta ir ir r):gil (b) bi'tai girgis bi ta5 girgis il Iumcar (a) bita-:i bita:;ak (-ik) il hus:-D:n bita:cak (-ik) | h- bita:i bita: u fe:?-'ahol maktab - bita:.u il maktab (b) bitacha aDs bitacha il gar-Ds bitajna bitackum bitaqkum bitaqna L bitachum bitajhum Substitution, for elision of i owing to previous vowel-ending. (a),bta:j ir rDg:il' ' _bta-: ir rx):jil ] (b) _btac girgis gbta5 girgis (a) ibtak:i _bta:cak (-ik) il bcatli jbta:cak (-ik) wiTii" ril bagli vbta:i. il hibri -j,bta;5u -walla. il hibri t bta:lu >' il lahmi (b),btanha mli.i?- lil lalimi _btanha,_btacna }btackum I btaSkum J btacna L btachum k btachum Is the mule [ink, meat] of... bad or good? 44 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic 9. F7~emininl~e-bistitalt il filu:s il farnD ],-lfja:n ((a) bitajt,is sitt - (b) bi'tai:it marjim (c) bitajitha (a) bi'tati I bitatak (-ik) fe:n?-ahi 1 bitajtu (c) bitajitna bitaiitkum I bitacithum rbi'tactjis sitt bi'ta.:it marjim bita'jitha filu:s bitantak (-ik) farDs - bitaUti n-Dja:n bitantu bita'jitkum bita itna bitajithum Where is the money [mare, estate] of...? Substitution, for elision of-i, as before. il xadda:mabta:cit marjim aiwa_,l xadda:ma,_bta:5it marjin hilwa? liilwa?awi. if Jamsijjabtajtis sitti aiwaJ famsijja,btaStis sitti nafja? nafna?awi. it tilmi:zabta'5itha kaslana? aiwat tilmi:za.btat'itha kasla:na?awi, etc. Is Maryam's servant pretty? Is the lady's parasol (umbrella) a good one? Is her pupil lazy? 3. Plural-bitu:. The plural follows the singular so exactly (bitu:5?bita:j) that it may be practised as a mere variation. Thus: il himiir ): bi:ir r bitu:5 ir imir | l rwgil, | rmgil il naxe. b butuS girgis fe:n?-ahumma,l1 xe:l bitui il 3nt aka:tib | etc.gis il buju:t IJ e il buju:t etc. And similarly for elision of i. il talamza( btu:l riilf ahummabt ir r:ilf z.tu: ir)il il talamza{ ~j.irr.g. l }fe? ahummat talanmza {JU i r r i.btul girgis: t tala btul girgis Where are the donkeys [horses], studies, houses of..? Where are the pupils of...? A Conversation Grammar 45 For Systematic Grammzar. (1) Notice that the noun which precedes bita-.1 must always be made definite by il. The expression il be-t bita:-~i means literally " the house (which is) my property ". To leave out il and say be,.t bital~i for " my house " I's a bad mistake.' (2) Write out bita.cj, bita:cjit, and bitu:cj with all the suffixes, making the necessary elisions and shifts of accent. Elision of:. takes place whenever two consonants come after the long vowel, or where the accent is shifted from it. (3) Notice the elision of i in bi.... whenever the preceding noun ends in a vowel, I 'A house of myine'I would be be:t min bitu:9i. ' Our Girgis' would be girgis bitagna, for here the proper name is already definite. 46 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XIII [Grammatical Scheme:-The GENITIVE, or POSSESSIVE, by " Annexation ".] 1. Do you remember the picture of last lesson, and its story? Look at it again, please. What is the name of that man? -His name is Girgis. 2. And the donkey is whose donkey?-The donkey is his donkey, that is, Girgis's donkey. 3. And where is Girgis's wife?-There is Girgis's wife! 4. And what is his wife's name?-His wife's name is Maryam. 5. And where is the maid-servant's daughter?-There is the maid-servant's daughter! 6. Of whom is this the man-servant and this the maid-servant? -This is the servant of Girgis and this the servant of Maryam. 7. Isn't his servant her's as well as her servant his?-Yes. 8. Good. We have now seen that Girgs d y are just the same and have the and same meaning; the donkey of Girgis and similarly the donkey of Girgis's servant, etc. and similarly the donkey of Maryam's maid-servant, etc. -all these, too, mean exactly the same. 9. But behold the vast difference between " the servant girl", and between " the girl's a servant "!, and between "the servant's girl" (= daughter) A Conversation Grammar 47 13. fvDl nimrit talatta:car. il?iTD.fa:-il muiw:f wil muTiv:f lu. 1. inta fa:kir is' su:r_,b/taCtid dars il ma:ti wil iika:ja. bta/jitha? Jufha ta:ni min fDtlak. ism ir rD.:il da?e:h? -ismu girgis. 2. wil iumc:r tiumcar mi:n? —il liumacr liuma:ru janni huma'r girgis. 3,. wi zo:git girgis fe:n? —a'he: zo:git girgis. 4. wjismi zogtu?e:h?-ismi zogtu marjim. 5. wi bint. il xcdda:ma fe:n?-bint il xadda:ma he:. 6. do:l xctdda'm mi:n wi xacdda:mit mi:n?-da'ho' xcad'da'm girgis wi di'he' xadda:mit marjim. 7. mufxatdda:mu xtd'damha kaman, wi xadda'mitha xad'damtu? -aiwa xadda:mu... 8. t-Djjib fufna dilwm?t inni iumcur girgis n wi zajji bacs, bi manna wa:hid; il humc:r bitaj girgisa wa: wi kidahuma:rit marjim f rtuma:ru rxcdda'mitha il liumct:rDbta:it m. wi il luma:r 1wi il xadda:ma., J bita:uJ h bta'itha kulluhum bi macna wa:lid. wi kidaliuma:r xadda:m girgis } wi luma:r il xcdda:m bita5 girgis w il huma'r bita:ci il xadda'm bitalc girgis. wi kidaliuma:rit xadda:mit mctrjim wi luma:rit il xadda:mabta:jit marjim w il luma:rrD,btaCtil xadda:ma_,bta:lit marjim kulli do:l kaman bi macna wa:liid. 9. wala:kin fu:f il far? il kibi'r xv:lis be:n"il bint il xadda:ma ", wi be:n "il binti xadda:ma"!, wi be:n "bint il xadda:ma ". 48 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic 10. Another question. Where are Maryam's eyes?-Here are her eyes, in her face. 11. And where are the legs of Girgis's servant?-Here are his legs, hanging down from on the donkey. 12. Just so: and my eyes are in my face, and your eyes are in your face; the eyes of each one of us are in his face. 13. A last question. What is around every one of us, around you and around me?-The air is around all people, around you and around me. 14. I thank you.-Don't mention it. Thank you. For drill. Where is Mohammad's house. - D'you mean my brother's house? -Yes, his. Where is my daughter's parasol?-D'you mean, etc. What's the colour of (your) eyes?-Honey-coloured (blue, green as clover), etc. Towards Composition. My dear brother, My cook is honest (?ami:n), thank goodness, but he is not clever! His name is Oppressed (!) (mnrzlu:m), but really Iam the Oppressed-one, for my kitchen is always dirty, and my food not at all nice. My cook's son is even dirtier than his father; but his father says that "his eyes and yours and mine are exactly the same —green as clover!" Many thanks to him-and the clover! Many greetings from your affectionate brother, JOuH PEEL. A1 Conversation Grammar 49 10. kaman su?a:l. lene'n1 marjim fe:n?-ahumma jene:ha fi wiffaha! 11. wi rigle'n xcadda'm girgis fe:n?-ahumma rigle:h, nazli:n min al Rlumacr! 12. tamam, wi 5enajja.f wiJfi, wi 5ene:k (Sene:n iact'ritak) fi wiJfak, baa 5ene:n kulli wa:lid minna, f wijfu. 13. su?a:l axrmni. e:h ili lia waleL: kulli wa:lid minna, wi hfawalajja wi liawale:k?-il ihawa hawale:n kullin na:s, wi hawale:k, wi tlawalajja. 14. kattar xe:rDk-il 5afw! kattctr xe:riDkinta. tamri:n. 1. be't mnlammad fe:n? Jamsijjit binti fe:n? lo:n 5ene:ke:h? lo:n 5ene:ki?e:h? lo:n 5ene:hume:h? 2. 3. janni 1 be:t bita:5 axu:ja? aiwa be:tu janni J Jamsijja bta:5it aiwa Jamsij'jitha fari:da? lo:n 5enajja 5asali rlo.n 5ene:h 5asali lo:n 5enajja?azrDt? lo:n i ene:ha?azrD lo:n en:hum r on 5ene:humaDr on eehumaxTDr zajjil bacrsi:r! L zajjil barsi:m 'or Memory-work. (To tune of "John Peel".) 5ene:n il be'h wi 5elne'k wi 5enajja, rigle:n il be'h wi rig'le'k wi riglajja,?ide:n il be::h! wi?'de-k wi?dajja; (Spoken) kida walla la?? is su?a'l da 5ale'k muJf alajja! walde:n2 il be'h wi walde'k wi waldajja hawale:n il be'h, Iiawale:k, hawalajja, is su?a'l 1al be::h! mufS ale-k mujS alajja! nahta:rDk muba:r)Dk ja si:di. 1 For sentences illustrating parts of the body see pp. 170, 171. 2 Parents. E 50 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic For Systematic Grammar. (1) In the case of pronouns we had already seen how possession is expressed (a) indirectly by means of bita:j e. g. il be:t bita:jak, or (b) directly by "annexing " the suffix pronoun to the substantive, e. g. be:tak. Precisely the same two methods are used when nouns are substituted for pronouns. By annexation ". il be:t bita:ji be:ti,,,, bita5 mahmu:d be't malimu:d f {il xadda:ma btanti xaddamti,,,, bta:5it nmahmu:d xadda:mit mal.J (2) In most languages declension affects the possessor. The peculiarity of Arabic is that in annexation it is the possessed that is affected, and that in two ways (see the right-hand column above): (a) the definite article il is dropped, e. g. be:t it ta:gir " the merchant's house ", be:t ta:gir "a merchant's house" (where to say il be:t... is an even worse mistake than to leave out il in the left-hand column);' (b) the feminine -a is changed to -it (or -t), e. g.: sa:Cit marjim " Mary's watch" sacti "my watch ". 1 il is dropped because the noun is sufficiently made definite by the annexation. A Conversation Grammnar 51 Annexation to a feminine produces so much in the way of elision, loss Of length, a shifting of acecent, that the student should collect instances under the following scheme: sa:5~a. sa-cjit nclrjim. salcitha. 'sa~jti. kalba. kalbit,, kal'bitha: kal'biti. xctdda-.m. xctd da-.mit nwtrjirn. xadda'mitha. xctd'damti. mahadsa.' ml~radsit,, miiad'sitha. m~'ad'siti. etc. (3) The indirect method is the most frequent in colloquial, but is inadmissible in the following cases:-parts of the body; and near relatives (except sitt when it means wife-is sitti btacjti i.my wife ", sitti "my grandmother "). Other cases may be noted as they occur. 1 Conversation. 52 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XIV [Grammatical Scheme:-"' To have " by means ofmaja, 5and, and li.] SCENE, Cairo. TIME, after sunset. A BICYCLIST. A POLICEMAN. A GROCER. BYSTANDERS. Policeman. Light up, Effendi, you riding the bicycle there! It's dark (= the world is darkness). Effendi. It's early still, officer. It's quite light, and it's still only sunset. P. Sunset indeed! Why, we're near nightfall.1 Haven't you a watch on you? E. No, I haven't. P. Why haven't you? Haven't you a watch at home,-how on earth do you go out [without knowing what time it is]? E. I have no watch at home, and I haven't one in the whole world. And why this question? What, are you my partner? Bystanders (to each other). Strange! A fine Effendi like that, who hasn't a watch on him, nor in the house, nor a watch at all! Others. No, my good sir, that's a wily one. He only said that because of the policeman. P. The best you can do is to light up. There is no need to get angry. E. My goodness! I have no matches on me! Have you a match about you, officer, or haven't you? P. Not my job. Ask the grocer there. Bystanders. Ah yes, bound to be at the grocer's! E. Good evening, Mr. Grocer. Grocer. Good evening to you. FE. Have you matches for sale? G. No, with much regret, we haven't. E. How is it you haven't? Haven't all grocers got matches? G. Yes, they have: but what we have is out,-just this moment. Some one. See, Effendi, —at the tobacconist on the other side. Others. Yes, that's right: the tobacconists stock that sort more than the grocers,-that's their trade. E. My goodness! I have a match-box in my pocket, and I forgot it! The Policeman, the Grocer, the Tobacconist, and All. Well there! What a fuss without any use. Light up, 'Effendi, and no more fuss! Good-bye. E.. Good-bye all. 1 The policeman is going by the minaret-calls: " sunset " and two hours after sunset ". A Conversation Grammar 53 14. fs-l nimrit ctrbajtct:.Jcr. il milk, bi " 5and " wi "li" wi 'maa a". Jawi:J. wallaj in nu:r jafandi, jaklli ra:kib il bislK.litt, id dinja jatma. afandi. lissa badri ja Jawi:J, id dinja nu:r, wifitna lissa.l mat-rib. Ja. mlagrib e:h! darina?urb il 'ifa, imuj maSak sa:laa? af. la: mamji:f sa:Sa ja si:di. Ja. leh lma.vmakJ? muJf andak sa:5a fil be:t, umm.:l linta xa:riq iz za:j? af. ana ma jandi:j sa:ca fil be:t wala li:j fid dinja xD:liis? wi le:h is su?a:l da? hu:wninta firi:ki? il wafi:n (li bca'ctuhum). jagi:b! afandi zajji da ndi:f, ma_ mnu:J sa:^a, wala jandu:J fil be:t, wala lu:S bil mcarra! tanji:n. la: ja fe:x, da makkca:r wi bassi?a:l kida 5alaJan ij awiJ:! fa. il?alisan ja si:di wallav wi ma fi:f luzu:m liz zajal. af. ja sala:nm! ma.miPj kabri:t! inta ja fawi:S ma'a:k, walla mamliakf? fa. muJ fugli. fu:f il ba??a:laho. wa?fi:n. aiwa tDru:ri jand il ba??a:l. af. leltak saji:da ja si:di. ba?. leltak saci:da,mbarka! af. intu Cantdukum kabri:t lil be:. ba?. la:, bi kulli?asaf ma jandina:j. af. izzaj ma 5andukui:, muf kullvil ba??ali:n 5an'duhum? ba?. aiwa ian/duhum, wala:kin illi canfdina xDlcua:, min tawwi bass. wa:lid. fu:f jvafandi CandJil da'xaxni fin nalijat tanja. tanji:n. aiwajl la??i s1Dii:h, id daxaxnijja San'duhum is s-Dnfi da?aktar mil ba??ali:n, calajan da kaurhum. af. ja sala:m baclru maca:ja ]ilbit kabri:t w ana na:si! il fawi:f wil ba??a:l wid daxaxni wil kull. deh da! xawta min -e'r fajda! wallai jafandi wi balaJ dawfa. ma'cavs sala:ma! af. -DttDh jisallimkum! 54 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic For Composition. I understand that maca and Hand and li are all of them for "having" (owning-il milk); but there is a difference between them, which is, that maja is for small things in the hand or the pocket; land is for things in house or shop; and li is for big property (milk), or property in general (wis sala:m). I am like that Effendi, I don't have matches, pencil, nor watch about me except rarely (bin na:dir); but I have at home many match-boxes (ilab) of my friends', and possibly (jimkin) a pencil or two (I thank them much)! 1 have a watch-it isn't that I haven't-but it is usually in hospital (fil isbi'talja), that is at the watchmaker's. For Memory-worc. (To tune of " Three Blind Mice ".) lijja.w li:k, bijjaw bi:k, fijjaw fi:k, lak luh li: bak bi:ha bi: fi:k fi:ha fi: ma'5ak, mana:ja, mam'5u'J, mam'9i:i, wi lu, wi lijja, ma lu'J, ma li:J. "ma m'5akJi 'ilba ja baJfawi:J? " "balaj, ma fi:f!" A Conversation Grammar 55 _For Verb Drill. " Have", in present. ma a. 1. mal'ak?alam rusD:I?' maja:ki?llam rusT):s? maia:ku?alam r1u.sD:s? ma.mjakJi kabri:t? malmjaki:f, ma.,,mjaku:J,, 5andak sa:ja wvalla ma 5an'dakj? candik,,, ma Candi'ki:J? ianduku,,,, ma 5andu'ku:j? ma lakf baza'burt 2.iz za:j? malki:,, ma lku:J.,,, 8. 2. aiwa, maa:ja. I, mala:ja.,, macana. la ma,mni:I.,,,, 7,,,, ma m:anaJf. aiwa 5andi la ma jandi:f. an'dina; muJ ma 5andi'na:! lijja, muf ma li:J.3 lin! mul m2aina:7.4 liua! muJ ma,lna:J.4 5aqi:ba! ma,'a:h!,, mafca:ha!, ma'a:hum! zajj il 5a:da! 5-ma,,mSu:fj!,, mavmSaha:j!,, mamahumn! muf s sTi:h! ma 5andu:f. 5an'daha! muf ma 5andaha:J! SDlii:Ih, 5an/duhum, muJ ma 5andu'humf. snhti:.i luh, muf ma lu:J.,, laha muf ma,lha:J.,, luhum nmu majlhumf. For Systematic Grammar. (1) Notice there is no verb for " have " in Arabic. " I have " is rendered by expressions meaning (" there is) with me " maca:ja; (" there is) chez-moi " jandi; (" there is) to me" lijja. (2) On the whole the last two are used pretty interchangeably in Egyptian colloquial, but the distinction noted in the text is sometimes suggested. The first is used for small articles " on" or ' about" a person, i. e. in his hand or his pocket. 1 Lead pencil. 2 Passport. 3 I have: it isn't that I haven't "-a quite common form of an asseveration. Or assimilated to manna:.. 5 As usual! 56 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XV [Grammatical Scheme:-The Verb "To Be" in Past and Indefinite. " There is, was, will be ". " Had, will have ".] Conversation. CALENDARi Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1. Do you see this table? What is to-day amongst these days? -To-day is [for example] Friday. 2. Good, and what was the day before it?-The day before it was Thursday. 3. And the day before yesterday was what?-The day before yesterday was Wednesday. 4. And what will the day after Friday, that is to-morrow, be?... 5. Are there lessons in the Government Schools on Sunday, the day after tomorrow?-Yes, there are. 6. And are there on Friday?-No, there aren't. 7. Were there lessons here last Tuesday?-Yes, there were. 8. And on Sunday were there?-No, there weren't. 9. Were you in church last Sunday?-Yes, I was (or No, I wasn't). 10. Will you be next Sunday?-D.V. I shall be. 11. When there's rain on Sunday, will (would) there be people in the church?-Yes, there will be all the same. 12. Would there be a lesson on a very rainy day? -Perhaps there wouldn't be. The Effendi again. Listen, my dear fellow, to the strange incident of yesterday! I was riding my bicycle, when, lo and behold, a certain policeman said to me, " Light up ". (By the way, I had no matches on me that day.) The policeman said that we were near nightfall, while I said it was barely sunset. So he said, " Look what time it is", but I had no watch on me! And in fact I had no watch 1 " A day of rain '", by annexation. A Conversation Grammar 57 15. f-1l nimrit xamastct:fcr. filli "ka:n". " kal:ll bi '" fi:h' wi '" and ". niti:ga - (jo:m) il ladd,, litnen,, it tala:t,, larbaj,, il xami:s,, il gumia,, is sabt 1. inta 'fajif il gadwal daho? innahcrda jo:mlle:h fil?ajjau'n di?-innaharda jo:m il gumla Lmasalan]. 2. f-ojjib, il jo:m.illi?ablu (jajnimrnba:rili) ka:n e:h?-il jo:milli?ablu ka:n il xami:s. 3. wvawwilimba:riht ka:n.,e:h?awwil,imba:rit ka'n jo'm laxrbac]. 4. wil jo:mnilli bajdil gumSa (jacni bukra) jiku:nve:h?... 5. fi: (fih) duru:s fil mada:ris il mirijja joi: il ladd bacdi bukra?-aiwa fi:h. 6. wif jo:m il qumna fih duru:s?-la ma fi:. 7. ka:n fih duru:s hina jo:m it tala:t il ma:ui? ---aiwa ka:n fih duru:s. 8. wi.,f jo:m il hacddi ka'n fi:h?-la malkanfi fi:h. 9. kunti 1 actiritak fil kini:sa jo:m il liadd.il mcuffi?-aiwa kunt (or la: ma kuntif).2 10. tiku:n hina:k il hadd ig 9a:j?-in 'a?DtTD:haku:n hina:k. 11. lamma jiku'n fih m-rrDr jo:in i liadd, jiku:n fih na:s fil kini:sa?-aiwa, jiku:n fih baritu. 12. jiku:n fih darsi cjarDbi fi jo'm rnmaDr fidi:d?-jimkin ma jkunJi fi:h. 1jafandi kaman. ju:f ja liabi:bi n nadrD)l gctri:babtact imba:rili! ana kutti ra:kib il cagalabtaiti, illa.w '?al li wa:Rid fawi:j '"wallal in nu:r ". Ia(:)kim3 ma kanJSima:ja kabri:t fi jomha. wiS Jawi:J?al li?in'nina?urb il ifJa. wvana?ult " ilna lissa 1 magrib ".?am?al li, " uf sajtak kam dilwDt "; wala:kin ma kanPimja:ja sa:^a!-wil sai:ja innu ma kanifi candi sa:ja fil be:t, wala:kin 1 Mase. mi:ri. 2 Generally assimilated-kutt, ma kuttif. 3 Or tsli "my origin" = "originally I = the fact is that I":-curious expressions on which the student should keep his eye, as they are very frequent. 58 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic at home, but I had a watch-at the watchmaker's. Then I said to him, " Give me a match ". He said, "Aren't any" and got angry. All this was mannerless: but the bystanders told me to look at the grocer's,-perhaps he'd have matches. But he hadn't either, for, you see, those grocers haven't much of that sort. And after all this fuss, my dear fellow, I had matches in my pocket all the time without knowing it! Questions on the above piece. 1. Had that Effendi a watch at home?-No, he hadn't. Had his wife?-Probably she hadn't. Had their children?-No, for certain they hadn't. 2. Will that Effendi have matches the next time when he rides his bicycle after sunset?-I hope he will! How should he not have, after this incident? Will he have a watch at home?-Yes, he will, when it comes from the watchmaker's. When will his children have watches?-They'll have watches when they grow older. Towards Composition. We had a jolly "fantasia" here yesterday. There were games of every sort-only there was no tennis. When we have a court (mallab) for tennis there will be great joy chez-nous. I was at Fowzi Bey's yesterday, who has a fine court, but to my great regret I had no racket (m-vffrb). I have an excellent racket, but my brother had it at home that day. A Conversation Grammar 59 kan lijja sa:ia — and is saja:ti. wi bande:n?ul'ti lu "hat kabri:t".?al "mafi:f" wi zi'il llmaa:ja, wi ka'n da min %-e'r?adab; wala:kin il wafi:n?a'lu: li aju:f il ba??a'l, jinlkin jiku:n iandu kabri:t. wala:kin hu:wa kaman ma kanfi jandu-ata:ri1 1 ba??a:lin do:l ma jkunJi janduhum kiti'r mi's, qDnfi da. wi bajdJil xawta di kullaha ja iabi:bi, ka-n nmaa:ja kabri't fi ge:bi, wvana ma kuttiJf a:rif! as?ila fil 1titta di. 1. kan Candi l,afandi da sa:Sa fil be:t?-la ma kanji Candu sa:ca. kan nandi zogtu sa:ja?-fil gra:lib ma kanfi aanfdaha. kan jandiwladhum sa'a:t?-la: bit ta?ki:d ma kanji jan'duhum. 2. jiku:n maja l1afandi da kabri:t ta:ni marra lamma jirkab il 5agalabtajtu bacd il mcagrib?-ijja(:)k jiku:n maca:h! ma jkunfi ma/'a:h iz zaj basd in nadrta di! jiku'n candu sa:ja fil be: t?-aiwa jiku'n Candu sa:ca lamma ti:gi min cand is sana:ti. jiku'n 5and il wila:d do:l saja:t emta?-jiku'n jand il wila:d saia:t lammna jik'bclru. For Memory-work. deh da! Mslak ma kanJI' andak sa:ia fil be:t wala kanfi mal'ak sa:ja fi ge:bak. atari:k kutti mit?cxxorjinna'harda fil maktab! lammajku'n Candak sai:a tiba mnD)bu:t fi mawaci:dak. 1 Equivalent to, "for, you see": this particle reasons from the effect (see Luke vii. 47, Colloquial Version), or, as here, from the general circumstances: or is equivalent to " No wonder then...", " Now we see why..", when the cause that accounts for something striking is discovered. 60 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Were you at the meeting yesterday?-Yes, I was. Where were you at the time, madam?-I was at the Cinema. Where were you, children?-We were asleep. Weren't you in Cairo last year?-No, I wasn't there (lit. existent, present). Where will you be to-morrow?-I shall be in Upper Egypt. So, then, you won't be here? For Systematic Grammar. (1) Write out the two tenses ka:n jikun; also with negative. (2) Write out the precisely similar?a:l ji?u:l and Ja:fjifu:f; also with negative, (3) When the verbs ka:n jiku:n are combined with fi:h, landu, etc., they remain in the 3rd sing. masc., whatever be the gender or number of the preceding pronouns or nouns. They must here be thought of as impersonal, i. e. as meaning " there was ", "there will be "; hence they do not change whatever their grammatical subject may be. (4) Notice that jik:.n is not only needed to express the future of "to have " and " there is ", but is also necessary after conjunctions introducing a dependent clause like "' when ", e. g. "When there is \a lesson... you have lamma jku'n fh dars. Landak J A Conversation Grammar 61 For Drill. 1. kutti fil gamjijja.lmba:rili? kutti fe'n wvY/taha ja sitt? kuttu fe:n wv?'taha jawla:d? ma kuttiJ fi mmDsri aamnawwil? ma kutti:J inti ja sitt? wala kuttu:J intu mawgudi:n? tiku:n fe:n bukra? tiku:ni,,, tiku:nu,,, baa matkunJlt hirna?,, majtkuni:J hina?,, matkunu:.,, 2. aiwa kutti fi:ha. kutti fis si:ma. kunna najmi:n. la: ma kuttif mawgu:d. la: ma kuttiJ ana kaman. la ma kuuna:f. aku:n fifs siji:d. niku:n fis sisi:id. la ma.,jkunfi hina. 7,,., 3. s'Dhi:i. kan fi:ha. ka:nit hinak.,, ka:nu najmi:n. -s'Tui:r ma kanji mawgu:d.,, ma ka'nitf mawgu:da.,, ma kanu:J mawgudi:n. atari:h ma.,jkunli fil juzu:ma! atari:ha ma.tkunJi fil juzu:ma! atari:hum ma jkunu:f fil uuzu:ma! jiku:n hina zza:j? tiku:n, jiku:nu,, Note: the indispensable verbs a:l ji'u:l "to say" Ja:f jiju:f "to see" are conjugated exactly like ka:n jiku:n. 62 LEyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XVI The " Strong" Triliteral Verb. Past, Indefinite, and Imlperative; a General Survey. An Old Tale. There was once a man who went out with his son, and they had with them a donkey. So the man said to his son, " Ride you the donkey first, son." " No," said he, "it's impossible that I should ride, for I am a young fellow and you are my father. Do you ride, please, before I ride." But his father said, " Now do just ride, son, and then you won't get tired. I'll ride when we return so that I mayn't get tired." The youth obeyed the words of his father and got up, and they went along like that, the youth mounted and the father walking on foot beside him. Then some people passing by saw them and said, "Just look, folk, at that young fellow riding! Isn't it a shame, young feller? How can you ride by yourself like that? Just you get off, and let your poor old father ride in your place!" So the boy got off, ashamed, and made his father ride, while he walked on foot. And after a little while they came to a few women, and at once the women began to say, " There's a fine father for you! Glory be to God!2 He has neither heart nor pity! Ah my boy, ah my son! Out on you, man! There you ride the beast as comfortable as an Omda, and let this poor boy of yours fag in the sun! Don't ride, old fellow,-isn't it a sin of you?" Then the father said to his boy, " I'll tell you what: mount up behind me, son! best let us ride together-didn't you hear the women's talk?" "Yes, I heard it," said the son, "how should I not hear it?" Hardly had they ridden together like that a short while when lo! two English gentlemen going to play tennis at the Ghezira saw them, and said to each other, "Impossible for two to ride a feeble animal like that! Why are you riding together, you there? Let one get off and the other ride, or we'll give information to the police." Down they came hastily from the donkey, for they were very much afraid; and they began to walk along 1 That is, whose radical consonants are three, none of whlich is "weak'', i.e. is, w, or j. N.B.? (for q) is a " strong" consonant. 2 Lit. "That which God willed (He has done) "-usually an exclamation of admiration, here ironical. A1 Convzersatio Grammar 63 16. f-l l nimrit sittctcar. il fi'l is sula:.i s s4T7i:i. iika:ja 'adi;ma. kal'n fih r-:gil xsr-lg mctrrct wnjja,bnu, wi ka'n w-jja:hum iumrnar.?a:m ir rnD:cil Tal 1,ibnu "irkab il liumac:r fil?avwwil ja,bni ".?am?al lu, "la: muJ mumkinarkab li?inni gadac wintvabu:ja; itfi Dl1jilrkabinta?ablim(a),atrkab. ana ".?a:mnabuhh?al hli ' lma1 tirkab ja, bni!.wi balaj ftacabak. anacrkab lamma nirgaj jalafan niatabj". wi simi il walad kala:m.,abu:h wi rikib. wi miJju kida, il walad ra:kib wil?abbi ma:Ii cala rigle-h gambu.?a:mu fafu:hum na:s fajti:n wi?a:lu "fu:fu ja na:s il gada5 da ra:kib. mul Ce:b ja qadai? bi tirkab watdak iz za:j! mal tinzil wi xall(i)_abu:k il Cagu:z il maski:n da jirkab mm rDlhak!"?am nizil il walad wi' hu:wa maksu:f, wi rDkkib,_abu:h wi 'mifi hu:wa cala rigle:h. u ba.di 1iabbj,_st-Djjctra gum li JSwjjit niswa:n, wi fil ha-1 'batu, niswa'n jiu:lu "L ja sala'm lal?abbi da! ma: Ja?YDtD:! ma lu'j?albi wala fafaa! ja waladi ja_,bni! ixsi 5ale'k ja rD:gil! bi tirkab il bahi:ma w2 inta mabsu:t zajj il 5umda wi.txtalli waladakil maski'n da jitcab fiJ fams? ma tirkabfi ja fe:x, muf hairD:m 5ale:k?"?am?a:lil?abbi libnu, "aul lakvirkab wctrl:ja jabnii! xalli:na nirkab sawa?aisan; muJ simiSti kala:lmil tiarima:t?"?am?al lu " aiwa.,smict, ma smitifJiz za:j?" ja do'b rikbu sawa kida liabba bDs4i:D,. illaw fafu:humjitne'n xawaga:tJingili:z rDjlii'n li lib il ko:ra fil gizi:ra.?a:mu do:l 7a:lu..l bcL1, "muf mumkinitne:n jir'kabu humacr Tici.f zajji da. bi tir'kabu sawa leh ja gama:5a? xalli wa:iid jinzil wit ta:ni jirkab, walla niddi xpbar lil buli:s! "?a:mu do:l nizlu?awa'm min cal luma:r ialafan ka:nu xajfi:n 7awi, wi bau jimJu sawa. 1 This is the lively ma that indicates animation or impatience. 2 This wi does not mean "and". It is a subordinate conjunction meaning while ", " as ", etc., or equivalent to a participle. It is called waw il Sa:l, "the w of state", and its occurrences should be carefully noted, as it plays an important part in Arabic constructions. 64 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic together. And so they went on walking on foot, while the donkey walked in front of them idle, until they came to a party (of) schoolboys coming out of school at the end of the day. These immediately laughed loud at that sight, and kept saying to each other, "I say, look at those lunatics! Weell, if that's not strange and wonderful!-human beings walking on foot tired and an animal walking in front of them as comfortable as a Mudir. Ride, ride, you idiots! " Then the elder said to his son, "Do you hear the words of those young gents, boy, and their laughter at us? Don't you hear? " "Of course I hear, and well too, Father," said he, "how not? " "Behold the thoughts of folk in this world!" said the other. "I made you ride first of all, and when you rode alone they were not pleased. I made you get off and rode alone myself-they became angry. We rode both together, and they got still more annoyed. We dismounted and walked the beastand they began to laugh at us and said that we were idiots. What shall we do after that? Do they want the donkey to ride us, I wonder? There's the state of this world for you: the man who worries to please all vexes all. I tell you, as the proverb says, 'Do the duty that is yours, and don't ask about what people are saying '." Potted Drama. THE FATHER THE SON THE DONKEY SPECTATORS (loquitur). (to him). (to himself). (to everybody in general). Ride! Well, I '11 ride. Ha, he's up! Riding! well!! Get down, Well, I'll get Ha, he's down! Why get off? then! down. Let me ride! Well, ride. Ha, he's up! Riding! well!! Let us ride! Come on, we'll Ha, they're up! Riding together! ride. well!! Let's dis- Come on, we'11 Thank Heaven, Why get off? mount! dismount. they're down! Did you No, I didn't. But I did! See howthe donlaugh? key's laughing! Towards Composition. Yesterday I saw a young fellow riding a donkey, and his father walking on foot behind him.. told the boy to get off the donkey, and to give-a-ride-to his father. So he got down from the donkey and up got the father, with [wij the boy walking beside him on A Conversation Grammar 65 wi fidlun mafji:ni1 2ala rigle:hum wil luma:r ms:Ji?uddamhum fcaui, li haddima cum li qamua:ja talamza xPrgi:n mil mad'rdsa?a:xir in nahacr.?a:mu do:l 6tiiku?awi al mDn-zner da wi fiilu jiu:lu,l bauctJ "Ju:ful masani:n do:l! 'ammla Je atri:b wi?amr' aqgi:b! bani?a:dam miajji:n 5ala riqle.:hum tanbani:n, wijl liiwa:n ma:Ii?ud'damhum mabsu:- zajj il mudi:r. ma tir'kabu ja lcubaff!"?iam?al: il kibi:r lil walad "sa:mic ja waladi kala:m l1afandijja do:l, wi dit'kuhum iale:na? muf bi tisma?"? al lu " ummLal.t1ana sa:mic?awi jabu:ja, my asmaSJfiz za:j?"?al lu t ta:ni, "Ju:f, afka:r in na:s, illi fid dinja. rk'lkibtak fil?awwil, wi lammactrkibtinta wahdak ma kanu:J mabsu1i:n. naz'ziltak wi.,rkibtana waldi, 'ba?u zaclani:n. rikibnajina litne:n sawa, zi5lu?aktctr kaman. nizilna wi mafLe:na.l bihi:m, bau jifdlhaku jale:na wi?a:lu?innina,cubat+v. ha nilmil.eh bandi kida? humma jawzi:n il liumc:r jir'kabna baa? a:di ha:l id dinja; illi jitcab aalafan jibsit il kull jizaclal il kull. w.a?ul lak aala r-?j 3 il masal, "idmilil wa:gib,.illi Cale:k wala tise?alif kala:min na:s." For MeJnory-wor. The first two paragraphs. mlacxx-os ir riwa:ja. il?abb. irkab! inzil baa! xalli:n(i)_arkab. xatlli:na nirkab. xclli:na ninzil. Tilikt? ibnu. +-Djjib,acrkab. -Djjib,anzil. +tjjib irkab. j-ttD nirkab. jDottD ninzil. la m-rn'ffhiktif. il iumcar. aho /rikib! aho 'nizil! aho 'rikib! ahumma rikbu! il liamdu lilla:h nizlu! Stiliikt ana. il waffi:.n. ra:kib iz zaj! na:zil le:h? ra:kib iz za:j! rDkbi:n sawaz za:j! nazli:n le:h? ju:ful luma:r bi jiThak.iz za:j! 1 Or tan'nuhum jimfu (majji:n). talamza is in apposition to gama:Sa. If annexed, we should have had gama:Sit. 3 lit. opinion. F 66 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic foot. But afterwards I was not content with this, so I said, " Come [ma], ride together one behind the other! They did so, but some students began to laugh at them, when they both dismounted and walked the animal in front of them. When the students went on laughing still more they both got angry, and said, "Well, then, what shall we do? To-morrow we'll mount you all on the donkey (here they all started laughing more than ever)-or we '11 let the donkey ride us (here the donkey laughed!). For Systematic Grammar. We shall study these verb-forms in detail in succeeding chapters, but important points may be gathered in general from a study of the verbs in the above chapter. (1) The typical Arabic verb has three radicals-compare here rkb " ride ", nzl " descend ", xrg " go out ", sm5 " hear ", etc. (2) In the Past the vowels may be a a (e. g. x)Dr-v) or i i (e. g. rikib), and the conjugation is effected by suffixes (terminations), e. g. rikibt, rikbu, etc. (3) In the Indefinite, conjugation is mainly effected by affixes (compare nirkab with rikibna): but in some persons there are suffixes as well, e. g. jirkabu. (4) The Imperative is exactly like the Indefinite with the loss of the consonantal affix. (5) We observe that while the first of these forms is a Past Tense, the second is used in all sorts of ways, e. g. (a) as a Present, with the aid of bi. (b) as a Future, with the aid of la.' v/(c) to express habit, with the aid of bi. (d) as an Infinitive after auxiliary verbs like xalli, fiiil, ba?a, mumkin, tiabb. (e) as a Subjunctive after inn "that ", or Conjunctions like rablima, alaJan (= "in order that"), lamma, etc. (f) as an Imperative with the aid of ma and /tiba. (g) in Prohibitions, with ma and f. We therefore call this verb-form the Indefinite.2 (6) We observe that some of the verbs appear to be a radical short, e. g. Ja:f and miSi. In reality the missing consonant is a w or j, occurring second or third. We shall study the method 1 Originally rn:jiti "going to", which got w-orn down to rote, ha, and finally ha: all of which are used. 2 In the former edition it was called ' Aorist ". A Convo'csaition Gramnar 67 and causes of the elision or transformation of these " weak consonants ". (7) We observe that the doubling, of the second radical turns an intransitive into a transitive (e. g. r-okkib, nazzil, maffaj. The consonants have thus been " increased ". This and other "increases " of the triliteral we shall study in succeeding chapters. (8) We may as well here become clear on the uses of the particle ma. It is used for negative indicative, present, with bi (ex. ma,_,b jir'kabf "he isn't riding " or " be doesn't ride "). negati?'e question with b (ex. ma,_,b tisma~f? "don't you hear" (or muJf bi tisma~? or muf sa:mi5 or mujl inta 6a:mi~? or mantajf sa:mij ) Nota bene here: there is only onc way of rendering a futture negative question, viz, by mu-jf with the future particle (ex. mujf tfa tirkab " shall you not ride? "). negative subjunctive. N.13. without bi (ex. cjaiafan ma titlcabf "so that you mayn't tire "). prohibition, with S and without bi; ex. ma tir'kabf "don't ride". lively comtmand. N.B. without 5: ma 'tirkab! "ride, do!" (sometimes impatient, with which may be compared the polite and gentle command with 'tib?a: c1x. Itib?a 'tirkab " have the, kindness to mount "). 68 IEgyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XVII [ Grammatical Scheme:-the Indefinite and Imperative of the " Strong" Triliteral Verb.] Conversation:-The Daily Bound. Q. Our talk to-day is to be about the daily routine (order)-what one does every day. Tell me what you do. A. I study Arabic every day. Q. No, that's not my question. What do you do when first you get up in the morning, and so on in order, everything exactly as it comes? A. When I get up in the morning I put on my clothes. Q. True, every one of us when he gets up in the morning puts on his clothes. And afterwards what do we do? A. After we dress we breakfast. Q. Wait a bit! After you get up in the morning and before you breakfast, don't you wash your face? A. Of course! I should think I do wash my face, and take a bath too. Q. Well, then, we'll return to that breakfast. At what hour do you all breakfast? A. We breakfast at... o'clock. Q Tell me, do the English (the Americans) breakfast earlier than we do here in the East? A. I don't exactly know, for some people breakfast early in both East and West. and some late. Q. True. Well, after breakfast, don't you go downstairs and go out? A. Yes, I go downstairs and go out to my work, Q. And when the man goes out, what does his wife (if he has one!) do-does she also go downstairs and out? A. No, she doesn't go downstairs nor out, because she does the work of the house. Q. And what do the servants do?-Pretend that I am your servant, cook or table-servant, what would you say? A Conversation Grammar 69 17. fDsl nimrit sabajta:fcr. il fiql il nmudurij wil?amlr. miniadsa:-it tcarti:b il jo:mi. su?a:l ka'lamna nnahacrda jan it tctrti:b il jo:lmi'. il wa:thid bi jimniilje:h kulli jo:m.?ul li tatLritak bi tinmil e:h? 9awa:b. ana badris Carrmbi kulli jo:m. si:n.2 la:, muj su?a:li! bi tilmil e:h awwilma tisbali fis sublIb, wi bajde:n?ul li bit tarti:b, kulli ia:gja?awwil-bawwil. gi:m.2 lamm D'sbali fi-s subli b,albis hudu:mi. si:n. s,'Sii! kulli wa:.id minna baidima jisbalt fi's subhl bi jilbis hudu:mu. u bande:n bi ninmil e:h? qi:m. bacdima nilbis bi niffvr. si:n. istanna IwDjja! bandima tisbai fis subi wi?ablima tiffDr, muJ bi tigsil wiffak? gi:m. bit +Db! anag-sil wijfi?awi, w.astaliamma kaman. si:n. nirgaj lil futu:r ba?a! bi tif/'-Dru liatfritkum is sa:ca kalr? qi:m. bi nifftDr is sa:a... si:n.?ul li, linqli:z (1,imrika:n) bi jif+Doru badri Canna hina fif far?? gi:m. muJf a:rif (or mnaC/rDffi) tamain, lalafan bactdin na:s bi jif'/Dru badri fi factri wil gDrb, wi bactjiuhum bi jif'D'ru waxri. si:n. da 'stli:hT. z-Djjib, bad,_il futu:r, muJ bi tinzil wib tuxrug barra? gi:m. aiwa banzil wi b,.axrug bcarra alafan aru:it li Sfuli. si:n. wi lamma r r::gil juxrug balra, is sittiv,btajtu (iza ka:n candu sitt!) bi ticmil e:h? bi tinzil wi tuxrug hi:ja wvjja:h? gi:m. la:, ma b tinzilji walab tuxrugj woDja:h, lalafan bi tilmil 3 fJug il be:t. si:n. wil xaddami:n, bi jijmilu e:h?-icmilni xcdda:mak, tDbba:x walla -sufragi, ti?ul li e:h? 1 jo:m i" day ", 'jo:mi (f. jo'mijja, p. jomij'ji:n) " daily ". Notice this very common and simple feature of Arabic, the -i termination (originally ijj) which turns substantives into adjectives —exactly corresponding, curiously enough, to English -y, e. g. 'laban "milk ", 'labani " milky ". 2 si:n and gi:m, the initial letters of the two words su?a:l and gawa:b. 3 With bi this means " because shet (oes..."; without, "in order that she may do". 70 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic A. I'd say to you: " Cook, go to market, buy everything for dinner and supper, and then come back immediately and cook the lunch ". Q. "Very good, sir."-Now I am table-servant. "Any orders, sir?" A. " Table-man, clear the table, and then do the bedroom, sweep the house, swill the floors (tiles), open the windows, and..." Q. "Enough, enough, sir, that's too much for me. That work wants (needs) two servants, not one!" A. That's all right! " Here, you two, make the bedrooms, sweep the house, swill the floors, and open the windows." Q. "Yessir!" And Mistress Maryam, what does she say to her servint-girl? A. She says, "Girl, do the bedroom, sweep. wash down.. open.. ", &c. Q. And if the servant(s) is inexperienced and opens the windows when the weather is hot, what do you say? A. We say, "Don't open the windows when the day is hot. Shut them, stupid, don't open them!" Q. " Very good, sir. It shall be done (willingly)!-Is there anything else before we finish?" A. No, there isn't. Q. By your leave then (" permit me"). A. Pray go if you must! (" Deign to depart —without being turned out.") A Conversation Grammar 71 gi:m. aul lak "ja 5Dbba:x, uxruq (or ixrug) lis su:? w^iJftiri kulli haa:Qa jalajan il actda wil afJa, u bacde-:nirgaj ia:lan w.,ibtux (or twutbux) il gacda ". si:n. "'l:cuir ja si:di! " —dilwot,anTD suf'ragi, —"itf-DtDl ja si:di!" gi:mn. "ja suf'ragi, j'i:il i' ssufra, u bacde:n ijmilvott in no:m, wiknis il be:t, w.,igsil il balac:{, wiftali if Jababi:k, wi... si:n. bizja:da bivzja:da ja si:di! da kti:r Calajj! lulli da biddu xaddame:n itne:n muJ xadda:m wa:hid!" gi:m. malleh! " ja.ntu litne:n, icj'mil(u)_,uwl:d in no:m, w, ik'nisu 1 be:t, wig-'silu 1 balua:, wif'talu Jf ababi:k ". si:n. "licat:ir ja sidna " wis sitti marjim ti?u:le;:h lil bint il xadda:ma bta]jitha? gi:m. ti?u:l, "ja bitt, icfmlili?oit in non:, w_ iknisi..w igrsili... w_,iftaii...." rka:n il xadda'm gaci:m, wi jiftali si:n. w iza. ka:nit il xadda:ma a aLJi:ma, wi tfftali Lka:nu 1 xctddami:n 3uja:m, wi jiftaliu if jababi:k wil d dinja liarr, ti?u:lu e:h? gi:m. ni?ul lu "ma tif'tahf iJ Jababi:k wid dinja iarr, laha "ma tiftahii:. luhum " ma tiftaliu: ma ti?'filhum ja fe:x! wala tiftali'humf." ma tifiili:hum ja fe:xa! wala tiftati'humj." ma tifi'lu:hum ja na:s! wala tiftaliuhumf." si:n. "licL::ftir!! 5ala ie:niw rr:si! (j5ennaw ru'sna!). wi fih hia:ga tanja?ablima nixlns? " gi:m. la ma fi:S. si:n. +rjjib, is'mat li! gi:m. itfDtTDl min ge'r mniru:d! For Memory-work. The directions to the servants from the above dialogue. 1 See note 2 on p. 63. 72 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Must you go out, Zaid? For Conversational 1 (to 2). 1. Simple la:zim 'tuxrug barra ja ze:d?,, tux'rugi,,, ze:nab?,, tux'rugu,,, gama:la? 2. With bi tuxrug bcrra kulli jo:m? etc. 3. With bi, Do you go out every day? intab tuxrug barr intib tux'rugi,, intu b tux'rugu,, a kulli jo:n?,.,f 4. Impera Go out, Zaid! 'uxrug bacrra ja ze:d! ux'rugi,,,, ze:nab. ux'rugu,,, qama:ia. 5. Indefinite, ma ti'itakfi 5alajja!, titha'ki:j,,,, tiliaku:J 5ale:na. Don't laugh at me! Do you recognize (know) me? 6. With suffixbi ti'Trrfni?ana ni:n. bi tic'rlfu:na ihna mi:n. bi tirn'lfi:h hu:wa mi:n. bi ti5rn'fi:ha hi:ja mi:n. bi tiqrb'fil:h hu:wa mi:n. bi tinrt'fu:hum humma mi:n. Don't write me down on the list. 7. With suffixes, ma tiktib'ni:f1 fil kajf. ma tiktib'na:,,,, ma tiktili'ni:,,,, ma tikti'bilh,,,, ma tiktibuhf,,,, ma tiktibu'ni:J fil kaJf. A Conversation Grammar 73 Verb Drill. 2 (to 1). Indefinite. aiwa la:zim 'axrug barra. '? ~7??? Y,., 'nuxrug, bi. aiwa 'b axrug barra kulli jo:m? etc. 3 (to everybody in general). IsDhli:i la:zim 'juxrug bLrrca.,,,, tuxrug,,,,,, jux'rugu, svlii:ti bi juxrug barra kulli jo:m. etc. elided. aiwa ana baxrug bctrra kulli jo:m. -nMti:i hu:wab juxrug bcrra kulli jo:m.,,,,,,,,,,D i:L hi:jab tuxrug bcrrca kulli jo:m.,, ilinab nuxrug,, s, shi;i:l humma.,b jux'rugu bctrra kulli jo:m. liaxrug barra bajde:n. ha nuxrug,, 1 negative. ana ma boTa'lakfi ale:k.,,,,,, jale:ki. ilina maib nidnlakfi jale:ku. pronouns. aiwa bacj'rDfak kwajjis.,, bini'rifkum,,, bvat'rDfak,,,, baC'rDfha,., bi niTr-rfu,,, bi niCj'rfhum,, ka juxrug barra bukra. ia tuxrug,,, Iajux'rugu,,, scL'hhi: ma.b jiffiakJi Sale:h.,, mab tithlakJi 5ale:ha.,, mab jifliaku:J cale:hum. ma/lu:m bi ji'rDfu.. bi jirD'ifu:hum.,, bi ti5r-Dfu.,, bi til'rDfha., bi jinjr'fu:h.,, bi jirn'fu:hum. negative. +tjjib maktihbakf.,, m aktib'ku:f.,, mvaktib'ki:J.,, mx,aktibu:J.,, ma niktibu:J.,, ma nikti'bakf. majlu:m ma jikti'bu:J.,,,, jiktib'hum:J.,,,, tiktib'ha:J.,,,, tikti'bu:J.,,,, jikti'buhj.,,,, jikti'buhf. 74 LEgyptian Colloquial Arabic Towards Composition. When I go to the pyramids (hctarm), I ride the tram from the Ataba and get down at Mina House (mi:nalhaus). By the way ('ia(:)kim) the tea at Mina is very good-one always drinks tea there-complet not simple! After-or before-drinking tea I go up (-tlaj) the Great Pyramid and come down it again. And perhaps I go inside. And often one rides a donkey or a camel in order to see the Sphinx (abul ho:l). And after all that it will be sunset, and I return to Cairo, riding the tram as before (kbarilt). 1 gumble: muf sambil. A C~on~versation Grammar 75 For Systematic Grammar. (1) Write out in the old gramimar formn (if you so desire) the whole Indefinite and Imperative of one ver-b, from the VerbDrill, with accents: (a) simple, (b) with negative, (c) with suffixpronoun of object, (d) with pronoun and negative. (The last two are too complicated to do out in full. Typical specimens are sufficient.'1) (2) Notice that the vowels may be i-a, i-ua (alternatively u-u), or i-i. There is no intelligible rule governing these possibilities, so every verb must just be learned separately. (3) The first vowel of the first-person-sing. of every Indefinite is invariably a, as this vowel stands for ana. (4) Notice the shiftings of the accent through the successive suffixing of the pronouns and the f:-'-tifta-h-tif ta-hu; Itiftatma tif/talif; tit/taliu-ma tiftarhu:Jf-ma tiftaliuthumf. 1Note Particularly how the feminine pronoun is changed when negatived, a9'rofik... m..Aqjrrfki4f; cp. gjandik..ma 9andiki:J. 7G Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XVIII [Grammatical Schenme:-Tlie Past of the "Strong" Triliteral Verb.] The Daily Round once more. Q. Let us return to the order of the day.-What, then, did you do yesterday according to that order? A. When I got up in the morning I put on my clothes and my boots. Q. Did you not, before dressing, wash your face (bathe)? A. Oh yes, before I dressed I washed my face (bathed). Q. Did you all breakfast together? A. Yes, we all breakfasted together. Q. Did you go downstairs and go out together? A. No, we neither went downstairs nor did we go out together; X went separately, Y went separately, and the others went separately. Q. I hope the servant(s) did not open the windows if the weather was hot! A. No, thank goodness, he (she, they) shut them up and did not open them. Q. Fine, fine! that servant of yours must be a good one, and one that pays attention! A Conversation Grammar 77 18. fvol nimrit tamantcLIfcr. il fill il mcu^ti. it tctrti:b il jo:mi kaman mcarra. siun. xcdli:na nirgaj lit tcarti:b il jo:mi. ba?a,mba:iti iamalt (jamnalti, 5amaltum),e:.h liasab it tatrti:b da? gi:m. lamma -s~Dbaiti fis subli libistihdu:mi wi gaz'miti. si:n. muJ?ablimalbistl i isalti viJfak (istahaamme:t)? gi:m. sTi:1,?ablimalbisti g-salti wifji (istaliamlme: t) u bardi kulli da, fifirt. si:n. fi-irtu kullukum sawa? qi:m. aiwa, fifirna kulllina sawa. si:n. wi. nziltu wi xDr9Dgtu sawa? gi:m. la ma,.nzil'naf wala xnDrDgnaf sawa, bassi fula:n nizil wi xDrnrg 1 fula:na nizlit wi 'xDrigit?kulli wa.liid li wahdu. il tanji:n nizlu wi xxnDDgu J si:n. in Ja?Dlhn: il xcdda:m ma jkunJ fatai xadda:ma ma tkunJ fataliit - if Jababi:k xctddami:n ma jkunu:I fatahu: J wid dinja hacrr! gi:m. il hamdu lillah!?a'falhum wala fatalihumf!?afa'lithum wala fataliit'humf!?afalu:hum wala fataliuhum! si n. na:l ca:l! la:zim ril xaddam~,bita:cak da gadac wi wa:xid ba:lu! iil xctdda:ma<,btactak di gadac wi waxda 'balha! il xctddamin,bitu:iak do:l gidca:n wi wctxdi'n balhum! 78 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Did you open the door of the house, Zaid? Did you catch the ball, Zaid? For Conversational 1. Paot, fa'tatit ba:b il be:t ja ze:d? fa'taliti,,,,,, zenab? fa'taltu, ganma:^? 2. Past, nii'sikt il ko:rac ja ze:d? mi'sikti 1,,,, ze:nab? mi'siktu 1,,, ama:la? Didn't you open the window, Zainab? 3. Negative. ma fa'talitif il be:t ja ze:d?,, fataiti:j,,,, ze:nab?,, fataIttuj,,,, qama:ja? 4. Negative. mavl'ctibtif il ko:ra jomlha? Didn't you play football that day?I never played football in my life. najnlcibftij 4 ma,_jjibtu: f,7?~ Did you write me down on the list? 5. With Suffixkatab'tini fil kaffi ja ze:d? (Same, female speaker) katabti:h fil kaffi ja ze:nab? katabti:ha,,, katab'tu: h,, ja gama:ia? katabtu:na,,,, Didn't you, etc, 6. With Suffixma katabti'ni:j fil kaJfi ja zo:d? (Same, female speaker) ma katabltihj fil kaffj ja ze:nal?, katabtilha:I,,,, kata'btuhf,, ja gama:ja?, katabtu'ha:,,,, katabtu'ni:J,,, (Same, female speaker) A1 Conversation Grammar 7) Verb Drill. Simple. a-a. aiwa, fa'tahti bla:b il be:..,, fatalina ba:b il be:t. sTlii:li 'fatal b bce: l be:t., 'fatahit,,,, 'fataliu,, Simple. i-i. aiwa, mi'sikt il ko:ra.,, mi'sikna il ko:rta. sntii:hi 'misik il ko:rt.,, 'miskit,, 7,, / isku,, a-a. la:, ma fa'talStif il be:t.,, ma fatahi'na:. il be:t. p 1i 1I ma fa'talTf il be:t.,, fata'hitf il be:t,, fata'lu:I 1,, i ii. '5umrin mal'_libtif il ko:ra. lin;mrina' ma l.ib'na:f il ko:ra. jumru1 ma lcjibj il ko:ra! ulm'rDha' ma liS'bitj il ko:ra! 5ntm'ruhum ma liS'bu:j il ko:ra! Pronouns. ai naSam ka'tabtak.,, ka'tabtik.,, ka'tabtu.,, katab'taha.,. katab'na:h.,, katabna:ku. ma5lu:m 'katabu.,, ka'tabha.,, kata'bitu.,, kata'bitha., kata'bu:h.,, katabu:hum. Pronouns, negative. la:, ma katalbtakf!,, katabti'ki:! katab'tu:f.,, katabta'ha:J.,, katabnahj.,, katabna'ha:J.,, katab'nakf.,, katabna'ki:I. ma kata'bu:j iz za:j!,katab'ha:J,,,, katabi'tu:,,, katabit'ha:J,, k, kata'buhf,,katabu'ha:J,,,, kata'bukj,,,, katabu'ki:,, (to 1). (to 1). 1 The negative with ma and J is sometimes applied to these expressions, thus ma um'roi'.SJufti a;ga zajji di!; and so for the rest. 80 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic For Memory-work. lamma ~srDbathti fis sublinnahctrda ursalti wijJi wil'bisti., hdu:mi i vwi firti \vnjjan na:sit tanji:n. wi baide:n ni'ziltiw xr'rDgti.w ja'malti fugli. wi bajdi kidcargijti lil be:tjis sa:ja waida. For Composition. Take the piece on p. 74 and narrate it in the past, "yesterday I...", substituting past-definite verbs for the indefinites wherever suitable. For the way to narrate a similar piece when customary past action is intended; see p. 101. A Conversation Grammar 81 FoUr Systematic Grammar. (1) Write out this tense, with pronouns, negatives, etc., as before. (2) Notice the vowel possibilities in this tense are two only, i-i, a-a.'1 (3) Notice that the i-i form has two peculiarities dute to elision; e. g. (i) 'rikibu, 'rikibit become rikbu, rikbit. (ii) the first i is elided after a word ending in a vowel, provided its own syllable is unaccented, e. g. inta.,,r',kibt, i-hna,,r'kibna, etc., but hu,,wa 'rikib. (4) There is no rule determining which vowelling in the Past goes with which in the Indefinite. All the six possibilities except one are quite commion, viz. a-a and i-a as fatall, jifta'ff. a-a and i-u as +-nbctx, ji~b-ax (or ju~b-ux). a-a and i-a as,?afal, ji~fil. 1 —i and i-a as fihim, jif ham. i-i and i-i as nizil, jinzil. (5) Notice again the shiftings of the accents, and in particular notice: 'fatal! "hbe opened" 'fatallu " he opened it ", or " they opened" ma fata'thuJ "Ihe did niot open it ", or "they did not open" ma fataliuhf2 " they didn't open it" and similarly jif'tatflu " he opens it " or " they open" ma, jiftaliu:f "1he doesn't open it " or " they don't open" ma jifta'i~uhf " they don't open it " IA very few in u-u are found, e. g. xulus, "Iit was finished " 2 ma fatahuhujf, ma jiftahuhu.-f are used by some speakers. G 82 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XIX [Grammatical Scheme: —Verb followed by Indirect Object, in Dative.] SCENE, a Classroom. A MASTER. A PUPIL. P. Excuse me from this period, sir. I want to go out. -1. I won't excuse you: it's not nearly time for the bell, and you've onlyjust come in. Moreover I gave you leave yesterday, and how shall I give it you again to-day? Haven't I often told you that " the head of the idle is the house of the Devil ", and you didn't listen to me? Why, you 're exactly (as the proverb has it) " like cattle, waiting for the word 'Wo!'". Now aren't you? P. Never mind, sir. If you won't allow me, you won't. Thanks very much all the same. For Composition. Allow me, madam, to open the box (5ilba) for you. I must not open it for you? Why? Pray, do let me. (She is afraid that when she lets me open the box for her, I'11 open it violently (biz zu:r) and break it (akassar) for her. That's why she said, "Don't open it for me "). Ah, there's the locksmith (kawali:ni): kindly 1 call him (tin'dah lu) and give it him.2-He will open it for you, madam, since (mada:m) you won't let us open it, for fear that we should break it for you. "Thanks very much all the same." Don't mention it. Thank you. 1 'tib?a (see p. 67). 2 tiddi'ha: lu (see p. 137). 4 Conversation Grammar 83 19. f-Dl nimrit tisacta:far. il fijl il mitjaddi bi hiarf il garr. mafhad fi maktab. xo:ga. tilmi:z. tilmi:z. is'ma li li mil his's di j jafandi! biddaxrug. xo:ga. masmalflakf, li?innil gcarDs lissa badri, winta da:xil dilwpv?taho. wi kaman samal'ti lak9imba:rit, w, as'mati lakjinnahardazza:j? ma?ulti lakfi mctrr:t kiti:r inni "rDis il kasla:n be:t if fet-D:n", w inta masmijti li:J? mahu.,nta 5ala rr?j il nasal "zajjJil baha:jim mistanni?o:lit 'jiss!'" kida walla?e:h? tilmi:z. mallehfj,afandi; ma tismaTlili:i, matisman 'li:I. kattar xe:rrDk jala kulli hla:l. For Memory-wzorc. The proverbs (from ma sulti lak...). For Convcrsational Verb Drill. The student is not advised to plod through all the following verb-combinations continuously. But inasmuch as all these expressions do often occur, and the tongue simply cannot be got round them without definite practice, he is emphatically advised to get through them all in time. Imperative and Indefinite. 1. With Dative. 1. if'tal li ja ze:d! iftatli:li ja ze:nab! ifta'iilha ja ze:nab! ifta'liinna 1 ja ze:nab! ifta'u,,lha ja gama:ia. ift'a'hunna,,, 2. aftali lak lia:lan ja si:di! af'tal lik ha:lan ja sitti!,, laha.,,,, lukulm la:lan ja sijadna! nif'tah laha lia:lan ja sijadna! nif'tal lukum tia:lan ja sijadna! For iftahiivlna. G2 3. jif'tal lu ha:lan. tif'tai laha ha:lan.,, luhum ha:lan jifta'hulhum,, jifta'lu.,lku,,(to 1.) 84 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic 1. rma tiftal 'lu:j ja ze:d,, tiftai la'ha:I,, J,, tiftahi 'lu:J ja ze:nab.,, tiftaiiPl'haf ja ze:nab. ma tiftahli 'li: ja ze:nab?! (Same, feminine speaker) lia tiftahia n'na:f ja ze:nab?! -,, tiftaiu 'lu:J ja ga~gama:5a?!,, tiftaiu l'ha:f ja gama:5a?!, tiftahu l'humJ ja gama:a?! fataliti li ja ze:d? fatatti: li ja ze:nab? fataltivlha ja ze:nab? fatali/ti _nna fatalitulha ja qama:Sa? fatatiu.,nna 2 ma (fataliti lu:J ja ze:d?,, fatalitilha:,,, J fatalti lu:J ja ^7 sze:nab?,, fatahltilha:J ja L_ ~ ze:nab? ma fataliti li:J ja ze:nab?! (Same, fern. speaker) ma fatatiti-nnaj ja ze:nab?!,, fatatitu lti:J ja ze:nab?, fatatltu,ihba:J ja ze:nab?, fatahtullhunjl ja ze:lab? With Dative, Negative. 2. +trjjib m,.aftah 'lu:J.,, maftah laha:j.,, m.aftak qlu:I., mRaftah la'ha:f. la: maftat 'lakf! la: mn aftah li'ki:! la: m<aftalh luku:J! la: ma niftali 'lu:f! la: ma niftati la'ha:! la: ma niftai lu'humjn! The same, Past. 1. With Dative. aiwa fataiti lak., fatali-ti lik.. fatahltivlha.,, fatat'tilkum.. fatahi'najlha. fatahujlku. With Dative, Negative. la: ma fataiti lu:J.,, fataliti lha:.,,,, fataiti lu:J.,,,, fatahtitlha:f.... fataiti lakf.....fatahtilki:J.,., fataliti.lku:J.,,, tfatalina lu:J.,,,, fatalina._lha:J.,,,, fat(alina.llhumjn. 3. ma jiftati 'lu:J le:h! ma jiftati la'ha:J le:h! ma tiftali: lu:J le:h! ma tiftat la'ha:J le:h! ma tiftal 'lu:J le:h! ma tiftali laha: le:h! ma tiftali lu'humj le:h! ma jiftahu 'lu:. le:h! ma jiftaT:hu'llha:J le:h! ma jiftahu._lhumJ le:h! manlu:m fa'tal lu. fata'hit lu. fata'hit laha., fata'liit luhum., fata'hulha., fatatiulhum. ma fatali 'lu:f le:h?,, fatat lathaJ le:h? fatalit lu:f,,?,, fatait la ha:J,,?, fatahit lu:J,?, fatalit laha:J,,?,, fatatit luhumj le:h?, fataliu lu:J le:h?, fatatiuv lhau: J le:h?,, fataiu,llihumJ le:h? A Conversation Grammar 85 Eobr Systematic Grammar. We have here to notice that 1 with its pronoun (e. g. lak) is as accentless as an ordinary suffix (e. g. -ak); that it throws accent on to the preceding syllable, as suffixes do; and that in the negative the J includes it together with the verb. In every respect, therefore, it acts as a dative pronominal suffix, and but for loss of clearness it would be more consistent to write m aftali'lakf, ma jiftai~ullha:J instead of separating the verb from its dative. The chief points to notice specially are the accent-shifts, and the elision of i, u in lina and lukum when a vowel precedes. Verbs taking Direct and Indirect Objects: Suffixes of Accusative and Dative combined. Unfortunately we are not yet at the end of the combinations introduced by suffixing, for some verbs take both an accusative direct object and a dative indirect, and the combinations of the suffixes consequent thereon, with and without negative, run into hundreds! The following tables are not complete, but a very careful selection has been made so as to illustrate the perfectly regular, if at first sight complicated, way in which the language solves the problem of this combination. The masculine objective suffix may stand for "door". The feminine doors The plural,,,, 86 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Imperative and Indefinite with Suffix and Dative. 1. ifta'iu: li ja ze:d! iftatiha: li i ifta'liu nna' ja ze:d! iftah'ha.,nna,, iftalrhum lina,, Addressed to a boy. 2. afta'liu: lak la:lan! [lik] aftah'ha: lak,, [likj aftaihulkum,, aftal'ha.lkum la:lan! aftalihum lukum,, 3. jifta'hu: lu ta:lan! [jifta'lulha] jiftaliha: lu aa:lan! [jiftatlha lha] jiftaliujlhumn ia:lan! jiftaliha,lhum, jiftat'hum luhum la:lan! Addressed to a girl. ifta'hih li ja ze:nab! As above. iftahi'ha: li,, iftatlih lina,, iftahi'ha~nna ja ze:nab! iftahtihum lina,, As above, with t for j. Addressed to several. iftalhuh li ja qama;5a! nifta'hu: lak lia:lai! iftaiutha: ii niiftah'ha: lak, [lik] ifta'liuh lina,, nifta'liulkum Tha:lan! iftahu'ha-,nna,, niftali'halkum,, iftulu'hum luhum ja niftal'hum luhum gamala! lia:lan! jifta/hluh lu ia:tlan! [jifta'tuh laha] jiftatal'ha: lu Ia:lan! [jiftaniuhalha] jiftahruh luhum 3ia:lan! jiftaliu'halhum, jiftaliu'hum luhum ia:lan! I For ifta'iulna, by attraction, and so in similar cases in these dative tables. A Conversation Grammar 87 The same, Negative. Addressed to a boy. 2. 1. ma tiftatu 'li: ja ze:d? la: mn aftalu 'lakS! (Same, fern. speaker),, mi aftatiulki:f! ma tiftaliha li:f ja ze:d?,, mllaftaThalki:f! ma tiftaTun'na:f,,,, m.aftathulku:J! ma tiftaTann'na:i,,,, maftalihalku:! ma tiftalihum li'na:I,,,, maftaThum lu'ku:I! 3. ma jiftaliu 'lu:I le:h? ma jiftatiu.l'ha:j le:h? ma jiftalihal'ha:I,, ma jiftatiulhumJi,, ma jiftaliha. lhum1,, ma jiftathum lu'humli le:h? Addressed to a girl. ma tiftatlih uli:f As above. ja ze:nab? ma tiftaiiha /li:,, ma tiftatih litna:.,, ma tiftaTihan'na: ja ze:nab? ma tiftaliihum li'na:J ja ze:nab? As above, with t for j. Addressed to several. ma tiftaulh li:J ja qama: a? (Same, fern. speaker) ma tiftatiuha li:J ja qama:ia? ma tiftatuh lina:J ja gama:ja? ma tiftahuhum lina: ja gama:Sa? la: ma niftalu 'lakj! la: ma niftatiu.Al'ki.J! la: ma niftathalki:J! la: ma niftahiulku:J! ma jiftatluh lu: leh? ma jiftatiuh laha:J le:h? ma jiftajiuhajha:l,,? ma jiftaTuh lu'humJi le:h? la: ma niftalhum ma jiftaliuhum luku:J! lu'humfi le:h? 88 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Past, with Suffix and Dative. Addressed to a boy. 2. 1. 3. fatat'tu: li ja ze:d? (Same, fern. speaker) fataltaa'ha: li ja ze:d? fatalptu nna,,? fatalitat'ha.nna,,? fatalitu'hum lina ja ze:d? aiwa fataltu: lak.,, fata2tu: lik., fatalttaha: lik., fatalttujlku., fatalita'ha,lku.,, fatalitu'hum lukum. mallu:m fataliu: lu! 7 fatarhu,lha!,, fataliha.lha!,, fata'liulhum! 7, fatah'ha, Ihum r,, fatalvhum luhum! fatal'tih li ja ze:nab? (Same, fern. speaker) fataltiha: li ja ze:nab? fataltih lina,, fatahti/hanna,, fataTti'hum lina,, Addressed to a girl. As above. majlu:m fatati'tu: lu!,, fatali'ttulha!, fatahithalha!,, fatahi'tu._ulhum!,, fatalit'ha. lhum!, fatathit'hum luhum! Addressed to several. fatal'tuh li ja qama:aa? aiwa fatainah lak. ma5lu:m fata'iuh lu! (Same, fern. speaker),, fatalinah lik.,, fata'iuh laha fatalitu'ha: lija ganma:a?,, fatainaha: lik.,, fataliuhalha! fatal'tuh lina,, ftal'nah luku. fataliuh luhum! fatalitutha~ nna,,, fataina'hal ku,, fath fatauha. lhum! fatahtu'hum lina,,,, fatana'hum,, fattahu'hul lukum. luhum! A Conversation Grammar 89 The same, Negative. Addressed to a boy. 1. 2. 3. ma fatatitu 'li:J ja ze:d? la: ma fatahtu /lakf! ma fataliu lu:S le:h? (Same, fern. speaker),, fatalitu.lki:I!,, fatariu.lha:f le:h? ma fatattaha 'li:J ja ze:d?,, fatalitaha.lPki:!,, fataihaPjha:,, ma fataTtun'na:J,,, fataMtul'ku:J!,, fatatiu,hum i le:h? ma fatatitahan'na:J,, fatatitahal'ku:l!,, fatalha,_lhumJi,, ja ze:d? ma fatalituhulm lu'humj, fataltuhum,, fataluhum lu'humji ja ze:d? lu'humj! le:h? ma fataltih /li:f ja ze:nab? (Same, fern. speaker) ma fataltiha /li:J ja ze:nab? ma fatahtih li'na:f ja ze:nab? ma fataitihan'na:J ja ze:nab? ma fatahtihum liina:j ja ze:nab? ma fatalituh /li:J ja gama:na? (Same, fern. speaker) ma fatatltuha 'li:J ja gama:ja? ma fatalituh li'na:J ja gama:ia? ma fataltuhaun'na:J ja gama:ja? ma fataltuhum litna:J ja gama:qa? Addressed to a girl. As above. Addressed to several. la: ma fatalnah 'lakj!,, fatahnah liki:J!,, fatalnahalPki:J!,, fatasnah lu'ku:l!,, fatalnaha, l'kumJ!, fatahnahum lu/kum! ma fatahlitu lu:J le:h? ma fatatiitu, lha: le:h? ma fata'iithal/ha:j le:h? ma fata'lituFjhumfi le:h? ma fatafhithalPhumJi le:h? ma fatalhithum lu'humfi le:h? ma fatatuh lu:J le:h? ma fataliuh laha:J le:h? ma fataiuhlhha:,,? ma fatahuhluhumfi le:h? ila fatatiuha,,lhumJi le:h? ma fatahuhum luhumfi le:h? 90 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XX The NUMERALS. Days of Week. Months. Seasons of the Year. A. Numeralsfrom 1 to 10. 1. The prayer of the Christians, on which day of the week is it? - The Christians' prayer is on Sunday. [The Teacher. Exactly. And with the Mohammedans Friday, and the Jews Saturday.] 2. And the day which is after Sunday, what is its name?After Sunday is Monday. 3. And after Monday, what?-After Monday comes Tuesday. 4. How many days are there from Sunday to Tuesday?-From Sunday to Tuesday there are three days. 5. How much do two piastres and one make?-Two piastres and one make three piastres. 6. How many Caliphs are there after Mohammed?-Three "good" Caliphs, they being Abu Bakr, Omar, and Osman. 7. What is this! Is Ali not among them?-Yes, true! I am wrong. So, then, they become four Khalifas. 8. How many piastres are there to the franc in Egypt?-There are four piastres to the franc. 9. How many seasons are there in the year? —(There are) in it four seasons. 10. And every season of them, (there are) in it how many months?.. three months. 11. How many days are there between Sunday and Wednesday? -... four days. 12. How many persons wrote the gospels which (are) in the New Testament?-They who wrote the gospels (are) four persons, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 13. How many piastres are there to the shilling? —Five piastres go to the shilling. 14. From Monday to Friday how many days are there? -.. five days. 15. How many months are there from January to May?-... five months. 16. How many months are there in the half-year?-Half a year is six months. 17. Tell me their name(s), of your favour (= if you please).Their name(s) are January, etc., and May, etc. 18. How many piastres go to 1-~- francs?-Six piastres. A Conversation Grammar 91 20. ft)l nimrit jiJri:n. ajda:d. ajja:m lisbu:~. if uhu:r. fusu:l is sana. A. il?aS'da:d min wa:hid li haddi aJfara. 1. i-s s -Dla' land il masi:lijji:n fanhe jo:m rmil gunma? —i' sDla land il masi:tiijji:n fi jo:m il hadd. [il majallim. tamam. wi land il muslimi:n jo:.mil gumSa, wil jahu:d jo:m is sabt.] 2. wil jo:m illi bald il laddismu?e:h?-bald il liaddi jo'm litne:n. 3. wi bald' l1,itne:n.e:h?-baddi litne:n jo:m it tala:t. 4. mil haddi lit tala't kam jo:m? —mil hadd lit,_tala t ta'latt, ijja:m. 5.?irfe:n wi?irj jibu kam?-?irJe:n wi?irJ jib?u ta'lat?uru:J. 6. kam xali:fa bajdimliammad?-ta'lat xulafa r)Ddi:n, wi humma?abu bakr, wi Cumar, wi jusma:n. 7. d.eh da! wi Cali muf w-Djja:hum?-aiwa sTili:hi ana qDT)TT:n! cala kida jibu?arbac xulafa. 8. lafrDnk fi m-Dri kam?irf? —lafiDnk?carbaj?uru:J. 9. is sana fi:ha kam fDsl?-fih(a) carbaj fusu:l. 10. wi kulli f-D'li minhum kam fahr?-kulli f-Dli minhum talatt. ufhur. 11. be:n il iaddi wi lcarbaj kam jo:m?-be:n il liaddi wi 1L arba.tartba5 tijja:m. 12. kam nafar katabu._l baja:jir illi fil lahd.il gidi:d?-illi katabu 1 baJa:jir?ar'baTti.nfa:r, wi humma matta wi murus wi lu:?a wi juilanna. 13. if Sillin kam?ir?-i Jfillin xa'mas?uru:f. 14. min litne:n lil gum'a kam jo:m? -min litne:n lil qum a xa'mastijja: m. 15. kam Jahr mrin jana:jir li ma:ju?-min jana:jir li ma:ju xa'mast.ufhur. 16. numssi sana kam Jahr?-nu-ssi sana sittufhur. 17.?ul_,li jalas'muhum min fTnIIak.-jana:jir, wi fibrn:jir, wi mars, wi?abri:l, wi ma:ju, wi junju. 18. lvafrDnk wi nu-ssi kam?irJ? —l.afrDnk wi numsmsi sitti,?ru:J. 1 This word for prayer means properly liturgical prayer, whether public or private. 92 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic 19. How many days are there from Sunday to Friday?-... six days. 20. How many days are there in the week? —... seven days. 21. Which is the last day of the seven?-The last day of the week is Saturday. 22. Four piastres plus three make how many?-Seven piastres. 23. How many piastres go to two francs?-Eight piastres to two francs. 24. How many months are there from January to (= as far as) August?-... eight months. 25. Tell me about the last two of them.-The last two are July and August. 26. Tell me the name(s) of the seasons of the year.-The first season of them is called spring, and the second of them is summer, etc., etc. 27. How many people (or individuals) were there in Noah's ark?Eight people (or individuals). 28. How many piastres are there in a shilling and a franc?-In one shilling and one franc there are nine piastres. 29. And how many months are there from January to September? -From January to September there are nine months. 30. Half a dollar (makes) how many piastres?-Half a dollar ten piastres. 31. From March to the end of the year is how many months?From March to the end of the year is ten months. 32. Please (lit. of your goodness) tell me the names of the four last of them.-The names of the four last of them are September, and October, and November, and December. 33. Tell me the names of the days of the week, all of them.Sunday, and Monday, and Tuesday, and Wednesday, and Thursday, and Friday, and Saturday. 34. What do we call the fraction (= part) of each number?The (one) part of 10 we call a tenth. 9,, 7 a,, 7, ninth. t,,,,,., 8.,, an eighth...,,7, 7. a seventh.,....,.. 6,,,, sixth.,.,., 5.., ~ fifth., 4,,,, fourth.,,7 e,,,, 3,,,,,, third. A Conversation Grammar 93 19. mil thaddi lil gumna kam jo:m?-mil laddi lil 9umja sittQ ijja:m. 20. il gumna fi:ha' kam jo:m? —il gumrna sa'bantijja:m. 21. a:xir jo:m fi:ha?eh hu:waa?-a:xir jo:m2 filusbu: jo:lm is sabt. 22. arba?ulru:f wi tala:ta jibu kami?irf?-saba5?uru:J. 23. l1.afrinke:n kam?irf?-1 afr-Dnke:n taman?uru:J. 24. kam fahrl main jana:jir li _laddcg.ustus?-min jana:jir li liaddapustus taman't;ujlur. 25.?ul li 5ala litne:n lsctxrDnijji:n minhum.-litnee: 1, axrDnijji:n julju w cagustus. 26.?ul.,li ]alasmi fusu:l issana.-?awwil f-Dl mrinhum, ismur rDbi:c, wi ta'ni:hum is se:f, wi ta'lithum il xDri:f, wi rn'biShum if fita. 27. ka'n fih kalm fcxsi 3 fi fulki nu:h?-ta'mnanti.jx:Is'.4 28. fih karm?irfi fi Jillin wi jfrDnk?-i fillin wi frink ti'sac?uru:J. 29. wi kam fahr min jana:jir li sibtimbir?-min jana:jir li sibtimbir ti'sact,.ufhur. 30. nu&si rija:l kam?irf?-nuussi rija:l afctr?uru:f. 31. min ma:ris 5 li?a:xir is sana kam fahr?-min ma:ris li?a:xir is sana caJarlt,,ujhur. 32. min fDTlak?ul li 5alassm.iljarbacajl?cxr)nijja minhunl? -ism.,il.arbaca.l?axrnijja minhum sibtimbir, w., ikto:bar wi nu:fimbir wi disimbir. 33.?ul li 5alamsmijja:m 1,usbu:C kulluhum.-il liadd, wi litne:n, wit tala:t, wi larbaC, wil xami:s, wil gumrna, wis sabt. 34. il guz min kulli cadad ni?u:l jale:h?e:h?il guz min nactfra cni?u:l 5ale:h jujr. w il,,, tisa,,,, tusj.,,,,,, tamanja,,,, tumln.,,,,,, sabSa,,, subj,,,,,, sitta,,, suds.,,,,,xamsa,,,, xums.,,,,,, atrbaa,,,, rubj.,,,, tala:ta,,,, tilt. 1 Or lusbu:9 fih. 2 Or il joi:mil?axru:ni. Or?a'xirhum, or il?a:xir minhum, or il?axrD:ni minhum = "the last of them '. 3 Or nafcr. 4 For afxros; or nfc:r (for anfc:r). 5 Or mars. 94 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic 35. Three pounds make how many half-sovereigns?- Three sovereigns make six halves. (And so for every fraction of them all.) lOths 9ths 8ths 7ths 9. tisaSt,iiJa:r 8. ta'mant,,.itsa:5 7. sa'balt,,.,.itma:n 6. sitt,,,,,isba:5 5. xa'mast,,,,, 4.?ar'baJ t,,,,,, 3. ta'latt,, 2...... ren tusre:n tumne:n subje:n 36. How long have you been in Egypt? (or how many months, weeks, days). —I have been.... in Egypt. 37. How long is it till your summer holiday?-It is.... till my summer holiday. 38. Well then, "[A good holiday to you] every year, with you in health! "-" The same to you and more also!" B. Numerals above 10. 1. How many months are there in the year?-There are 12 months in the year. 2. How many Disciples had Christ after the death of Judas?He had 11 Disciples. 3. The Teacher. See: in all the numerals from 3 to 10 the enumerated must beplural, e. g. five schoolboys, ten months, -as we saw. But after 10 the enumerated must be singular, e. g. 11 month, 13 schoolboy. And so 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 month (or schoolboy). Similarly, 21, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 month (or schoolboy), up to 99 (do you remember the story of "the Ninety and Nine Sheep" of Christ's?). 4. Thus we have come to 100: 100 sheep (" the Hundred Sheep of the Shepherd "). 1 The proper form of all these plurals is afJa:r, atsa:~, etc. The a is elided after the passing vowel i, which properly belongs to the preceding word: thus, tamantlttsa:5. A Conversation Grammar 95 35. ta'lat gineha:t kam nusssigne:h?-talat gineha:t sitt in~Dism. (wi kaza kulli kasr mil kusu:r.) 6ths 5ths 4ths 3rds halves,ins -D:S visda:s,..,, _ixmas,,, irha:q,, sutte:n xumse:n ruble:n tilte:n nusse:n 36. ba'?a: lak?adde: fi mnsr? (or kam fahr, kaml gumja, kam jo:m).-ba'a: li.... fi m-esr. 37. ba'?i: lak?add.e?abli fushlit is se:f? —ba,?i: li...?abl fusliit is se:f. 38. 'ba?a " kulli sana w2inta -Djjib! "-" winta bihs sithi-a wis sala:ma!" B. il?ai'da:d fo:? afSara. 1. kam Jahri fis sana?-fis sana (i)tnaicar Jahr. 2. kan lil masi:h kam talmi:z bajdi mo't jahu:da?-kan lu hida:fJr tilmi:z. 3. il mjaallim. —u:f! fi kull.il?aSda:d min tala:ta li haddi jafcara, il maSdu:d la:zim jiku:n gamc, masalan, xamas talami:z, Ja'Jart ufhur,-zajjima fufna. wala:kin bacd il afJarta la:zim jiku:n il maidu:d mufrDd, masalan hidca:fcr fahr, talat'tat:ar tilmi:z. wi kida arbaStat:far, xamasta:afr, sitta:Jar, sabaStac:ar, tamanta:Jar, tisactcat:lr, Jifrin fahr (aw tilmi:z). wi kida, wa:ihid wi ifJri:n, talatin, arba;i:n, xamsi:n, sitti:n, sabsi:n, tamani:n, tisci:n Jahr walla tilmi:z. wa:hid wi tisci:n, itne:n wi tis~i:n, tala:taw tisci:n...li liaddi tisjaw tissi:n-fi ba:lak hika:jit "it tiscaw tisSi:n xDru:f" bita:c il nasi:h? 4. kida qi:na li mijja. mi:t xDru:f ("il mi:t xDru:f bitu:5 ir rn:ii "). Lit. " There has been to you how much (or how many months, etc.) in Egypt?" 2 The "wi of state" again, see pp. 63 n., 71 n., 125. 96 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic 5. And then 101, 102... up to 1,000. 1,000 years. 2,000 years. 11,000 years. Do you follow me? Well then, what is the date of this book?-The date of this book is 1926 (A.D.), or (A.H.) 1344. For Composition. A. I want 11 stamps of 5 millibmes (min abu?irLabjT)n), 17 at 2 milliemes, and 15 at 3 milliemes. That's all. How much is that? B. You have 11 half-piastre stamps, that makes (bi) five and half piastres tariff, i. e. 55 millikmes. And you have seventeen twomillibme stamps, that makes 34 millibmes, or three piastres and 4 millibmes. That comes to 89 milliemes, that is 9 piastres all but a millieme. Then you have 15 at 3 milliemes, that makes 45 milliemes, or 44 piastres. And 44 piastres plus 9 less a millieme comes to 13.4 piastres in all, that is 134 milliemes. A. Well, take this dollar and give me the change. B. The 20 piastres come to 200 milliemes. You owe me 134 of them. Four from ten, six; three from nine, six; one from one, nothing (*ifr); then I owe you 66 millibmes; here you are: milliBmes. 11x5 =55 17x2=34 89 200 15 x 3 = 45 134 134 66 For Systematic Grammar. (1) The numerals illustrated in these sentences are " annexed" to nouns. Observe their original form, when they stand alone: tala:ta, farbaja, xamsa, sitta, tatmanja, tisla, aJafar.l (2) Next observe that there are twvo forms of the " annexed" numerals, according as the following noun begins with a vowel 1 Sometimes this form is used even when followed by a noun: see Willmore's Colloquial Grammar, ~ 35. A Conversation Grammar 97 5. wi bajde:n mijjavw wa:tiid, mijja witne:n.. li liaddi?alf.?alf sana.?alfe:n sana. talatt.ala:f sana.. j.a'Sart.ala:f sana. hlida:car?alfi sana. kida ja sidi? ba?a?eh tari:x is sana bitact il kitab da?-tari:xu sanat'?alf.w tuscumijja, sittaw ifJri:n, misihijja; wi bil hiqri,?alfiw tultumijja, carbac w actrbaci:n. For Hemtory-work. (Up the scale-) do re mi fa soh la ti do wa:hlid itne:n tala:ta acrbaca xamsa sitta-nuis- dasta.2 (Down the scale-) do ti la soh fa mi re do sabla tamanja tisca SaJara liidca:ar itnca:cir-fe:nil busta? To rhythm of Mark Twain's Punch, brothers, punch with care, Punch in the presence of the passenjare A pink trip-slip for a five-cent fare" etc. fu:f j,ahmad, fu:f,il fa:r! fu:f, ja sala:m!,aho?ut_,il qa:r! ta'lat sitta:t wi ta'lattinfa:r arlbaj sitta:t wvar'ba5t,infa:r xa/mas sitta:t wi xa'nastinfa:r tsitti sitta:t wi 'sittinfa:r sa'baj sitta:t wi sabajt,infa:r ta'man sitta:t wi ta/mantjinfa:r ti'sal sitta:t wi ti'sa]t,_infa:r Ca'Jctr sitta:t wi a'faurt,infa:r Ju:f jvalimad, Ju:f.il fa:r! fu:f ja sala:m!,aho?utJil cga:r! or a consonant: e. g. tisaitjnft:r, tisac rigga:la. Now collect the entire list from the exercise. (3) Observe the "measure" of the Arabic fractions, singular and plural. (4) How is " how long" rendered in Arabic? 1 The t is because the word is in annexation to what follows: "the year of ", etc. 2 " dozen". Il 98 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XXI [Grammatical Scheme:-COMPOUND TENSES.] A Gospel Story. There is a very beautiful story in the Gospel, that some mothers brought their small children one day to Jesus Christ, for Him to touch them. This had not previously-happened before that,nothing of the sort had taken place; only their thought was that, seeing Christ was doing good to the grown-up people, He would not refuse to do good to the children and infants as well. Now that day the Lord Jesus was very tired from His work amongst the people, and at that very hour He was nevertheless healing folk and not thinking about all His tiredness. So the Disciples, Peter and John and their comrades, were annoyed with those mothers, and began to: say to each other, " The fact is, Master is exceedingly tired to-day; and is He really to trouble Himself over a few infants like these? That's unreasonable. Let us keep them away from Him ". And in fact they were keeping them away, when just then Jesus lifted His head, and took notice, and saw them keeping them off. And when He understood the matter, He was very displeased and said, "Why are you driving them off, and not letting them come to Me? Let the children and the babies come to Me, and do not keep them away! for the Kingdom of God belongs to the like of these ". And when He had said this those mothers began to bring their children, and went on bringing them until the evening came. Questions on the Story. 1. What was Peter doing at the moment?-He was at the moment keeping off the mothers. 2. What used Christ always to be doing?-He was always doing good. A Conversation Grammar 99 21. fmsl nimrit wa:thid wi Jifri:n. il mcal:i wil muuD:rij bi " ka:n" wi?afja:l tanja. lfika:ja ingilijja. fih tika:ja lilwa xt:lis fil?ingi:l, inni JwDjjit ummaha:t ga:bu, w'ladhum is' ug-tjjori:n li jasu:ijil masi:. jo'm mil?ajja:m 5alafan jilPmishum. wi ka'n da ma saba?Ji?abli kida, jaSni ma ka'nitJi litDsD)lit lhasa zajji di, bassi fik'ruhum innu mada:m il masi:T ka:n bi jiciljil xe:r lil kub:ar ma jurfuffi jiSmil il xe:r lil wila:d wil?Dtffa:l kaman. ata:bi 2f jomha ka:n sajjidna jasu:j ticib kiti:r mil camal bita:cu be:n in na:s, wi.,f salcitha bcutru ka'n bi jiJfi 1 n na:s, wi muf sa:?il ]at taaab da kullu. wi jala kidat talami:z butrus wi juhanna wi zumala'thum ka:nu zaclani:n mrilummaha:t do:lahumma, wi ba?u jiu:lu, l bal'iuhum, "-Dsli3 sajjidna tajba:n xD:li's.i3nnaharda, wi kaman ja tacrl ha jitjab halajan fwDjjit )ffa:l zajji do:l? da muf maSu:l. xclli:na nimnajhum4 jannu! " wi fi5lan ka:nub jimnaSu:hum, illa.,w jasu:. Ja'l rD:su wi xctd ba:lu wi fafhum bi jimnanu:hum. wi lamma fihim il jiba:rac zijil kiti:r wi?a:l "bi tukruJu:hum le:h, wala tismalhul'humJi ji:gu jandi? xallul wila'd wil..?TDfc'l jigu jandi wa'la thuuuhumJ! JalaJan li?amsa'l do:l malaku:t,_vTft: ". wi lamma?al kida bauj l?ummaha:t do:] jigi:bu-w/ladhum, wi fiflu jigibu:hum liactddima gihil le:l. as?ila fil liika:ja di. Questions on the Story. 1. (Past incomplete) butrus kan bi jicmileh fi sa,5itha?kan bi jimna.iJl?ummaha:t fi sa'jitha. 2. (Past habitual) ka:n il masi:i bi jicmil eh tamalli?-kan tamallib jijmil il xe:r (or... jamma:l jicmil). 1 Or, ka:n 9amma:l jiffi. (And above, ka:n 9amma:l jimil.) 2 Narrative particle, to introduce a new feature. 3 A very delicate and frequently used introductory word, suggesting causation. 4 Or, by assimilation, nimnatihum. H2 100 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Questions on the Story (contd.). 3. Had those mothers previously brought their children?-No, they hadn't brought them before. And when they arrived, had Christ gone away, or not? -No, He had not gone away yet. 4. What do you think they were saying on the way?-Perhaps they were saying, " Let 's walk quickly, for fear that when we arrive our Master will have gone off! Oh, I hope He won't have gone away!" Towards Composition. Do you see that young fellow over there? He is continually going to the church in his alley to hear the new preacher (mabastar) there. At first his father used to be angry and to keep him away (they are both of them Mohammedans by the way); but afterwards he allowed him, and began to go himself with his son. And they have gone on attending (jiti-Dru) from that time right till now. Last week I was going to see them at home with a friend of mine, at sunset. When we were on the way my friend said, "You '11 see! They'11 both have gone off to church!" And sure enough they had already gone an hour before. Tell me, what did you do1f on your holiday this last Saturday tin your holidays this summer J -I went out early, took the tram, went to the shore, and sat on the beach.... In the afternoon I went to Nuzha Gardens, and on getting in went straight to see the animals... A Conversation Grammar 101 as?ila fil hika:ja di. Questions on the Story (contd.). 3. (Pluperfect) il?ummaha't do:l ka:nu ga:bu w'ladhum?abli kida?-la ma kanu:j gabu:hum?abla. wi lamma wislu, ka:n il masi:li 'miJi walla la:?-la ma kanfi lissa mifi. 4. (Future Perfect) fikrok ka:nu bi j?u:lu?eh fis sikka?-rub'bama ka:nu bivj?u:lu "xalli:na nimfi?awa:m, alisan lamma niw'sD)l jiku:n sajjidna rDwwali! ij'jak ma jkunji rrDwwah! " For Memory-work. Conclusion of story, from wi lamma fihim. fuslia fiskindirijja. (To compare definite with habitual actions.) N.B. The English of these two narratives might very likely be exactly the same. In Arabic the tenses must be entirely different.?ul li 5amalteh fijl fusla jo:m is sabti da?-, 7,, 7, fis se-f da?f xDrDgti badri wi rkibt il kah'roba (it trDmwa:j) Nkutti b.,axrug badri wi b.,arkab il kahrDba (it trDmwa:j) f wi rulit il bahr wi?aclatt car rDmnl... wi ba'd it dluhr Lwi baru:l il batr wi 'ba?jud car rnml.. wi baid i3,, rult ginent in nuzha wi lamma dctxalt, ruiti la:lan kutti baru:lh qinent in nuzha wi lammadxul, aru:i lha:lan {and il iiwana:t..., 7 7, 7, 102 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic For Conversational Drill. ba'?e:t timnajhum walla ] bae:ti timnaqi:hum walla 1 bae:tu timnaju:hun walla 1 baqda kida tiba timnanhu fiMilti tiktib li haddi?em ha tiffil tiktib li liaddi?em baTa and fitil as auxiliary verbs. l lanmabaetJamnachum. aiw la:? aiw.a:? n la? ma baena:f aiw la:? nimnalhum. la? baWdi kida m ab?a:I.m? amnSahum [or aiwa, abl?,amnajhum]. fidilt aktib li hadd,/ sD. ta? il 'misa. lihafTDlbaktib li Ita? hadd il garDs.,a, baa jimnalhum. a, baaat timnajhum aa ba?t 1 jimna~u:hum. htit fidil jiktib li haddjil 'misa. Did you start keeping them away or not? After this will you ever keep them away? How long did you go on writing? How long will you continue to write? (N.B. Keep your ear open also for tann with suffix pronouns, tanni, tannak, etc. as another way of expressing " continue to ". This tann combined with the pronouns may be used as past, indefinite, or imperative. Ex.:-tannu ma:Jl may mean "he went on walking", "he goes on walking", or, go on walking! ") A Conversation Grammar 103 For Systematic Granmmar and Composition. (1) Make sure of these compound tenses from the Drill section, as follows: "he was riding, he used to ride, he had ridden, he will have ridden, he began to ride, he continued riding, he continues riding, he was constantly riding, he is constantly riding." Then negative them. Notes. ba?a is the Colloquial for " to become"; hence it is used for "to begin-to". jamma:l is never followed by bi. But it may be followed by the participle. It must agree with its noun. " She is continually riding " hi:ja Camma:la tirkab or rOkba. "They are continually riding" humma jammali:n jir'kabu or rDkbi:n. " She was continually riding" ka:nit jamma:la tirkab or rDkba. "They were continually riding" ka:nu cammali:n jir'kabu or rDkbi:n. Experiment freely with all these tenses, and their negatives, in composition. 104 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XXII [Grammatical Scheme: MOODS. —" Can, Could, ZMust, Should, Should have, May, Might," etc.] Before the Party. A Dialogue. MARCUS, Master of the House. NASHID, his Cook. OSMAN, a Berberine Servant. M. We want to have a luncheon-party to-day. N. What of it? There's no objection. M. Good! can you serve at it alone?.V. No, I can't manage by myself. M. Well, then, we must get someone else. N. No, we must get two or three more, for this is to be a big party. M. Can you get them? N. I can't get them, because I'm not from these parts. What time are the guests going to arrive? M. They '11 be coming at noon sharp. N. Oh dear, at that rate we shan't be able to finish the cooking. M. Rubbish! If you start off at once why can't you finish? Do you want to put us to shame? You must do your very best. N. Certainly we ought to do our best-for your sake, Bey! M. Much obliged.-What has happened to that Berberine? He ought to have been long before this. Doesn't he know? N. Something to prevent him must have happened.-Ah, there he is. M. Come here, er-what 's-your-name? Why have you come late? O. Come late? how's that? There's no need for one to come before this. M. No, you must come early when there's a party: haven't I told you that often? What are the things needful to us now, Nashid? NV. We need lots of things, sir. May I go to market at once to get them? MI. Most certainly you may, why not? On your way, take this parcel to my brother's. O. And what am I to do, sir? A Conversation Grammar 105 22. fosl nimrit itne:n wi Cjiri:n. afa:.l "jimkin ", "jidar ", "jilzam " wi ha:kaza.?abl il 5uzu:ma: mnliawra. mur?us —os-:hib il be:t. na:Sid —iT +Tbba:x bita:5u. 5usma:n —wa:hid bar'bari (xadda:m mnurus). m. 5awzi: niSmil 5uzu:ma,nnahctrda lil gada ja na:Jid [or nitibb, or bid'dina]. n. wi 'ma: lu? mafi:f mna:ni5. m. tDjjib, jinkin tixdim fi:hal walidak? [or mumkin(ak) or tidar]. n. la:, ma jimkin'ni:S axdim li walidi [or m a?darL or nmu mum'kin(ni)]. m. baa jilzam nigi:b wa:tiid ta:ni [or jilzamna or la:zim]. n. la, la'zimnaingui:b itne:n tala:ta, 5alaa:n di 5uzu:ma kbi:ra. m. inta ti?dar tigi'bhum? [or ticr-Df]. n. la m.a?darf agi'bhum [or m anrDff] li?inni muJ min hina. if tuju:f rDjli:n ji:gu s sa:5a kam? m. ha ji:gu hin-Dt iuhri bi -zDbt&. n. ja sala:m! 5ala kida mui ha jimikinna nixlDs' mit Dbi:x. m. deh da! mada:m ti?u:mu min dilw?t,_,aho ma jimkin'ku:fI izza:j! biddukum tifdtDiu:na? la:zim til'milu guh'duku?awi! n. ma5lu:m il wa:gib 5ale:na in'nina nijmil guh'dina-Salajan x-tr-Dk ja be:! m. -D'T-Dh jili'fDaDk!-il bcLrbari ga'r-n: lu?e:h? ka:n la:zim jiku'n hina?abli dilw'Dti bikti:r. hu:wa muf 5a:rif? n. la:zim h-slDI lu ma:nil.. aho gih! m. tana:la jassmak e:h! itaxx-Drti leh? 5usma:n. it?ctxxDrtizza:j? ma fi'j luzu:m a:gi badri 5an kida. m. la:, inta malzu:m ti:gi badri lammajku'n fih 5uzu:ma! muf?ulti lak kida marrD:t kiti:r? —e:hbil haga:t illi til'zamna dilwiti ja na:lid? [or laz'ma:na]. n. til'zamna haga:t kiti:r x-D:lis ja si:di. jigu:z aru:ti is su:? ha:lan a'gibhum? [or gajiz]. m. jigu:z?awi, ma.jguzsi le:h? [orgajis, muj'gajiz le:h?]. w inta rD:jih, waddij tpDrdi dal be:taxu:ja. Ius. wananmil e:h ja si:di? 106 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic M. What, haven't you started your work yet, you clever fellow? Away you go I Sweep the house from top to bottom and tell the servant-girl to sweep the ladies' drawing-room. And then set a couple of servants to work with you and the others. O. (aside). Party, hang the party! Isn't it a sin to have parties in Ramadan when a fellow's fasting? Tie day after. (The same moods in past tense). M. Well, the party of yesterday was just fine, Nashid! Bravo, all! N. Thank you-only I wasn't able to get all the things we needed. M. True, we should have made our plans a day before, so that we might have plenty of time. N. No, sir, there was no need for longer time as you say, only we might have got some more servants. And there's another point: that Berberine should have come earlier, and the maid should have got through her work a bit quicker than that. M. True: you are right. But we must be thankful all the same: they had an excuse-it is Ramadan, and they're fasting, poor things. A Conversation Grammar 107 m. hu:wanta 1 lissa manmsiktif fu lak jaJcatir? jDTD! iknis il be't mnin fo? li talt wi?ul lil xcdda:ma tiknis?o7t il hari:m. u bacdi kida hat xaddame:n, itne:n jix'dimu wTYjja:kum. Cus. (li nafsu). juzu:ma zajj.iz zift2! muI JarVTm Sale:kulm, hatta j1 Juzuma:t fi rDmiut3:n wil3 wa:ihid nD:jil! fil jo:m illi bajdu. (za:t il?afca:l bil ma:ci.) m. amma ka:nit il 5uzu:mabta:iit imba:rili gami:la x-:li-s! afarim jale:kum. n. N"kv jiltfD*Dk!-basst ma,?'dirtiJfagi:b kullil hlaga:tilli ka:nit til'zamna [or ma kanfi jim'kinni ('mumkin mum'kinni)]. m. SDlii:i kan la:zim nicmil tcarti'bna?ab'lahab jo:m nalafa:n il wD)?t jiku:n?uddamna wa:sic [or kan 'jilzam (jil'zamna)]. n. la ja si:di, ma kanfi la:zim wD?ti tDwi:l zajjima bit?u:l; bassi kan jimkin nigi:lb4 xaddami:n zija:da. wi fih kaman nunD; kan la:zim il bcatbari da jigi badri; wil xacdda:ma kaman kan la'zimha (jil'zamha) ticmil Jutlaha~b surja?aktar min kida. m. so-Dii:i, jale:k nu:r! wi lik ia??if kida. wala:kin kattar xerhum, do'l majzuri:n, alaja:njid dinja rDmvtD6:'n, wi humma s-Djmi:n. For Memory-work. One part of the above, acted with another student. 1 Or, mahu-nta. 2," like pitch ". 3 wi of circumstance or state again. 4 Or, kunna nidacr nigi:b. 108 -Egyptian Colloquial Arabic FoUr Conversational 1. 1. Can you be present to-morrow? 2. Could you not go 2-No, I couldn't.-Yes, lie could. (Or, according to context)Could you not have gone 2 -No, I couldn't have gone, etc. 3. You should (i. e. ought to) attend that meeting, All.-No, there's no reason why I should... (or, according to context, No, I ought not). 4. Silence! you must attend it, willy -nilly... Do you hear, you mustn't miss it. 5. You shoutd have been present yesterday!-Yes, I (feel I) should have, etc. N.B. not lizim. 6. You shouldn't have gone yesterday. —Yes, I (feel I) shouldn't -.. [In another context the same words might be an assertion that it was not his duty to go, and so he didn't go.] 7. Then why did you go, had you to go?2-No, I wasn't bound to go. 8. Then you must have forgotten. 9. May I go in without a ticket 2 -Certainly you may.-No, you mayn 't. 10. Was it permitted to me to look on yesterday? (sc. I did look); or (according to context) Might I have looked? 11. Perhaps I'll come to you tomorrow. ti~dcar or jinvkinak ItihuloDr bukrct or jinikin j ai or mumnkin j ai or mum'kinakJ ma kuttif tij'dctr ) or ma,.?dirtiJS or ma kanj jirnkinak or ma kanf jimkin ~ -tiru:1? or ma kanJ mumkin or ma kanJ mumnkinak or ma?ainkanakji3 jilzamn la-.zixn qamfijja di il wa:sib cjale:k j ja jali! jale:k 3 uskut rjilzarn tilfTtorha ja ilizam ak ~ ~ s i walad l a-Z tam u J _ an ak kamn jilzamak kamn jilzamti6D kaAn il wa:sib 5ale:k i~ arh kamn jale:k ma kanji ji'lzamak tihi-rr etc., etc. rimbairih. ma kanJi jale:k 3 ummcul ruhti leh? kutti malzu,.m,,,ka,.n la —zim tirhutur. baj'a la.,zim nisi:t. ga'jiz Ii ~.axuffi nii we,,r tazkctma. ka,.n jiqu,.z li?atfa~rimnD fimba,,rih? ec, etc. jiqu:z jiunkin rub,'hama ~Lasi, lku bukrct. A Conversation Grammar 109 Verb-Drill. II. a?dcir 1 jimkinni aiw-;t jimkin alifar bukra. mumkini nmumkinniJ ma kuttif adacr ma?dirtiJ ma kanfi jimkinni la, ma kanjf jimkin c a'u:i. ma kanfi mumkin ma kanfJ mumkinni,ma?amkanni:J la:!, ma jilzamj ' ma jilzamni:J mul la:zim n alTDrha. muJ wa:gib 5alajja J muS jalajja rka:n jilzamni i ka:n jilzam ajaam. ka:n la:zim aidDrha. n ka:n il wa.gib ka:n calajja rma kanli jilzamni,slDhi:hi etc., etc. ailn-Dr. ma kanJf alajja la ma kuttiJ malzu:m alitDr. la ma kanSi la:zim alitDr. aiwa la:zim nisi:t. rjigu.z lak. aiwa.,mma:l q ga'jiz lak. ajisah1u lak. aiwa mmc:l ka:n jigu:z lak, etc., etc. III. ma jiydarI ma jimkinu:f la ma jimkinJ ijihlDr bukra. muJ mumkin i muf mum'kinu rka:n ji?dcar ka:n jim'kinu 1J ka:n jimkin j ka:n mumkin ka:n mumkinu ka:n fi?imka:nu jilzam bru jilzamu la:zim L ale:h L jidinrha. I sa:mij (ma jilzamakjl tit?ctxxDr ja 4 muf la:zim l anha walad? tiwSa J,s~Dhi:n la:zim nisi. rma ijguz lak! la:! { muj gJajiz lak! ma jiesiAi1 lakJ! la:! ma kanji jgu:z lak, etc., etc. 110 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Towards Composition. My dear friend, I must write you this letter because I can't come to see you to-day, as my work prevents me from that. You must have been ill yesterday and unable to come to see me. Or you must have had work-or what? What happened to you? You ought to have come, because you promised me (wanattini). You must send me word (tibjat li xDbar) at once. Is there anything you need (lit. " is necessary-for you ")? If so, please (tibia) tell me, and my servant can take (jiwaddi) the things which you need when he goes this evening. I have told him that he must do his very best to serve you. He told me that he wanted to go to your house at noon to-day to see what has happened to you. I want to write more, but I must finish now, as the post is going ('ajma) and I must catch it (ala?'). So good-bye. A Conversation Grammar ill for Systematic Grammar. Notice that though il wa:.jib is occasionally used for " ought " jilzam or la,.zim are much commoner; which invests the latter verb with a plurality of meanings that have to be carefully distinguished (just as our "must" may denote obligation or compulsion): lamzim. ji-hd-r he must go..,,, he should (ought to) go..,, D&,or he mnust have gone.. kan,, jilid-wr he should (ought to) have gone... I ~ ~ 9 he had to go.. (For the alternatives for each of these see the table above.) 112 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XXIII [Grammatical Scheme:-the PASSIVE: in- or it- prefixed to the Active. A Proverb. A. That Zaid is perpetually injuring others; I don't know why: though I have counselled him much and forbidden him to do that. B. What, d'you think he'll ever be forbidden? He'll never be counselled as long as he lives. Pooh! it's his nature, and that's all about it.-" The tail of a dog won't be straightened, even if it be tied up in sixty moulds." Comments. When the dog's tail is tied up in the mould and the cord is undone again, why does it get crooked once more?-Ah, there is the point: it curls up and doesn't straighten out because its nature is so: nature is stronger than habituation.-People say that when one dies, the first thing that goes out of him is the breath; after the breath the spirit; and last of all the nature goes out: the point of the story being that a person's nature sticks to him more than his breath or his spirit even. Towards Composition. That poor woman was beaten again yesterday. Poor thing, her state is very hard-abused and beaten like that every day. A neighbour heard her say, "I won't be beaten (mantiribf). All my life I have never been beaten". Her husband is a brute (walif) to beat her in that way. Probably she will leave him and return to her village. When he was counselled he got into a passion. I said to him, "Why are you in a passion? How is it that you got into a passion when you were counselled? You are always getting into a passion for nothing. This getting-into-a-passion of yours is bad." A Conversation Grammiuar 113 23. f-D-si nimrit tala~ta,_,w ~jifri:n. ilmraqhu-l hi -s'i-.git "inkatab"?aw "itkatab." masal. A. ze'd da cjamfrna-l ji?zi ge,,ru manif cja:rif le,.h; macJjnniI n]DYsinhtu-,kti-.r wi nahe~tu 'jan kida. B. hu,.wa da cjumru jit'nihi? ma clumruf j jit'1nis~h! mahu *Dbcju kida wis sala-.m,-za'jj "de-1l il kalbi ma jin'jidilf, win.. mal'hu-z-im-t. lamima de-.l il kalbi jitribit- fil?ja-.lib, wir rubcut: jinfakki minnu, jinciiwig, ta,.ni le.h? —ahe~n nuj+i-Dhina; jincjiwiqj walla jincjifdilj cialafan -trb~u kida, wit +Db~i ji-%ib it tafmbbu'j.-in na,.s bi j?u,.lu innu lamma wa1:tiid jimuAt, awwil -ha:.9a tiflacj minnuin nafas, u balid in nafas ir rulh, wi?a-.xir il kull, hi jiflac it +-Db' wi fa-hid il i ika-.ja di?inn it- o-b'ji,~_la —zirn il wad'hid zija,.dacj n 'nafasu wi ru.-hu hIatta. For MJiemory-work. (B) above. For Systematic Grammar. (1) It will be noticed that Egyptian Colloquial forms its passive by the prefixing ("' increasing ") the verb with in- or it-. The Classical passive is formed by a mere changing of the vowels of the active. The Colloquial has preserved a few traces of this, e. g. sakau jiskun " inhabit "; sikin jiskan " be inhabited " W-Dlab ji-glib " baffle "; %ilib jigiab " be baffled ". It will be noticed that vowelling of this passive is i-i, i-a. (2) The only exception is the passive participle, which is regularly formed from the triliteral. The form munkatib is rare, indeed it is hardly a Colloquial form. (3) The following sentence gives the parts of the " increased" passive, the usual table for drill being deferred to p. 160. lamma~t/n-ms,-Dh in'facia. NWlti hi ~minfficil le.h? hu-.w, inta.nfacfalti 1am'ma,_,tn-rmse-Dt? inta tamalli_,,b tinflcjil min _%er fajda. inflcja-.ak da wihif." Or, magj ko:ni ("1 in-spite-of my-being"1, i. e. "in spite of my having") 2 Or past, e. g. ma 5umri.f fuft' la:ga zajji kida?abadan! I 114 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XXIV ORDINAL NUMERALS. COLOURS. DEFORMITIES. 1. I have to-day twelve questions about the subject of colours and deformities.- Please say the questions, and the answers will be for us to make. 2. The first question.-WVhat is the colour of the Berberine, male and female, and of their children?-The first answer is that the colour of the Berberine is brown: the lady Berberine is brown; and their children are all brown. 3. The second question is about red: who is or are red?-Amongst American Indians the man is red, the woman is red, and the children are red. 4. And similarly the third question about the Chinese in respect of yellow (m. f p.)... The fourth question about the inhabitants of England in old times in respect of blue (m.f. p.)... The fifth question about the inhabitants of Europe in respect of white.... The sixth question about the people of the Sudan in respect of blacc. [The Teacher. The colour of most Egyptians is brown (wheat-coloured).] 5. The seventh question. Is the blue[ness] of the sky lighter than that of water of the sea, or darker than it?-No, the blue of the sea is much darker than that of the sky. 6. And similarly we talk of the green of the grass, the redness of blood, the brownness of hair, the white and black of the eyes. 7. The eighth question.-Is the rose redder than blood?-Sometimes the redness of the rose is just like the redness of blood. 8. There, we have talked very nicely to-day about redness, yellowness, greenness, blueness, whiteness, blackness-all the colours. Let's talk a little now about deformities. 9. The ninth question.-Is the blind man more afflicted than the one-eyed-(or he who has a defect in one eye, or, as people say, "he who has a single eye that is precious")?-Naturally the one-eyed man is less afflicted than the blind man; and so the woman, and the children. 1 mnojja (water) is contracted from the diminutive of the non-colloquial ma:?, i. e. muwajja. (Cp. the exx. of the diminutive form already given.) 2 Or, atmar Ianid damm: or, almar aktar mid damm. See the next note. A Conversation Grazmmar 115 24. fDl* arbal w Cijri:n. ajda:d it tarti:b. il?alwa:n. il 5uju:bo 1. Candi nnahcrda,(i)tncjculr su?a:l fi lmaulu:5 il Juju:b wi la1wa:n. —itfiTDl?u:1 il?as?ila, wi 1?agwiba Cale:na. 2. awwil su?a:l. lo:n il barbari wTil barbarijja wi ^wv'adhum e:h?-awwil gawa:b inni lo:n il bacrbari?asmctr, wil barbarijja samra, wi^,wladhum kulluhum sumr. 3. ta:ni su?a:l fil lo:n 1jatimar, wi hu:wa, mi:n alinmcr wi iamra wi ihumr?-il hunu:d l.fimrika:n filhum ir r.gil ahmar wis sitti liamrla wil wila:d lumr. 4. wi kida ta:lit su?a:l 5an?ahl is si:n, fi:?Psfar wi sDfrct wi -s-ufr... r:bi su?a:l jan aha:li(i)ngilterra zama:n, fi:?azrj? wi zar?a wi zur.. xa:mis su?a:l an?ahli?urubba (l if/rDng), fi:?abjD8, wi be:iTo, wi bi:t... sa:tit su?a:l can?ahlis suda:n, fi:?iswid wi so:da wi su:d. [il m alallim. wi lo:n aktar il mDsrijji:n?amnli, wis sitti?7anmiawijja.] 5. sa:bij su?a:l, zara: Jis sama fa:tih can zara:? mDjjit 1 il baliril ma:lii, walla ga:mi? 5annu?-la:, zara'? mDjjit il bairJil ma:lih ganmi? 'Can zara'? lo:n is sama?awi. 6. wi kida_,n?u:l "xcatf:r il liafi:; liamcu:r id damm; sama:r if fanr; bajcua: il lene:n wi sawadhum ". 7. ta:min su?a:l. il wcrda?aktctr (or ajaddi) iamaur mid damm? 2-alija:nan lumrit (iamcur) il wcrda zajji liumrit id dammi tama:m. 8. adilna tkal'limna kwajjis innaharda can il lamc:r (muf il iumnc:r!) wis csftDfa:r wil xDT):r wiz zara:? wil bajcua wis sawa:d, kull,il alwa:n. xalli:na nitkallim dilw'?ti clan il Wuju:b. 9. ta:sil su?a:l. ir rD:gil l1,ama (a)Jaddi 3 balwa walla 1,aSwar, jacni, illi 5andu le'n waida (or illi lala ce:nu nutiD aw zajjima bi j?u:lu " bi farda kari:ma ")? —tDbcan l,alwvar axaffi balwa min l,ama, wi kida! l Io:ra mil amjcj, wi kullil J u:r mil umjnj (Simja:n). s Comparative of Jidi:d. Adjectives which cannot be given the comparative form in Arabic are compared by placing aSadd (aktar) " more ", or axaff (aall) "less", before the abstract noun, e.g. here, "severer (in) affliction ", i. e "I more afflicted ". But a positive with Cjan may always be used. 116 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic 10. 27T tenth question.-Isn't the lame man more fortunate than the cripple: or what?-Certainly the cripple is a much sadder case than the lame man, for the lame man has one (bad) leg, but the cripple has both. 11. The eleventh question is about deafness and dumbness: are there deaf people who are dumb as well?-Oh, yes, there are: in fact the deaf man is usually dumb as Well, and similarly the woman. 12. The twelfth and last question. Why is that? —Because never in their lives have they heard people talking, so it never became possible for them to talk like them, neither in their infancy nor later. 13. Allah be kind to us!-Amen, 0 Lord! Appendix. 1. Here are ten books: please hand me the first book _Will you be so kind first book! the first of them as to take the ffirst of them 2. And similarly the second book... the second of them. the third book... the third of them. to the tenth book... the tenth of them. 3. Here are ten sheets of paper: please hand me the first paper Will you be so kind first paper! first of themj as to take the first of them! 4. And similarly, second paper. third fourth, fifth please hand me the sixth, seventh,, eighth,, ninth tenth, A Conversation Grammar 117 10. 5a:Iir su?a:l; muj lajrvg?ascad mil mnkassai, walla?e:h?-lmajlu:nm, il makassaT -DIsab kiti:r min lancjr wil 5ctrga wi 1 jurg, 5alafan laling abu rigli walda, wala:kin il nmakassali bi litne:n. 11. is su?a:l il tidca:Sar 5ian it +tDrDj wil x-Drs.' fih turf humma xursi kaman? —umma:l fih! iattal -tr-Df fil.a:lib axrDs kaman wi kida tvura x-DrsD. 12. is sua:l 1 itnac:J'r wi hu:waa:xir su?a:l. wi leh kida?Calajan ma 5umruhumnj simcjun na:s bi jitkallimu, wi 5ala kida ma baa'J mumn'kinhum jikkallimu zaj'juhum, la: fi -si'~Drhum wala bande:n. 13. tt'TDh 'jultuf /bina!-a'mi:n ja rDbb! tazji:l. 1. hina 5aJar kutub, na'wilni, ruin fDtlak 'awwil kita:b rawwil kita:b aw'wilhum I. awwilhuma.,,.,,.,. k-itf-DITl xud wwilhum il kita-b l awwilan i kitab 1 awwila 1 awwila:ni minhum J Ll awwila.ni mlinhui 2. wi ha:kaza, /ta:nivkta:b... ta'ni:hum... il kita:b it ta:ni 'ta:lit kita:b... ta'lithum... il kita:b it ta:lit li liaddi '5a:^ir kita:b.... a'firhum... il kita:b il 5a:Jir. 3. hina 5afar wDr'Da:t; na/wilni min foitlak Ijawwil wnrTa (?awwil wnr-?a ^awwilhum F?awwilhum il wDnDTa-l -itfhDtWl xud 1 il w.r?avl?awwilatnijja?awwilanijja il?awwilalnijja2 [ [il?awwilanijja minhum minhum 4. wi ha:kaza, r t anja (for ta:nija) t talta (for ta:lita) r rtvba (for rD:bia) 1 xamsa (for xa:misa) min f-Ddlak nalwilni il wPr-Da s satta (for sa:tita) s sabla (for sa:bi)a) t tamna (for ta:mina) t tasqa (for ta:sija) L- 1 ajra (for a:^Jira) 1 Blindness" is Sama(:). 2 PI.?awwilanij'ji:n. 118 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Towards Composition. The third tree in Church Street on your right hand as you go from the station is the biggest tree in that street. It is also the finest and tallest. Its green is darker than the green of clover. People say "greener than clover", 'i whiter than jessamine "1 or " than milk" s, "blacker than pitch "3 or " than night"4, "redder than blood ", "yellower than saffron" 5, "bluer than indigo " 6. For Systematic Grammar. (1) The forms of the colours and deformities (masc., fer., plur., and abstract nouns) are perfectly constant, as will be seen by writing them out under one another. Similarly the forms of the ordinals (1 to 10 only), masc. and fem. (2) Turn back to p. 37 Grammar of Chap. x, and note that ordinals and superlatives are constructed with their nouns in an identical way. C ta:lit kita:b f o il kita:b it ta:lit or akbar kita:b J i kitatb 1 akbar J The first construction is annexation, as can be seen from the loss of the definite article "the third, the biggest.." (3) Note carefully that in annexation the ordinal is not made feminine when annexed to a feminine: ta:lit bint: but, il bint it talta. (4) The ordinals after ten are the cardinals with il. The eleventh house... il be:t il hidctaJcr. il full (for physical whiteness). 2 For moral whiteness. 3 iz zift (for moral blackness). 4 For physical blackness. 5 il 'kurkum. 6 in ni:la: but only in an undesirable sense, since blue is the colour of mourning; e.g.?albi zajj in ni:la "my heart has 'the blues' ": or the following curse, gat lak in ni:la (il baji:d)! "may indigo (i.e. mourning) come to you I (the other person) ". _A Conversation Grammar 119 FoUr Memnory-work. (U~p thie scaledo re 1. awwil tamni 2. alimctr axT 3. al ma a~jwi 4. l~iumr xudi Mi ta-lit or azra? ir -D-tr-D i zurj (Down the scale-) do ti 1. uf1a I tanja 2. liamra. xoDdrci. 3. 'jamja cjoraL 4. Jumj cjur fa caxr-Ds& -seufr soki r-bbJ 11 snrfr( x-Drs; xurs Sok xa —mis abj-ril a'jrio~ b i:. fa a xams; i be-dTr ciurgj la ti do sa-.tit-nu,&ssjd dasta. iswid-~ alh xal' - 1 su-.d-,, 1 mi re do so:da-,, 7 s lho-la,, 7 Iiud l7 la talta Za~r'j, t&urf (5) Colours and deformatives having the same " ~measure"~ as comparatives, e. g. ahm },rit is obvious% that other methods were necessary for the comparison of colours. The easiest is by J an, e. g. " more red than "... alima~r 'Jan. Or by aktcar with the abstract noun, e. g. akta~r tiumra. (or Ihamcur) lit. "Imore in redness " Or finally by akta~r min after the colours, e. g. ahmctr aktctr mid damm. (As iswid, black, is the solitary colour whose measure varies from the above norm, it is possible to compare it in the usual way; and so we get aswicl min.. "more black than.." but iswid 'Jan.) The same applies to colours like bunni " coffee-brown " jam-hi "straw " bamba " pink ", etc. which are not susceptible of the above norm: e. g. bamba 'jan "Ipinker than ", or bamba aktctr min... I "1Squint-eyed." 2 Only in daraga?u-.la "1first class "'. Otherwise 9swwilanijja. 120 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XXV [Grammatical Scheme:-" Reduplicatcd " Verbs with second and third radicals the same.] Another Proverb. A. Do you know Fareed Eff. Hunein? B. Isn't he the person who was always in debt and used to go round all his friends asking a loan of them? A. The same. And he wrote to me also and asked of me the same request, and that I should reply to him by return. But I didn't reply to him except with ten words, and said to him, "My best advice to you is, 'Cut your coat according to your cloth' (' Stretch your legs according to your quilt')". B. Fine! And then? A. And then, when I saw him, I found the proverb had had an effect on him: for the moment he greeted me he said, smiling, "As your proverb would say, my dear fellow, I have been stretching my legs according to my quilt, and so I have now become comfortable ". A Conversation Grammar 121 25. f-o*,l nimirit xamisal-,w Wirimn. masal tamni. A. tilynDf fari,.d afandi liinc-n? B. muf hu,-waj_,li ka',n tamialli mnadjumn wi kan bijliffi ciala kulljrDs4ia,.bu jditub'1 minhum sulfa? A. aiwa, hu,.wa nafsu. wi katab lij'j',,ana kaman, wi f-DIrb minni zaAt A- ~-lab da, wi inn(i) aruddi ciale~h lha-.an f,. a?rDb wnD~t. amnmana ma riudde(,.)tfi cjale:h~,illa bi ~ ajar kilma-.t, wi ciulti lu. " arsan n-nsi —Ta lak minni, ~ciala?addi1_t11a-fak middi riojle.-k'" A. cial. wi ba'~demn? B. wi bacide:n lamnia fuftu, la'~e:Q,_,il masal 7asscar fi:h. 1i?innu?awwilma sallim. ~alajja?aJl wi hu —wa hi jit'bassim bill Mihk, " Waa r-u?ji masalak ja hiabi:bi, maddeAt riqjlajja 'jala For Ztfmory-work. The proverb. For Systematic Grammar. (1) Notice that th-e vowelling of the Past is absolutely constant, in a. (2) Notice that the Indefinite has i and u forms. (3) To these add a rare a form: e. g. *,-ot iisD- " be correct"; ma j(i)s.;,DbIIif "it won't do ". (4) Notice that 'in this verb the first syllable of the Indefinite is an open one, contrary to that of the Indefinite of simple triliteral verb: ti-limim, tia-r-Db. Compare the different ways in which the particles combine with each: tilimm ~biKt1imm. inta b~tiAimmjm~a~tlimmif ma b,_,alimimift tiarvDb J bi tittr7b Jinta.,b tidrnob J ma tidr-nbJ ma b1,adriob~f The Indefinites of all the forms still to be studied are all classifiable according as their first syllable is open or closed: and so the above ways of combining the particles will be found to be everywhere typical. 1 A dependent clause of "Icircumstance " or "Istate " (ha:1). Notice that under such circumstances the clause is attached to the principal sentence without the aid of a particle. 122 122 ~Egyptian Colloquial Arabic 1. Have you picked up their things, Ali? 2. So then you have picked them all up? 3. Have you noot taken up the furniture? 4. Have you not taken up their books? 5. When will you take up and replace the furniture'?. 6. Will you not take up the furniture (the things)? 7. Why are you ringing the bell?I am ringing it, never mind why! 8. Why are you mashing the croquettes? 9. Take up the furniture and put it back.-I've been taking it up and putting it back for a good time.-Your taking-up of the furniture is good, and your replacing it is still better. FoUr Conversational Verb(lamme-t haga-thum. ja jali? 3M lamme.-ti,,,fbtma? 5`lamme~tu L ~~~~ja jidlamn? baj'a lamme(Q-tha kullaha? lamm~eQ,)'ti-ha, lammne(:-)'tu.-ha ma lamme(Q.tJ il 'jizadl?,,1amme(:.)ti:Jf ii,,lanume(Q.tu:Jf ii, ma lamme(QItfi kutubhum.? lamm~e(:-)ti:Jf lamme(:.)tu:Jf (tilimm, il 5a1J wijruddu 4.I?emuta? tilinmm,_j 5afJ wvi~trud,'di,.h?emta? tilimmuj, jafJ wt,trud'du:h?emta? ma._,tlimnmiJ il cJafj (il hiaqa-t)! w inti maj_1lim'1mihj! (ma tliimmfiha:). w intu majtlim'1muhj! (mna tlimmuhia:J). inta bijtdu?? il sc~rns let.,? inta. tduju(:.)h le —h? inta bi~tduj'? il kufta le.,h? wjintu bij-Idu?'Cu-ha le.h? Flimml ii jafJ wil ruddu! limm il hasa't wi ruddaha t 1limmij-1 5afJ wi ruddihh! lmrijl haga't wi ruddaha r limnmuj cjafJf wi ruddu,.h! [limmuj liaga',t wi ruddu-ha! 1 gaff also means "baggage". A Conversation Grammar 123 Drill and Analysis. aiwa, lamme:t 1iagathum. lamme:t,,lamme:na, aiwa lammetha kullaha.,, lammetha,, lamme'na:ha kullaha. la:, ma lammetf il 7iza:l (ma lammetu:S). la:, ma lammetj il 7iza:l (ma lammetu:J). la:, ma lamme'na:I il jiza:l (ma lamme'nahf). la:, ma lammetha:J.,,,, lamme'naha:J. alimmil Caff waruddu bukra.,,,,, nilimm il cafJ winruddu bukra. +tjjib mvalimmu:J (m alimmaha:J).,, ma,nlimmu:J (ma nlimmaha:.). ana b,adu??u wi s sala:m! ihna bi.ndu??u wi s sala:m! ana ma badu??aha:I! ilina ma bi,ndu??aha:! ana la:mim il jafJ wi rDddu min badri.,,, il haqa:t wi uQ^ ~ rDr(:)'didha badri. ana lammajl CafJ wi ^P3I~ rDd'da:h badri.. ~,,,,.1 jafS wi.-~ rVd'da:ha badri. < ihna lammi:n il jafJ wi r-ddi:nu badri,,,,, il 7afS wi rD)ddi(:)nha badri. sTi:li, lammi haga'thum. lammit lamnmu 's-hi:ti lam'maha kullaha.,, lammitha, lam/mu:ha, shlii:h ma lammif il jiza:l (ma lammu:f). soDhi:iu ma lammitj il jiza:l (ma lammitu:J). 'svii:hi ma lammu:f il jiza:l (ma lam/muhJ). sDii:li ma lammaha:f.,, ma lammitha:f.,, ma lammuha:f. ahsan jilimmu wi.jruddu ha:lan.,, tilimmu wvitruddu,,,, jilimmu:h wi jruddu:h,, ma jlimmu:f le:h! (ma jlimmaha:I). ma tlimmu:f le:h! (ma tlimmaha:J). ma jlimmuhf le:h! (ma jlimmuha:f). nmalu:m bij'du??u!,, bi jdu??u:h! mallu:m, ma bijdu??aha:S!,, ma bi.,jdu??uha:S! lanmmak' il jafSi kwajjis. Lwi roddak fi:h alsan kaman. ] lammik, etc. lam'mukum, etc. 1 [lammak fi 1 gafS is also correct.] 124 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XXVI [Grammatical Scheme:-" Weak"' Verbs, with first radical w or?.1] A Proverb. A. Have you heard the proverb, " Birds of a feather flock together"? (" Birds occur (lit. fall) according to their kinds".) What does it mean? B. It means that one's character is known fiom the character of his friends. An Anecdote. They say that a certain French peasant went to Paris, he not having previously seen that city. And when he was walking in the street he saw before him a magnificent palace, with a soldier standing in front of it. The peasant stopped and asked the soldier, "What is this building, sir?" The soldier replied (for he saw that the man was raw), " That's a steam-mill, sir ". "Now, that's very odd!" said the peasant; "'in our village there are always many donkeys standing in front of the steam-mill, but in front of this one of yours I only see one! " 1 But not?, as we signified before, p. 62, n. 1. A Conversation Grammar1r 125 26. f'osl nimrit sittaw Cjiri:n.?atfa:l mujtalla-illil fe: bitaiithum hamza walla waw. masal. A. simiSt il masal illi bi j?u:l, "it tuju:r 5alafka'lha fti?a5"??eh majana:h? B. jajni?inn axla:? il wa:liid manru:fa min.~axla:?.,tshia,:bu. fuka:ha. bi.ju:lu inni wa:liid fallali firDnsa:wi rr'In bari:z wi1 ma kanfi saba? Jafha. wi lammn ka'n ma:Ii fi fa:ric illa<,w Ja:f?-7 ri?ubbaha x:liHs wi wa:ihid cas'kari wa:?if?udda:mu.?am wi?if il falla:li wi sa?al il `as'kari " e:h.,il bina:ja di ja si:di? '?a:mil 5askari?a:l lu (ikminnu fa:f innu gtai:m) " da wa'bu'r fihi:n ja si:di!"?am?al lul falla: l ",?amma fe Jagi:b! fi baladna.,b /juaf?udda:m il waburv:t himi:r kiti:r, la:kin?udda:mnil wabu'r bitalkum d. ana 'Jajif wa:hid bass!" For Memory-work. The first paragraph. 1 The wi of " state". 126 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic For Conversational The Verbs (?a)kal and (?a)xad (1st Radical?7) I. 1.. rkalt, ja jali? <i kalti, ja bint? k kaltu, ja wla:d? la. xatt, etc. 2..4 fta:kul emta? | takli, Ltaklu,7 2a. ta:xud, etc. 3. C Ikul ja 7ali! m kuli ja hbint! kulu ja wla:d! 3a. xud ja ali. 4. fbi,taklu le:h. bi ta'kulha le:h. bi tak'lu:h le:h. bi takilu:ha le:h. 5. ma taklu:f! ma taklihj! ma takul'ha:! ma takluhaf! 6. xcttu, ja aali? xctti:h, ja bint? xattu:h ja wla:d? 6a. kaltu, etc. 7. xat'taha ja qali? xctti:hum ja bint? xattu:ha ja wla:d? 7a. kal'taha, etc. II. aiwa kalt. 7 77 kalna.,, xatt.?a:kul bacde:n. na:kul,,?a:xud, etc. la:, ana wa:kil. 7, ~, wakla.,, ihna wakli:n. adi:ni wa:xid. rfb aklt kida! hb a'kulha kida! bi 'naklu,, bi natkulha kida! mi,aklu(:)J le:h? ma akulha:J le:h? ma nakulha:l le:h? la: ma xattu:J. III. majlu:nm kal. I,- i.1;,, kalu. xcud. ja:kul lia:lan alisan. ta:kul,, jaklu,,,, ja:xud, etc. [This activepati iciple has, quite uniquely, a ipast sense.] nmarlu:m bi'jaklu.,, bi ja'kulha.,, bi jak'lu:h. 7,, bi jak'lu:ha. ma jaklu:J le:h? ma taklu:f le:h? ma jakulha:J le:h? ma jakluha:f le:h? Dirii:hi ma xa'du:J.,, ma xadi'tu:J., ma xcLduhJ.,, ma kalJ, etc.,, ma xad'ha:J.,, ma xadit'humj.,, ma xadu'ha:f.,, ma kalha:f, etc. t, 77 77 7y7, ma xadnahf. ma kaltu:J, etc. ma xattaha:J. ma xattuhumJ. ma xadnaha:J. ma kaltaha:J, etc. 1. Have you eaten? 1 a. Have you taken? (for xadt). 2. When will you eat? 2 a. Take. 3. Eat.-No, I have eaten. 3 a. Take.-Here, I am taking. 4. Why are you eating it?-Because I am! 5. Don't eat it. 6, 6 a, 7. Have you taken, eaten, it then? A Conversation Grammar 127 V erb-Drill. The Verbs wi?if aud wi?icj (1st Radical w). I. Fromt wi'jif. 2. ma ti?affi ja dali. ti'~afi:Jf ja fivfma. ti?afu:Jf ja wla-.d. From wi?ici. 3 *' riw5a 'tu?a5! s iw~iuftu?acju! 4. run tu'?a~f ja wa,.d.,, tu'~a~ji:J ja bitt.,,tu'~a~u:f ja na:s. From wisil (or wa~sact). 5. aws,-]?emta? etc. IL. Ia?zlf le-h? nu?af le-h? ma nu?affi le.h? _aja j Jz zaj! la-., m,_a~acjJ!,, ma nut %ajf! III. 1a-.zim tu~af! tu'?afi. ma ju?affi le-h! t ujaffJ' ju'jafu:Jf le-.h! 'j u'aja5 iz za.j! 'tu?ad 'ji'aj~u z za-.j iacjlu:mn ma ju?a5J!,,, tu?a jf!,s~Dhi:hjiw~saDlbukrcL,?in fa?iDTTnD: orju:-.seil, etc. tiw,&-nl bukra,?in fa?-rjtjD: Or tU:,SD1, etc. 1. Stand up, All. 2. Don't stand up, All. 3. Take care (lest) you fall (iw9a or u:dja). 4. Don't fall, boy. 5. When shall I arrive?-You'll arrive to-morrow. For Systematic Grammar. (1) The verbs with first radical hamza are not very frequent, and present no irregularity (e. g. '?amctr "Ito command ", ju?mur,?a~mir, ma?mu:r): except the two verbs kal and xctd, for?akal and?axctd, which are apocopated in their Past, and take on a w in the Participle Active (wa.-kil, wamxid). (2) The verbs with first radical w present no irregularity (e. g. wagal "1to pain ", jiw~aj with alternative form ju:qaj); except the two verbs wi~ij and wi?if,l which are apocopated in their Indefinite (see Verb-Drill paradigms). 1 Also wasadj, jisagj "to hold, have room for". 128 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XXVII [Grammatical Scheme: ---" Weal7" Verbs, with second radical w or j.] An Anecdote. There was a motor-one of those for public hire —going along in the street, when it ran over a small boy, and the driver went off at high speed, fearing lest they should imprison him if the boy should die. There was a policeman who saw the accident, and he brought the ambulance1 people so as to pick up the boy and take him to the police-station. When they arrived there the policeofficer asked him about who had run over the boy, and said, "Did you see the accident with your own eyes?" Y'essir, I saw it." " Then why didn't you bring the driver here?" " Why, he went off, sir." "Well, didn't you take his number? "Yessir, I took it." "What was it? " ' Two loops and a stave, sir! "2 1 Lit. "assistance", "relief", "secours", from the name'of the First-Aid Society in Cairo. 2 i.e. 155. A Conversation Grammar12 129 27. fos-l nimrit sabja~,w cJifrimn. afja:1l mucjtalla-.~illi 1 cje:n bita~jithum waw walla je:.. fuka-.ha. kan flh u'tomobi-.l min bitulc il?ugjra ma:ji flJ fa:ricj,?am da's walad &u-sD~jja~r, wis sawwa"? gjiri?awa,.mn, wi hu-.wa xa-jif lalhsan ji-s~i'nu —h,' iza ka-.n il walad jimu-.t. wi kan wa —hid ciasfkati fa-.f ii lladsa, wi gja-b iil?iscja-f cialafan tifi-.l il walad wi,twaddi-h lil kara~ko~n. wi lamma r-r-hu~,hna,.k 'sa~alu, _, ml'a:win ~janjlli da —su wi '?a-l "inta, fuft il i adsa,_,b jemnak?" "aiwa fuf'taha j~,afandim." "umma'l ma ~Jihtif is sawwa'? le'.h?" " ma gjiri j~afandim?"p " +-jjib ma xctttij nim'ri'tu?" " aiwa xc~t'taha j~,afandim." "+rDjjib hi~ja kanm?" "hala?te-ii wi nabbu-.t j_ afandim" For lMlemory-work. The dialogue between the Moawin and the Shawish. For Systematic Grammar. (1) It should be remembered that the roots of all these verbs (pp. 130, 131) have either j or w for their middle radical. The vowels i and u, or the length:-, correspond to these weak consonants. (2) The a, i and -a forms come out most clearly in the Indefinite. The a is found in very few verbs, but these are common. (3) The i and ui forms come out clearly also in the Past. But the a-verbs sometimes make their Past in i (e. g. bitt from jiba:t), sometimes in u (e. g. xuft from jixalf). (4) The first syllable of the Indefinite being open, its vowel is liable to elision: e.g. bi,_,t-hf, wi~,tba~t. (5) The characteristic long vowel (into which the weak radical is transformed so often) is shortened before two consonants: filt for JfiAlt tiJfilha for tiJfidha. And also when it loses accent: ji'bi:lu "Ithey sell ", but jibi/ciu-ha. (6) The true Passive Participle is as mabilc "sold" (forj verbs), and mahudl "Ifrightful " (for w verbs). But these forms are very rare, and other forms are requisitioned to replace them. For example, the weak letter is restored and the participle becomes like an ordinary triliteral, e. g. madju~n (for madimn) " indebted " macjwu:.,S (for macju:l) "Icrooked ". I Or. xaLJif 9jala nafsu 1% jin'sigin "1fearing for himself lest (la) he should be imprisoned ". K 130 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic 1. (a) Will you pass their way tomorrow?-Yes, I shall, etc.I hope he will, etc. (b) Will you carry the luggage with them? (c) Will you stop the night here to-morrow? 2. Did you pass... carry.. stop the night? 3. Pass quickly!-See, I am passing. Carry a little more. —I am carrying my utmost. 4. Will you keep back the apples and sell them? 5. Why are you keeping and selling them?-Because I am! 6. Fear him and leave him and depart from him. 7. Why did you fear her and not visit her? 8. Why are you keeping Ali back?I'm not keeping him back? C3 a) 9 a) lc For Conversational Verbs with I. ((in u) tifu:t 'ale:hum bukra? [tifu:ti, tifu:tu]. (in i) tiji:l il jafJi wvjja:hum? [tiJi:li, tiSi:lu]. (in a) tiba:t hina bukra? [tiba:ti, tiba:tu]. (in u) futti jale:hum imba:ri? [futti(:), futtu() 1. (in i) Jilt; wDjja:hum imba:ri? ' _ ^ [Iilti(:), Jiltu(:)]. (in a) bitti hina:k imba:rii? [t.~ [[bitti(:), bittu(:)]. Impera. fu:t?awa:m. Ji:l fwvajja zija:da. tiiu:J it tiffa:i wi,,tbi:j u! tiTu:Jit tiffa:1i witbi'Si: h! tiu:iu,vt tiffa: i witbi'lu: h! bi.t'liujhum wi bit'bilhum le:h? bithlu'fJi:hum wi bitbi'Ii:hum le:h? bi,thu'Ju:hum wi bitbi'u:hum le:h? xaf minnu wi si:bu wi fu:tu! xa:fi,,,, sis'bi:h wi fu'ti:h. xa:fu,,, si'bu:h wi fu'tu:h. xcaf minha wi sibha w i futha! xa:fu minha wi sibu:ha wi futu:ha! xufti minha wala zlll'taha:i le:h? xufti,,, zurtiha:J le:h? xuftu,,,, zuirtuha:f le:h? (a) inta ha(:)jij' ali le:h? inti liajja,, t, intu lajffi:n il wtalad le:h? (b) inta liajJ.,il binti leh? inti llajja.1 binti le:h? intu hiajJi:n il binti le:h? A Conversation Grammar 131 Yerb-Drill. 2nd Bad. weak. II. aiwafu:t jale:hum [nifu:t]. III. [tifu:t, jifu:tu]. ij'jak jifu:t!., ai:l wDjja:hum [niji:l].,, aba:t hina [niba:t]. aiwa futti Cale:hum [futna].,, Jilti mrDjja:hum [Jilna].,, bitti hina:k [bitna]. Partic. Active. adi:ni fa(:)jit. ana Ja(:)jil?addi. tDjjib aliu:Ju wabi:Su.,, nihu:Ju wis.nbi: u. baliuJhum wi b_,abichum kida! 7, 77 7, 7, binhuJhum wi binbiihum kida. maxcafi minnu walbasibu:J.,7 77 77. marnxafJi minnu walansibu:J. maxaffi minha walasibha:J. ma nxafJi minha walansibha.J. xufti minha wala zurtaha:J kida! 7 7, 7, 77 7, xufna minha wala zurnaha:I kida! ana muf 'lajJu., i aj'Ja:h. ilina muf hajJi:nu. ana muJ lialjiJha. ina mu77 iaji)n ihna muJ KajJi(;)nha., jiJi:l! [tiji:l jiji:lu].,, jiba:t! [tibat jiba:tu]. mahlu:m fa:c [faatit, fa:tu]., a:l [Ja:lit, Jlalu].,, ba:t [ba:tit, ba:tu]. Partic. Passive. (For pass. partic. see " Systematic Grammar ".) majlu:m jihu:Ju wi jbi:5u.,, tihui:fu wi tbi:hu.,, jiiu'Ju:h wi,_jbi/cu:h. manlu:m bi.jlhujhum wi bijbinhum.,, bivtlulhu m wi bijtbijhum.,, bi_,jiu'Ju:hum wi bijbiu]u:hum. ma jxcaf i minnu walajsibu:J.,, txafSi minnu walajtsibu:I.,, jxacfu'J minnu wala jsibuhj. ma jxatfJi minha wala jisibha:J.,, jxafu:J minha wala jsibuha:J. majlum xaf minha wala zarha:j!, xa:fit,,,, zaritha:J!,, xa:fu,,, zaruha:J! 132 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XXVIII [Grammatical Scheme:-" Weak" Verbs, with third radical w or j.] A story. Once upon a time the mice summoned each other and said, "Come, let us think out some device against the cat when he comes our way". "Oh, my goodness", said their chief, "that cat is like the black deil. Why shouldn't we all catch him and put a little bell about his neck without his perceiving, so that we may then hear him when he comes or goes." "Your idea is admirable ", said they, " to the last degree: and who should tie him up except you, our chief?" "My goodness", said he, "have I forgotten what he did to me when I ran away from him that day and he pursued me right up to the hole? My duty is simply to direct you, and then you must begin to act." "And which of us ", said they, "forgets his deeds with all of us, when he-" And that moment along came the cat, and they all fled in a panic, and said, " The opinion of every weakling like us is useless ". 1 Lit. "What he did it," see Chapter xxxvii, c. A Conversation Grammara 138 28. fD1sl nimrit tamanja,w jifri:n. afca:l muctalla,-illi 1 la:m bita'ithum waw walla je:. hika:ja. fi jo'm min do:l il firD:n nadahul bact~tuhum wi?a:lu "jDttD nfakkar fi Ihi:la lil?uWi lamma ji:gi.?am?a:l il kibi:r bitacihum "ja sala:m! il?u+i da zajjil jaf'ri't 1t,iswid! jigrD?e:h iza kunna nim'siku kul/lina wi,,nihu-if rn?abtu gingil (jajni garDs sug-Djjcur) min ge'r ma jidrD, Calajan nib?a nisnmaju lamma jimfi walla jigri?"?a:mu?allu: lu "fikrDk gami:l li?a:xir darxga! wi mi:n jur/butu?illavnta ja 'rDjjis?"?am?al "ja sala'm gar'D?e:h?! hu:w ana,nsi:tilli 'Camalu fijja lamma],gri't minnu di:k,in naha:r wi 'giri warP:ja,1l liaddiJ Ja??? ana:alajja bass,a'?ul: lukum, wintu tib'tidu tic'milu".?a:mu?a'lu: lu "wi mi:n minna_,b jinsa namalu fi:na kullina?e:, wi hu:wa.." wi fil lali-z- di gih,il?ut!?a:mu girju kul'luhum xajfi:n, wi?a:lu " aho kulli wa:liid tffji:f zaj'jina rD?ju ma jib?a lu'J fajda ". For Mlemory-work. "mirn jurbut il gingil fi r-Dabt il?u9t?" ahe n nll?{t he! Calaja:n il kala'm sahl wi's sucu:ba tamalli fil camal. 134 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Indef. in a, Past in a.],, in,,, in i.],, in t,,, ina. Aor. Past. Irmper. Partic. For Conversational Verbs with I. (a)?ijjak ji?r.j l kita:b! (b)?ijjak jirsi cala oDri:?a! (c)?iijak jiftID?awa.:m! (d)?ijjak jibni be:tu,,s sa'na: di. 1. bi tigri wi,b tinsa kulli ria:qa.,, tigri wib tisi,,, tigru wi_.b tinsu 7,,, 2. (a) giri:t wi__nsi:t kaman m-rrli? giri:ti wi,nsi:ti,, giri:tai wi_,nsi:tu,,,? 2. (b) baire:t il?alam wi rDnre:tu le:h? bare:ti 1,,, rDme(:)ti:h le:h? bare:tu 1,,,, rnme(:)tu:h le:h? 3. (a) /irmii mandi:lak, irlmi:h! 'irmu mandilkum, irlmu:h. (b) i?rT-Dkta:bak i?/rD:h. /i?ri._kta:bik i?ri:h. /i?ru.l kita:b iru:h. 4. Partic. Active. inta na:si iali le:h? inti nasja,,,, Lintu nasji:n cali le:h? The same with... fma...liwla:d. 5. 9iri:t wi lal?e:tu? [la?etha-l. giri:ti wi la?eti:h? [laeti:ha]. giri:tu wi la?etu: h? [la?etu:ha]. 6. ma g/ritfi wala la/?etf abu: k? ',;- r~~~ i abu ki? ma.gri'ti: J wala mla?eti:f ummik *abu:ku? ma gri'tu:f wala la?etu:f abu'ku? -~ '- 'a (umtnmuku (a) I do hope he'll read the book!-Why, lie has already read the book! (b) I do wish he'd settle on a method!-Why, he has long settled on one! (c) I hope he'll be disengaged soon!-Why, he has been so since yesterday! (d) I hope he'll build his house this year!-Wliy, he built it last year! 1. You run away and forget everything.-I confess I do, etc. 2 (a). Did you run away and forget again? A Conversation Grammar 135 Verb-Drill. 3rd Bad. wzeak. II. da Car-D 1 kita:b?abli dilw-D?t! ma /risi Cala ~Dri:?a min zama:n! ma fiit min imba:rii! da bana jamnatwwil! ai naham, ana bagri wi bansa.,, iihnab nigri wi.b ninsa. aiwa, giri:t winsi:t. 7, 7, 7,,, girna winsi:na. bare:tul,?alam wi rpmle:tu kida! bare:nal?alam wi rrme(:)na:h kida! la maar'iih!,, ma nirmih!, ma?rtDh!,, m_,a?rbhJ!,, ma nirhlJ! do. with Pronouns. ana muJ na'si:h. ana muf nas'ja:h. ilina muJ nasji:nu. na'si:ha, nasi:hum. nas'ja:ha, nas'ja:hum. nas'jinha, nasjinhum. aiwa, giri:t wi lae:tu., irina wi a? 7 nah, giri:na wi laje'na h. III. sfffi:i bi jigri wi b jinsa.,,,, tigri, tinsa., jigru,, jinsu. maqlehf! 'giri wi 'nisi!,, 9!girj1it wi nisjit!,, 9girju wi'nisju! 'bar-Dl?alam wi rD'ma:h izza:j! barlDt il,, wi rDmatu,, 'barul,, wi rDmu:h,, bi t tDb1i ma jirmihf.,,,, ma jirmuhf. ma ji?rDhfi le:h?,, ti?rDhP le:h?, ji?ruhfp le:h? Part. Pass. }sDii:il dali muJ mansi. Dhif tm a mif mansijja. J lt,iwla:d muf mansijji:n. malu:m giri wi la?a:h [laua:ha].,, girjit wi latatu [la/?atha]. j girju wi lalu:h la'ju:ha]. si-Di:R ma.gri:J wala flaahaf., ma girjitfj, laatuhl. la?uhf.,, magru:,, la?uha:f. la magritf wala la magri'na:j wala J la'e'tu:J. la?etha:J. la?enahf. la?ena'ha:j. - ~~~~ ~~ 2 (b). Why did you sharpen the pencil, and then throw it away? 3 (a). Throw away your handkerchief, throw it away I 3 (b). Read your book, read it I 4. Why are you forgetting Ali?-I am not... -True, he is not forgotten. 5. Did you run and find him (her)? 6 Didn't you run and find your father? 136 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic For Systematic Grammar. (1) Notice the four possible vowel combinations as between Past and Indefinite, viz.: a-a,?ar- jir-r i-i, risi jirsi a-i, bana jibni i —a, fidi jifdt) No rule can be given; each verb must be noted as it occurs. (2) Notice carefully the way the Pasts in i differ fiom those in a; namely (1) their third person feminine and plural; (2) the liability of their first vowel to be elided. (3) Notice the reduction of length wherever two consonants succeed a naturally long vowel. The verb " to give" idda. As this is the commonest of the verbs that take two objects, we may take it here, as it conjugates like a verb with third rad. weak in its Indefinite tense, and like a verb with two rads. the same in its Past.' In the grouping of the pronouns (positive and negative) the verb behaves exactly like those already studied in Chapter xix. It would be tedious to exhaust the possible combinations of pronouns in this verb. The following specimens show sufficiently the grouping and accentuation of the pronouns, accusative and dative: 1. Simple form (past]. 'idda(:), tiddat; id'de:t; etc., etc. (aorist). 'addi(:), 'jiddi, 'jiddu, etc. (imperat.). 'iddi(:), 'iddu (partic.). 'middi(:), mid'dijja, middi'ji:n (no Inf.). 2. With nouns as objects. 'idda 1 kita:b li 1 walad. 3. With direct pronominal object. idda(:)h liJl walad. 4. With indirect pronominal object. id'da: lul kitab. 5. With both objects pronominal. iddatbha: li, maddatha Ili:J. Compare jigri and (9)idde:t jiddi ) ruodde:r The anomalies are explained by the fact that the verb has been worn down from 9adda, ji9addi, the conjugation of which would be exactly as the verb illustrated on pp. 150-1, no. 16. A Conversation Grammar 137 6. Shifting of accent. Compare the following'iddat; id'datha; iddat'ha: li; mavdidatha /li:. id'de:t; id'de(:)tha; idde(:)t'ha: li; mav ddetha 'li:J. 7. (a) Third masculine pronoun (direct). id'dah li; ma.ddahli:I; id'duh li; madduh 'li:J. idde'tuh li (you (p.) gave it me); mavd'de:tuh 'li:f. idde'tu: li (you (s.) gave it me); madde:tu li:f. (b) Third femininepronoun (direct). iddaha: li, maddaha 'li:; iddet'ha: li, madde:tha 'li:J. 8. Treatment of indirect pronoun wien dissyllabic, i. e. laha, lina, liki, lukum, luhum. (a) The first vowel gets eliminated after a vowel: e. g. iddat'hajlkum, ma ddathaPlki:J; idde'tujlkum (I gave it to them); ma9d'de:tul'humJ. With lina the n gets assimilated: e.g. iddat'hanna, id'dunna 1 kita:b, forlna. (b) But after a consonant no elimination takes place: e. g. iddet'hum luhum, mavddet'hum lu'humj.1 Where more than one accent appears to fall on a single word-group, it will be found that the last is the strongest, and the rest secondary. 138 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic The book....The napkin... 1. Did I give it you (her), or not?-No, you didn't give it me (her). 2. Did he give it you, or not?-No, he didn't give it me. 3. Did she give it her, or not?-No, she didn't give it her, 4. Did we give it you, or not?-No, you didn't give it me. 5. Did they give it him, or not?-No, they didn't give it him. 6. Did they give it them, or not?-No, they didn't give it them. 7. Did you (f.) give it us, or not?-No, I didn't give it you. 8. (a) Give it to me, Ali.-Why, I am giving it you (n. f.). (b) Give it to me, Fatima.-Why, I am giving it you. (c) Give it to me, children.-Why, we are giving it you (m.f). 9. Will you give it us, or no?-No, I won't give it you. 10. Will you give them to him (her)?-No, I won't give them him (her). A Conversation Grammar 139 il kitaa:b... il fu:fD. 1. idde'tu: lak iddettha: lak idde'tu.lha iddet'ha,Ilha 2. id'dah lak iddatha: lak 3. idda/tu.lha iddat'hajlha 4. iddetnah lak idde'na'ha: lak '5. id'duh lu iddu'ha: lu 6. id/duh luhum iddu'ha,lhum 7. idde'tih lina id'de'tihanna iddethum lina r-o,. 1...... f rmavd'de.tu li:IJ. I n i o i Jmavd'detha li:J. ^walla la?-la:, ma d detha lha:f. ~ 'jrna-adde-tu,_Phaif.. tJ maddethaPlha:'. maddaha 'li:f. f, mav ddatul'ha:..,J? * ^,I mad'datha.I'.ha:J. f, ma..dde'tuh li:J.,,,,? ---la:, ma, dde tuha lif.?1 ddla {ma dduh lu:J. J "7 "? ': ma dduha 'lu:f. {-l, fma d'duh lu'humf.?ma dduhajlhumJ. rma dde'tulku:J.,, 7?-la:, ma ddetha.lku:J. 9~J tLma ddethum lukumj. 8. (a) "j ldih i, ja ali! —mn^,ana mllid'dih lak. liddi'ha:i i,,,, - - middi'ha lak (middihalki). (b) iddi'ha li ja f' Lma!-mnana 'middi'jah lak. [hajlki). Liddi'ha: i,,,, -,, mid'dijja'ha: lak (niddijjaidduh li ja wla:d!-ma.ina middij'ji:nu lak. [ha.,lki). lidduha:li,,,, -,, middijjin'ha: lak (middijjin9. tiddih lina tidditha~nna Jwalla la? —la:, m ad'dih luku:J. 10. tiddulhum lu rma niddihum lu:f. tiddu'hum laha " ma 'niddihum laha:f. 140 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XXIX RELATIONS and IN-LAWS. Introductory story. There was an old city in Arabia, in which were ancient families, all of whom were proud of their ancestry. One day a king came up against that city and besieged it with an army. And when all those notables were unable to keep that king off and save the city from him, a certain poor man rose from the midst of the city and by his ability drove the enemy off and saved his country. After this the whole people rose up and said, " The best thing we can do is to make this brave man king over us". But the notables of the town refused, and got angry, and said, "That's a fellow without origin or ancestry; how should one of his sort be king over us with our noble families?" But one of them who was wiser than the others said to them, "Not so. -Man is man because of his character (attributes) and his knowledge, not because of his parents. I tell you, there is no one more worthy than he to be king over us." A Conversation Grammar 141 29. fnl nimrit tisja.w jifri:n.?ctal jib wi nasa:jib. hika:ja tamhidijja. kan fih madi:na?adi:ma fibla:d il ctLrub, fi:ha 5ela:t kuba:r, kulluhum miftixri:n bi hla'sabhumn wi na'sabhum. wif jo'm mil?ajja:m?a'm jal madi:na di malik wi livsirha X9b ge:J. wi lamma kullil?ajja'n do'l ma?idru:S jinmnaju 1 malik da wi jxIDtt-Dull madi:na minnu,?arm wa:tid fai:r min wust il balad, wi b Jflartu ImanaCjil 'jadu Canhum wi xDtths il wDtDn. wi baede'n?am 5umu:m iJ Jajb wi?a:lu, " il?ahsan ni'mallik ir rD:gil if Jluqga5 da jale:na ". la:kin acja:n il balad ma riju:l wi ziclu wi?a:lu, " da wa:tlid ma lu:J?-Dsli wala fnsl, wala lasab wala nasab, w izzaj jikun wa:hid miJ Jakll da malik jale:nafijhn stlia:b il Cela:t il kubc:r?"?am wa:liid minhum la:?il Can _erhu?al luhum "muS kida! il?insa'n bi,sfa:tu wi jilmu, muj b, abu'h wummu! w ana'?ul lukum, ma fi:J wa:hiid a',a??i minnu jiku'n ]ale:na malik ". 1 From ha:sir jiica:sir, see Chapter xxxiv. 142 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic nasab aali wi frfrma. THE GENEALOGY OF ALI AND FATIMA.. ii. i i fahmi miiammad I = fahi:ma Ie =- e:ja I I i I I I fari:d labi:ba gali:la = xali:l?asma cabdil cazi:z mahlbu:b = fari:da - labi:b =m- m-zlu:m = kari:ma = malibu:ba almad xctdi:ga [5alil rftmaj snci:d saji:da 1. FATHER [ab.] 2. MOTHER 3, 4. BROTHER, SISTER 5. GRANDFATHER 6. GRANDMOTHER 7. GRANDSON 8. GRANDDAUGHTER 9. UNCLE (paternal) 10. AuN NT, I. [il?arD:jib] (The blood-relations). 1. mirammad hina ['abul xali:l wi?asma wi jabd il cazi:z. hu:wa'bu:h... abu:ha... abu:hum. wi xali:l ji?u:l livmlhammad "jvabu:ja!" 2. Ce:ja hi:ja [ummi] xali:l wi,(a)xwa:tu. hi:ja, mmu...nmmaha..,mmuhum. wi xali:l jiu:l laha "ja,_mmi! " awla'd xali:l ismuhum 5ali wi fbDma. 3, 4. nali L?ax] li fntma. hu:wa ['axu] f-tma, a'xu:ha. hi:ja t?u:l "'jaxuja!" wi hu:wa j?u:l luxtu " jcL,xti! " 5. m&hammad 9si(d] ddi Sali wi fnTma. hu:wa gid..idd dahau... gid'duhum \ al si:du sidha sidhum f { [sidda] )1~gi jiyu:l lu "ja s g:iidi! 6. Je:fa [L sid li ali wi fmoa. hi:ja gidditu.. qidditha 1 sittu...sittaha 7. a'li [?ibnibni]minammad, w_[ibni binti] fahmi. hu:wa bnvibnu(bintu). wiimliammad jiul lu "ja,bnibni!" wi fahmi, "ja bni binti!" 8. fvtma [bint ibni] mnhammad, wi [binti bintil fahmi. hi:ja bintibnu (bintu). wi mnammad ji?ul laha "ja bint ibni!" wi fahmi, "ja binti hinti!" 9. qabd il jazi:z [jamm] li 5ali wi fDtma. Cali jiul lu "ja cammi!" 10.?asma [amnimal li jali wi frtma; hi:ja jam'nitu, ]an'vmitha. 11. fari:d [xa:1] li jali wi fbtma. hu;wa xca:lu, xalha. 11. UNCLE (maternal) A Conversation Grammar 143 12. AUNT (maternal) 13. NEPHEW } NIECE J 14. CousINs (Plurals) 1. SON- and D.-INLAW 2. FATHER-IN-LAW 3. MOTHER-IN-LAW 4. FATHER- and MOTHER-IN-LAW (alternative) 5. HUSBAND'S BROTHER 6. WIFE oF Do. 7. SISTER'S HUSBAND 8. BROTHER'S WIFE 9. WIFE'S SISTER'S HUSBAND 10. UNCLE BY MARRIAGE 11. AUNT BY MARRIAGE 12. labi:ba [xa:laj li 5ali wi f-tma. hi:ja xaltu, xa'litha. Jali ji?ul laha 'ja xalti!" 13. jali [?ibn ax] li Sabd il jaziz, wi fiTma bint axu:h. bi j?ul luhum "ja.hbn axu:ja!" "ja bint axn:ja!" (or ibn uxt.) 14. sa.i:d wi sani:da [wila:d njammitl jali wi fDrma. humma wila:d 5am'mitu... c ammitha. wi iali wi ftnma [wila:d xa:lit] ahlmad wi xacdi:.qa. jali ji'u:1 li saji:d "ja [bni amnmiti]!" wi li sanjida "ja [binti 'ammiti]!" sani:d jiu:l li 5ali "ja [bni xa1li! " wi ii fDtma "ja [binti xa:li]!" jali jiu:l 1 allmad "ja [bni xaltil!" wi li xadig:a "ja [bint1 xaltij! " (1) [abbaha:t], (2) [ummaha:t], (3) [axwa:t], (4) [axawat3], (5) [asda:d], (9) [aSmam3, (10) [jamma:t], (11) [axwa:], (12) [xala:t]. II. [in nasa:jib] (The relations by marriage). 1. mnrhammad San gali:la, " hi:ja mrrD-t itbni]"; wi jan mDz-lu:il "hu;wa [goz binti i]." 2. meiammad [hamaj li gali:la; hu:wa liama:ha. wi fahmi hama xcli:l. 3. 'e:fa [L1ama:t] li cali:la; hi:ja llama'tha. wi fahi:ma lama't xali:]. 4. xali:l ji?u:l li fahmi "j,[aabuh,mrD:ti]!" wi ma-zlu:mli jiu:l li Ce:ja " [ja.mm,imrD:ti]!" 5. malbu:b jib?a [silf] li qali:la; hu:wa si'faha wi hi:ja t?ul lu " ja silfi!"2 6. gali:la tib?a [silfa] li mahbu:ba (wi kida malibu:ba li qali:la). di silfit di, wil wahda tu:l lit tanja ja sil'fiti! 7. xali:l 'an me-lu:m, " hu:wa [qo:z_.uxti 3]." 8. xali:l 'an kari:ma, "hi:ja [mru:t axu:ja] (or [zo:git axu:ja]). 9. ma-hbu:b wi ma-lu:m jibu kulli wa:hlid minhum [jadi:l] lit ta:ni, wi j?u:l lit ta:ni "ja Wadi:li." 10. 5ali ji?u:I li m1slu:m "' ja goz 'ammiti," wil labi:b "ja goz xalti." 11. 5ali jiu:l li Iari:ma "ja,,mr-o:t jammi," wil fari:da "ja,mrn:t xa:li." 1Or s-ihri. sihr (p. nsha:r) is also used for sister's-husband. 3 But ' (my) wife's brother " is only axumro:ti. Similarly " my spouse's sister " is uxti mr-nti (or go:zi). 2 Or sihri. But only a brother uses this appellation; not a sister for her sister's husband. I I I I I INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTERS XXX TO XXXV. The '"Increased Forms of the Verb ". The increasing of the triliteral verb (both "strong" and "weak") by various consonants and vowels gives rise to a number of delicate significations which are a great feature of the Arabic language. The following chapters should be therefore very carefully studied, both for the significance and for the conjugation of these verb-forms. The order in which they have been arranged by Arabic grammarians is an order which has nothing to commend it for expository purposes. We shall therefore ignore it, and instead of labelling these forms by numbers, we shall label them by the several increased forms of the verb katab, taking these in the following order (the first one, inkatab or itkatab, has already occurred, see Chapter XXIII): Designation. inkatab Chapter XXIII. itkatab itkatab J XXX. kattib XXXI. itkattib XXXII. iktatab XXXIII.?aktab XXXIV. ka:tib itka:tib XXXV. is'taktib Description. in- or it- prefixed to triliteral. Middle radical doubled. Same with it- prefixed. t interposed after 1st radical, and i prefixed.?a- prefixed, first vowel disappearing. First vowel lengthened, second i. Same, with it- prefixed. ist- prefixed, first vowel disappearing. L 146 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XXX [Grammatical Scheme:-Verbs formed as kattib: with the QUADRILITERAL VERB]. Two Anecdotes. 1. A certain hasheesh-smoker was once beating his ass too much, and an Englishman saw him. The latter came up to him and said, "Why are you hitting that donkey like that? Isn't it a sin of you?" " WVhat's that to you? " said the donkeydriver. The gentleman made a big thing of the affair, and said to the policeman on point duty, "Take this man off to the policestation, officer ". When they got there the gentleman spoke to the officer of police in English, that the donkey-man was using cruelty with the animal. So the police-officer said to the donkeyman, "Do you overload your donkey and beat him into the bargain? We must make you pay a contravention and punish 1 you, so that you may consider it a sin another time to do that ". When the man paid the contravention he looked at his ass and spoke to him and said, "Well! I didn't know that you had relatives here to love you and defend you. Go on! say, 'Thank you very much, my brothers!" 2. Two countrymen came up to Cairo freshly from the country. When they were walking in the street they saw the minaret of a mosque-a very high one. Thereupon one of them stopped the other and said, "Aw! look at the Tower of Babel, how high it is!" But his mate said, "Get away! You're an idiot. I'11 make you understand. That's a well which they've turned upside-down so as to dry it in the air ". At which the other said, " Lawks-amercy, my brother!" 1 Exactly the old " manner you": 9adab manners, 9adi:b well-mannered. A Conversation Grammar 147 30. fmsl nimrit talatin. af~a:l si:-git "kattib." fukahte:n itne:n. 1. wa:iiid 1Laffa:j ka'n bi jilrDb liuma:ru marra zija:da 5an il luzu:m, wi Ja:fu wa:biid ingili:zi.?am?arrnDb minnu wi?al lu "inta,_b tiitrDb il llumla'r da kida le'h? muf harD:m 'ale:k?"?a:m il lamma:r?a:l "w inta 'ma: lak?"?a:m il xDwca:ga kabbar il mas'?ala wi?al li fawi:f in nutr "'waddi da.l karako:n, ja Jawi:." wi lamma wi-sluhna:k il xDwct:ga kallim il mlaa:win bilingili:zi, inn il hammac:r ka'n bi jis/tarmil il?asa:wa maia,/l hiwa:n.?a:m il m"ja:win?a:l lil hamma:r "inta bi.,tJajjil il liumacr bita:jak kiti:r wi kaman tid'rDbu! la:zim nidaffaSak mxaclfa wi,n?ad'dibak calajan titlarrovm tijmil kida ta:ni nmiarra." wi lamma r r-D:gil dafac.il mnxalfa bmDssi lihliat:ru wi kallimu wi?a:l "dana ma kuttijf a:rif inni lik?arD:jib hina, jiliibbu:k wi jtia:mu cannak. mat/?ul luhum, 'kattar xerkum kiti:r jatxwa:ti'!" 2. itne:n fallalii:n gumn mDsri mil?crja:f gidi:d. wi lamma ka:nu majji:n fis sikka fa:fu madnit ga:mic aalja?awi.?am wa:lid wa??af it ta:ni wi?a:l " u:f burgi ba:bil ja:li?add e:h!?am zini:lu?al lu "la:! inta Cabi:9, anafahthimak: di bi:r?alabu:ha jalafan jinaffifu:ha fil hawa!"?am?a:l it ta:ni "ja sala:m jacxu:j!!" For Memory-work. The second anecdote. 148 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic FoUrm kattib. Past Tense.I 1. Have you arranged (room)? cleaned and the office In defi n ite. RImperat.I Infin it. Past. lindej. Infi 2. When will you clean and arrange the tank (pot)? 3. Clean and arrange the tank I-Have been doing so for ever so long.-Let the cleaning and arranging be perfect. la. Why have you muddled and disordered the things? 2a. 3a. No muddling and disordering!-Yes, the mnuddling and disorder. ing of things is a shame.-Certainly; your mnuddling of those things and your disordering (of) them is a great shame. 4. What! have you not saddled the horse and taken it away. 5. Why are you taking th e furniture (baggage) away? 6. Why are you taking the things downstairs? 7. Don't take him (her) out. 8.,,I,,,,,, dow n. 9. Why are you exaggerating the matter? 10. Whyareyouderneaning(belittling) me: it's too bad! -Yes, I am demeaning you I-Your demeaning (of) her is a great shame. For Conversational nil61dtft il maktab wi roDt'tibtu? nrdtr-ftij?o:dr0 wi rnDttib'ti.ha? nrfln-ftu,,, w i rnDttibtu,.ha? tinDII-tf ii hoA6 wi~, t~sv-b'binu emta? tinvadtfi 1 halla wi,,_ t~srnbbinha tiurdtr-fu 1 ho:46 wi, t-se-obbinu.,h nIUhttnf il ho:.6 wi rnDt'tibU! nnDiir-fi 1 halla wi rn~tti'bitla! n-vltdofu 1 halla wi rnvtti,'bu —ha! 1The quad~riliteral verbs lctxbrrf-t il haga-,t wi kctrk'ib'taha lebh? etc. hi j'kt/cxbnDt wi bi~,, t'karki b le-h? etc. except in balaf ii ktx'bnD-tr wi 1 ka~r'kaba di, muJ 5e:b? deh da! ma lagc i'mtij ii hu-srn~n (fars) wala tnDllajtu:Jf (+nDllajtaha:Jf)? etc. hi ttnDllal ii 5afJi le-h? I hi tnazzil ii hasatt le-h? etc. ma t*nlla~u:J!4 ma tnazzilha:j! etc. bij-Ikabbctr ii masj'ala le.h? etc. inti mseDwwn%-rnD-ni leth? 5e-.b 5ale-Aki! A Conversation Grammar 149 Verb-Drill. aiwa nTd'tfDftu wi rattibtu.,, n-tDf'taha wi rDttib'taha., nDot&fna:ha wi rnttib'na:ha. anTrDDfu war-Dtrtibu bukra. canvffIDfha w ar-Dttibha ninTvf3Tfu wifnrDt'tibu m'nT'rff-Dfu wivmrDt'tibu min badri! m^anDta'fa:ha wimrrtti'ba:ha,, mn-Dndnfinha wi mrntti'binha,, follow this measure precisely, e. g. laxb-D*tuhum wi karkib'tuhum kida! etc. ba'laxbn)1 wi bva'karkib kida! etc. their infinitives, e. g. ai nalam laxIbl-Dit il liagla:t wi karka'bithum Ce:b. la, ma laggimtu:l wala tDllaCtu:J.,, a laggimtaha:j wala ~~) t~DllaItaha:J. etc. ana b-aftDl'lacu wi s sala:m! ana batDllaajha,,, etc. ana m.atDtvllaCu:J le:h? ana m~anazzilha:,, etc. ana ma bvakabbarha:J le:h? etc. ainalam ana msDSg-rm:ki! manlu:m n-DT'6-fu wi r-Dt'tibu., n-DT I'fitha wi r-tti'bitha.,, nifDtd fu:ha wi rvttibu:ha. alsan jinDfftbfu wi jrvDt'tibu ia:lan.,, tin-off'fha witrDt'tibha,,, jin-DffT)Dfu:h wi,trDtti'bu:li, xalli t tDntl:f mat'?u:n, wi t tarti:b zajju. shlii: l lax'b-Dhum wi kar'kibhum, etc. sDntii: biJj'laxbDt wi bij'karkib, etc. majlu:m lax'bT)tak fi 1 Iiaga:t do:l wi kar'kabtak fi:ha ie:b! ma laqqimu:J wala fDllacu:J izza:j?,, laggimha:f wala tDllaqha:f I~~~~~J ~izza:j? etc. maclu:n bi jDlla5n.,, bi jtDllaaha, etc. aiwa, ma jUDllanu:J le:h?,, ma jnazzilha:J leh? etc. sDhli: n majkabbalha:f, etc. t-Dsi:rik fi:ha ie:b kibi:r 150 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Like bana jibni. L 11. Who (has been) dirtying the new carpet? 12. Who considers the dog unclean?-The Mohammadans do.-Their considering it unclean is with them a religious prescription. 13. Are you going south or north to-morrow? 14. Have you smoothed his trouble or just left it? 15. Did you bring the child up or just leave him? 16. Do settle the trouble, don't just leave it. —I just am settling, etc. 17. To settle a thing is good.Yes to settle any thing is good.-Then for you to settle this matter is your duty. mi:n m'naggis is sa9ga:dajl gidi:da? mi:n mnnaggis il kalb intu,_m, abbili: n walla./ mbalhari:n bukra? (Weakc verbs of this form.sawwe:t mas?altu walla xclle(:)tha? sawwe:ti masaltu walla xalleti:ha. sawwe:tu mas?altu walla xalletu:ha. rDrbbe:t il walad walla xalle:tu. rDbbe:ti 1,,,, xalleti:h. rtbbe:tu 1,, xalletu:h. sawwi 1?Tnfijja wala txalliha:! it taswijja bitfi:d. For Systematic Grammar. (1) The significations of this very common and very useful form should be carefully studied: wi?ii " to fall," wa?Tac "to fell."-Making an intransitive verb transitive. nifd:f "clean," notd-Df " make clean."-Making a transitive verb from an adjective. liga:m "bridle," laggim "to bridle."-Making a transitive verb from a substantive.?ibli "south,"?abbil "go south." —Making verb of action from an adjective. S)gi:Tr "small," s*D9g-or "to make out small," " to demean." -Making out (considering) somebody something. kibi:r "big," kabbar "to make out big," "exaggerate."Making out, but wrongfully. N.B.-naggis (from nigis "unclean ") well illustrates the difference between "making actually so " (No. 11) and " making out so" (No. 12). A. Conversation Grammar IM1 'jali~mnaqqisha. ii muslirnii.n hi inaggisui-h. ihina~rm?abbilimn. IWeak- in 3rd rYtdiatl: —) saw'lwetha wala xctlletha:f. sawwena —ha wala xcdle'nahaf.J rnbbe:tu wala xctletu:J. rnDbbena,-h wala xallenahf. bcirltu b,,,asawwi-.ha walaxcLl1iha:J. macilum taswijjit kulli ha,.qa bi, tfl.,d. or kulli h-a:-qa taswi(:.)'jitha bi tfi,.d.J tangji.su fil-ha je',b. tangji'shumi fl.-h f-D] -T fid di~n cjanduhbum.?ammajina~mbahhox~imn. saw-waha wala xallaha.,jf. sawwatha wala xcLIlatha4.f sawwu,.ha wala xcil~uha:J,. rnhbba~lh wala xctl1ahf. rnb'batu wala xaillatu:j. r-Dbbu.-h wala xctlluhf. nacjlu:nm jsawwi,.ha wala jxctlliha-.f. 'jaa kida tas/wi~jitak fi I?amri da wva:,gib cjale:k. (2) Notice that throughout this form, when the second vowel has on either side of it one of the consonants which modify a to a. or 13,1 then that vowel is fat-ha. Otherwise it is i (kasrm). And whichever of the two the vowel is, it persists throughout all the tenses. This is a very important rule: e. g. n-ozMof, n-~ot Rctrr-of, '?a~fcr, but r-Dttib. The first vowel is fat-ha invariably. (3) Notice that the quadriliteral is constructed exactly in the same measure, two different consonants merely replacing the doubled one: cp. 1a~xb-1+-npD&&IDf, ka~rkib-1aqqcim. And rule (1) holds good for all quadriliterals also. (4) Only in the infinitive is there divergence, e. g. 1a~xbD$v — t-ondi-f. This last Infinitive (measure takti,.b) should he noted with special care, as it is one of the commonest in the language, e. g. tctrti,.b, tadbixr, ta?xi-.r, etc., etc. (5) In the weak verbs of this form, only those weak in I st radical call for any remark. They are a-i verbs, combining the features of ba-najibni with those of this form. Their infinitives invariably take the feminine termination. (Contrast t-nndif-taswijja.) 1 To these? must be added. 152 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XXXI [Grammatical Scheme:- Verbs formed as itkattib.] A Conversation and Two Proverbs. A. Say, why is X so stuck-up always, and walks with such a swagger as if the street belonged to his father? Is he educated any more than others, or rich, or what, that he should be worthy of all that pride? B. No, my dear man: neither this, that, nor the other. He has never been educated at all, moreover. A. God deliver us (from him)! "Like fleas, naked and yet swaggering (Iit. " a nakedness and a swaggering ")." B. Exactly so; " the pride of poverty stirs2 the gall ". Lit. I call on God to deliver. 2 Lit. " makes to bubble ": fa??c:5a (p. fa?ai:l) " a bubble." .A Conversation Grammar 153 31. f-l nimrit wa:liid wi JiSri:n. afla:l 1i:git "itkattib." rnmhadsa wi masale:n itne:n. A.?ul li, fula'n da bi jitkabbar leh tamalli, wi ma:Ji mitrncant-r zajjillis sikka b'taat abu:h? huwa mitjallim aktar min ge:ru, walla _cani walla?e:h, liatta innu jista:hil it takabbur da? B. la: ja iabi:bi; 'la: da wa'la: da wala: da! wi kaman jumru ma-teallimf. A. aju:zu billa:h! zajjjil barDgi:t,l jirj wi Can't)z-)! " B. -sDlii:li ja si:di, wi "kibr il faa:?'rc 'jifTaCjil mara:ra." For Memory-workc. hu:waub jitkabbar leh tamalli, wi ma:ii mitjan+tT) zajjvillis sikka b'taqt abu:h? maho Cala r)?j il masal "zajj.il borDi:t, Cirj wi Ian't-DD." wi kaman "kibr il fa?a:ra ljifacjil mara:ra. Sing., bariu:ta, a flea 154 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic.Form itkattib. Pa st.I Aorist. Imperat. Partic. -~ Infin. I 1. Do you want to learn or take a holiday?-J will learn, etc. 2. Did you learn, or take a holiday'? 3. Learn your lessons!Why, I am learning them, hard.-The learning of lessons is useful. FTor Conversationtal biddak titljallim walla tit'lfassah? titfas'salii? biddukum titcjal~limu walla titfas'sal-iu? itcjallim id duruAs! Quadriliteral verbs of the corresponding la. Why did you get so itlaixb~i)ti le-.h (f. -i, pv. -u). muddled'? 2a. Why do you, etc. bi titlctxbnD* le-.h,,, except in the 3a. Don't get so muddled, Fatimna.-Jn truth my getting muddled doesDno good.-Yes, her, etc. 4. Figure the question to yourself properly! 5. Do you figure the question to yourself properly? 6. Have you not yet learied it (th em)? 7. Why were you so stuck up?... Whoso gets stuck up gets set down. 8. Have you progressed, or gone back? balaf takt~xbi:1+ ja f-D~ma. i~ssrwwi~r (fior it,&owwcztr) is i-s~se-Dww~rui,s su?aJl (il as?ila) aDijib! i~sy~swww~rt is su?a,.l (il as?ila) P-ij ib? i~ss-oxxrwwrt is su?a,.l (il as?ila) ~oijib? i~s,,sowwa~rtu s su?ad. (il as?il a) ~-ijib? tcJ~allimtaha~f)? lissa nmaIt~jallim'tuhf itkabbarti le:h? itaddiniti walla -_,,taxx-Drt? A Conversation Grammar 155 Verb-Drill. ataallim wal(a)Xatfas'salS. nitjallim wala nitfassalif. itnallimti wala jtfas'salitiJ. itcallimna,, vtfassalhna:J. mana mitjal'limha?awi.,, mitqalli'nma:ha?awi.,, mitcalli'mi(:)nhum?awi. form follow this measure precisely, e. g. ana ma tlaxDt'btij (p. -na:J). ana ma b,atlaxbh+J (p. nit-). infinitive, e. g. ai nalam talaxbi:ti ma jfidj. m,ana b asDw'wacru (b_,as&nDwwtrha). ma lnab ni~siDwwcru (hi nis]sDwwtrha). inbcjan issDwwcrtu (i-ssDwwar'tuhum).,, is/Dwwcr'na:h (ises-Dwwar'na:hu m). la, lissa ma tcallimtu:J (_tal/limtanha:J).,,,,,, tnallimnahf (,tqal'limnabhaJ). manif mitkabbar. maclu:m jitcallim wala jitfassatiJ., titcallim,, titfassalJ., jitjallimu,, titfassaiu:J. s-Dhi:h, itcallim wala,tfassalif.,, itaPllimit,, _tfassaliitf.,, itcallimna,, tfassahina:J. ') taallum id duru:s bi jfi:d, or taqallumu (taqallumha, etc.) J fi:hum bi jcfi:d. -s)lii: m ma tlaxb-Dt (f. -it, p. -u:J).,, ma._b jitlaxbDtl (f. tit-, p. -u:J). -s;hi:h talaxbi(')tha ma_ jfidf. se)hi:h bi jis~sDwwcaru (ji-s-sDw'warha)., bi tisesDwwctru (bi tissDwwacrha).,, bi jiiscDwwctru:h (bi ji-&ss)wwaru:ha). mallu: m issDwwaru (insswwarhum).,, iss-Dwwcritu (i;si wwactritha).,, issDwwcru:h (i's-swwctru:ha). sKDhi:Ii lissa majtjallimu:I ( t5allimha:I).,,,,,,,t~allimnitu: (,tSallimitha:f).,,,,,, tSallimuhf (,tallimuha:j). illi jitkabbar ji srg~~r cand in na:s. ana mitaddim muf mit?axxiDr. it ta?addum ahsa~n mit tafxi,.r. 156 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic (a) Past. (b) Aorist. I (c) Partic. Infin. 9. Have you made search for the thief (investigated the matter)? Has Mahmud,, Has Zenab, Have the police,, 10. I hope this investigation will succeed. Weak Verbs of this form.(a) ithlarre:t jan il hcarD:mi? (Ian il?amri da) malimu.:djitctrr-D jannu? ze:nabjitfcrr-Dt jannu? il buli:.sithcarru jannu? ij'jakit talTrri(:) da jinfaj? For Systematic Grammar. General Note. The t which appears in this and three other forms (see pp. 160, 177, 180) has a reflexive force (Greek "Middle" Voice, French verbs in se). (1) The significations of this form are: (a) To do the action expressed in kattib to oneself or in oneself: e. g. itjallim " to teach oneself (have oneself taught)," and so "learn": i. e. middle, or reflexive, of kattib. Apply this to itfassat, i-sDwwar, it'addim, it?cxxvr, itlaxbt+, etc. (b) And so, "to make oneself out..." e.g. itkabbar "to make oneself out great," " to be proud." (c) And so " to pretend to be...," " to ape...," e. g. iddarwiJ " to pretend to be a dervish," itfarnag " to ape foreigners." (d) Merely passive of kattib, e.g. laggim "to bridle," itlaggim " to be bridled." (Very common in Egyptian Colloquial.) Notice the assimilation of the t in issvwwar, miggawwiz and other consonants. A Conversation Grammar15 157 Weak in 3rd Radical'1: e. g. (b) rn,ana b~athiarr-D ~annu min badri. ma hu~b jitlictrr-o ma hi-ja,__b titlicLrrDo,~ ma, humma~b jithctrru,, I (c) s,'Dh7i-h hu,.wa mitlictrri cjannu.,,hummna mit-harrijji-.n ILike?arp ji~rrD. Notice Indefinite in a, partic. in i. (2) '- Sound " verb. Apart from the prefix it, the rules given on p. 151, Nos. 2 and 3, apply to this formi, and its corresponding quadriliteral, absolutely. (3) The Infinitive form talallum, tas,-owwur, etc., is scarcely a colloquial form, the infinitive of kattib (taktihb) is usually borrowed and substituted for it. (4) The only weak verb of this form calling for notice is the one exemplified in No. 9. But whereas the corresponding verb in kattib is an a-i verb (like bana jibni), in itkattib it is a-a (like?ar-o ji?r-D). Contrast sawwa, jisaww[i]. itsawwa, jitsawwra]. Butpjartic. mitsaww[i]. 158 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XXXII [Grammatical Scheme:- Verbs formed as iktatab.] Two Proverbs. A. I met with Fowzy Bey two or three days ago at a political meeting, and I noticed that he is spending his whole time at that subject, and is not working at 1 anything at all. How on earth does he live then? B. Why, he is relying on the money which his father left him. But that with time must come to an end inevitably, as the proverb hath it"0 thou that thinkest (it) so much, Time is more!" A. True, entirely accurate, and moreover"Take from the hillock, And it will disappear." L it. " busying himself with, occupying himself with." A Conversation Grazmmar 159 32. f-Dl nimrit itne:n wi talati:n. afla:l si:%it " iktatab." mniadsa wi masale:n itne:n. A. igtanmajti wDjja fawzi be: min jome'n tala:ta fjigtima:f 5 sija:si, wi xattt ba:li iunu b jisrif wDtu kullu fil mawfuu:j da, walab jiJti'Silji f lia:ga?abadan! umma'l jiji'j minnee n? B. mahu mit/tikil (miirtikin, miitimid) al?irJe-n.illi fa't'hum l(u) a'bu:h. wala:kiii dol1 bi fu:l iz zama'n jin'tihu hatman, Cala rD?j il masal "ja mistaktctr,l iz zamanaktar!" A. sDliii:1, fi I'ajit i- -Dbt,'2 wi kaman ' xud mit tall, jix'tall." For Memory-work. The second paragraph. 1 For this form see ch. xxxvi. 2 Compare moabu:., "accurate ", " right! ". 160 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Fo rms inkatab (or itkatab) and iktatab. FoUr Conversational [Those two verb-forms can be studied together because of their -Past. In def. Part. Infi Part. Pass. Infi 1. Were you pleased when inb-nsirfti lamnma (i)ntafaljt! you profited from him? xninnu? inb-Dso1~ti lamnma (i)ntafa~ti minnu? inib-Ds-Doftu Mam= (i)ntafacjtu ni1innu? 2. Are you pleased when you hi tin'bisif lamnma tin~tificj profit from him? minnu? tinfbistiminnuf minnu? 3. How long have you been inta miq~tilnicj w-Djja,.h rni meeting with him?-Ouar emta? meeting has been for the last two hours. 4. Do you hear the door? iDid it open or shut?-IDoes it open and shut from the outside?-It only opens on the inside.-Make its opening on the outside as wvell. 5. Don't you honour and regard that friend of ours? -Certainly, he is greatly honoured andregarded in my sight. (N.B. passive partic.)-And be deserves honour and regard. sa:micj il ba.b? itfatali walla~,n?afal? muf inta uinihtirim wi miltibir &-sDhibna? _Pas t. Indef. Im. Pa. Iml. Weak verbs of this form. A. 1st rad. w. A. 6. Did you agree and unite on itta'tiadtu w,_tta'fa'jtu ciala an opinion? r-n?j? 7. You'd better agree, etc.-I aflsan tittiftdu wi tittifj'u ciala suppose we shan't agree, rn?j. etc. 8. Agree and unite! etc. it'til~idu wi it'tif?u ~jala r-i~j!1 A Conversation Grammar 161 Verb-Drill. essential similarity in rhythm and vowelling. For the t see p. 156.] inbts-Dtti x:Dlis lammananta'fat minnu. ~,,,,,nta'faMt niinnu. inb-DsnDna,,, ntafajna minnu. ban'bisit?awi lamm an'tifij minnu. t,,, lamm^an'tifi5 minnu. bi nin/bisit,, lamnma nin'tifir minnu. 1 igtima:5 bitaina min sajte:n. itfatai wala t?afalJ. bi jit'?ifil walab jinfi'titij. majlu:m hu:wa muhtarDnm wi muctDbPr Candi kti:r. majlu:m in'bps-D lamnma.n' tafa].,, in'b-DsDit,,.-n'tafnit.,, Inl'b-DsDtu,,.n'tafanu. majlu:m jin'bisi- lamma jin'tifij.., tin'bisif,, tin'tifi].,, jin'bistu,, jin'tifnu. wi hu:wa_,b jistaa%?? il iitirDIm wi lijtiba:r! B. 2nd rad. weak. C. 3rd rad. weak. la, mattaTiadna:J walajttafa?na:.. sacii:ih ma ttaladu:f wala/, ttafa?u:f. a-unn ma nittifi?Si wala nittiiidf. aiwa ma jittif?u:i wala jittihdu;J. majna mittihdi:n! wi mittifi:n! l ittiia:d wi ljittifa:? bi jfi:du. M 162 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Past. Indef. Part., Inf. Past. Indef. Part., Infi 9. Were you puzzled when you chose that thing (i.e. had to make a choice). 10. Don't you get puzzled when you choose? 11. Is not the chooser generally puzzled?-Yes, because the making of a choice perplexes. 12. What o'clock did you begin and end?-I began at midday and haven't finished yet.-One who has only just begun, how should he have finished? 13. Kindly begin and end earlier than that tomorrow.-Well, I will begin at noon and end towards sunset.-No, let the beginning be in the morning early and the ending at noon. 14. You begin late and end early, how is that?Why, my beginning and ending are just as usual. B. iktatrt hctZ'ritak lanlnla xtart il ha:~ga di? muf bi titcL:r lammab tixtacr? muJ il mixta:r militaur fi 1 wa:lib? C. ibtade:t is sa:5a kam, w intahe:t is sa:^a kam? tiba tib'tidi wi tin'tihi badri San kida bukrc! inta mib'tidi fif [ugl waxri wi mintihi badri le:h? [ mibtidijja, mibtidijji:n, mintihijja, mintihijji:n.] For Systematic Grammar. (1) Signification of this form: (a) Middle or reflexive of the triliteral, e. g. igtamaj " to gather oneself with" and so "to meet", irtakan "to lean oneself" and so "to lean ". (b) Adds a subjective colouring, e.g. int-Dtor "to look from within oneself", and so "to expect, await". (2) Past vowels always a; Indefinite, regularly i, but a is occasionally heard, e. g. jintv-D r ("he expects"), alongside of jintizir, jiftigil and jiftacgcl. (3) Notice elision of unaccented i (tin'bis(i)ti, just as in 'mis(i)kit). (4) When first radical is w in this iktatab form, W is attracted to t e. g. it'tathad for iwtatiad ' to be united ". A Conversation Grammar 16 163 la, ma, htctrtif lamma~xtctr'taha. Ja, ma b~aritaxrf lamima b~,cixtct-.r. aiwva, ciafan fil,-,ixtijct:r ihltijcur. ibtade-.t iW7 6Thr wi lissa ma ntahetJ. 't-ojib ab'tidiI 1uhlr wv an,'tihi,,_, daI —btid~a:ja wJntiha-.ja zaJj il cja: da! miaclu-m ma~,,_htctrf lammna,_,xtciir. mal-b jihtctrf larnma,,,b jixtci-:r, za..j! (&) When the second radical is weak the verb is conjugated like jina:m, e. g. i-hta-:9, jilita:9. And similarly: e. g. in~a,.f, " to be kept back ", iin-ha-.f. (43) When the third radical is weak the verb is conjugated like bana(:.), jibni(:,), e. g. ibtada, jibtidi. And similarly, ind-nfa, "to be extinguished ", ijin+ifi. (7) When the second and third radicals are the same, the verb is conjugated like 4v~~jisa1hb (e. g. imtadd jimtadd, ind-Drr jinffarr). Form iktatab is one of the few in which a passive participle appears, in a few verbs: it is always in a: e. g. mu~tar-om " honoured "; second radical weak, muxtaL-.r " chosen " (same as the active " choosing "). 164 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XXXIII [Grammatical Scheme:- Verbs formed as?aktab.] Story of the Artful F'ish. There was once a fisherman who went to catch fish; and when he had sat down by the water he caught a little fish, after taking very much trouble. Said the fish to him, " Friend, you had better let me go, and come next year and catch me. You will have shown mercy on the one hand, and I shall have grown big and fat on the other". Said he to her, "Well, I never! It appears that you are an artful, cunning one. Of course I see you want to make it appear to me that you are no use to me. See here, you caused me trouble at first, and now you want to oblige me to let you go and trouble myself another time as well! Come, don't you know the proverb which is said?" "And what is it, sir?" said she. He replied, " You must know it and note it before I eat you: 'A bird in the hand Is better than ten on the morrow"'. Yes", said the fish with a faint voice, for she was at her last moment, "and 'What's in your hand is nearer than what's in your pocket!'". A Conversation Grammar 16 165 lRadduwdit is samaka 1 ri~ialijja. kan mnctrrcL wa-.hid s-sDjjad rrD-h ji~sefmd samak; wvi lamma /?acjad cial batir misik samak-nse —jojjorit bacidima ticjib kiti'r.?axmit?a,'lit in. " ja s,srrbi, il?ahsanj_,nnak tisaj'jibni wi his sanaj gjajja tilmsikni. tiku.,n inta?mzDxrjrti roDhma ruin jiba, w,_,an~aku',n kibirti wik-,smint 5alafan afabfbacjak w asam'm1-inak min ciha tanja."?am "jal laha "ja sala-mi 'ji,-h-oiwjnnik hijalijja rnakkaL,.ra; atari:ki 'jawza tiz-hi'ri: 1(i) innik mia tinfa'jini:J. da~nti?atcjb/tihni fil?awwil wi dilwrV)'ti cawza tilzinihn(i) asaj'jibik w~atcjib nafsi kaman nmurraL. huwa,_.nti nmajrif'ti4j il xnasal illi~b jit/?.at.l?"?a:mit?aflit iu " hu.,wa?eh ja si:di? "?ain '?al laha "jilfzamik ti~r-ofi~h wi tctxdi ba.,lik minnu ciablim, aklik, ~jo~sefuwrc fil jadd alisan ruin Ciafara fil Wctdd '."?a-.mit?axlitjs. samaka bis -Dnt &to~jif wi hijja 5ala?a-.xirl la hFor Memory-work. The proverbs. For Systematic Grammar. (1) Signification of this form:-Same as the first signification of kattib (see p. 150), i. e. it makes an intransitive triliteral transitive, e. g. navhvr " it appeared ",?-o~h-r "1he caused to appear, manifested ". (2) The Indefinite is identical in structure with that of the triliteral in i. But unlike the latter it takes i invariably. It is therefore only the i of its Indefinite that distinguishes it from the Indefinite of the triliteral; e. g. ji-~hir " he manifests ", jiz-hvr " it appears ": jilzim " he compels ", jilzam. " it is necessary ". 166 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic FoUrm '?ak tab. For Conversational Past. 1. In def. 2. Have you advised all the people of the resolution? You will kindly advise, etc.?a5/lanti kull in na-.s hi t ta'ri:r? and so?acianti, -11. tih~a tillin in na,.s hi t ta'jri-.r bukraL! and so on, exactly, like the simple verb; Imperat.I Partic. ~ Infin. I -J C) O. Ad-vise the folk of their coming!-J am advising them since early (i. e. have already done so). —Was the advertisement clear? t?i~lin in na,.s hi t ta?ri~-r! Weak Verbs of this form.-(A) W~eak in Second Past. Imper. Indef. Inf. Partic. Past. Imp er. Indef. Infi n. f 4. You have edified (informed) her uncle. 5. Inform our friend, please. 6. The information (your information) was useful. 7. Have you given a legal decision to the man, o Counsellor? 8. Give a legal decision to the manl, and a good one!wfll, the very best I can. -I hope he'll be pleased wi'th your giving-of-thedecision! A.?afadti trcrdritak 5am'mxaha?awi, katta~r xe.rnDk!??afadti 5aromi 7awi, Latter xe,.rik.?afadti 'jammitu 7awi, kattcur xe,.rik.?afadtu jammitu 'jawi, katta~r xerku. fi; d min f-Dtlak snh-ibna. fi-.di min fud&iik fitdu mmi fnDdluku, il?ifa",da (ifadtak) kamnit mufi-.da. B.?afte,.t ir rn:wjil ja mufti??ifti r rn,:cjiI kwajjis, if'ti;h! I "I A Conversation Grammar 167 Verb-Drill. aiwa mma:l?alant. and so?anlanna. ajlinhum bi kulli suru:r. but always in i, never a or u. mana muj'linhum min badri. -oii:hi?aclan. and so?acjlanit,?aclanu. ma5lu:m jinlinhum. ka:nx.il?inla:n wvaiili? Badical; (B) Weakl in third ladical. ana mabsu:-t inni 1?afadtu.,, mabsu:ta inni?afadtu.,,,, inni?afad'taha. illna mabsuti:n inna 1?afadna:ha. afi:du iza ka:n mumkin. ifi,,,,, nifi.du ~ ana mabsu:t inni?ifadti ka:nit mufi:da. aiwa,?afte:t ir rD:gil min zama:n.?afti:h bi?ad'dima jim'kinni. rtjihi:li?afa:du?awi.,,?afa:ditu?awi [=afadtu].,,?afa'ditha,,,?afadtu:ha,, jifi:du iza ka:n mumkin. tifi:du,,,, jifi(:)du:h iza ka:n mumkin.?ifadtu (?ifatditha) ka:nit mufi:da?awi. malu:m afta r r:):gil (af/ta:h). ijjak jinbisi* mil?iftavbtactak! 1 Or illi, meaning "in that". 168 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XXXIV PARTS OF THE BODY A Fable. They say that the members of the body, from the head to the toe-nails, grumbled once against the stomach. "Here we are perpetually feeding this stomach, every day without intermission, though it is never satisfied, is never thankful, and never does us any good in return. Come, let us make a faction against it and go on strike from feeding it." And actually they did strike, and cut off all food from the stomach. And then they got gradually weaker and weaker, and thinner and thinner, and more and more ill. And when they had become very bad indeed they said to each other, " See now, we were wrong. This strike of ours has done us no good. Now we see that this belly here had a function, the most important of all functions, namely to digest the food and distribute it to us digested, so that we may live and be strong and grow. So, then, when we were doing it good we were doing ourselves good too, and when we did harm to it we harmed our own selves. It is just because we are all constructed together, each on the other, though we did not know it. The work of each is necessary to the others. When one of us prospers, all prosper, and if one ails, all of us are sick." A Conversation Grammar 169 34. f~tl nimrit crbacaw talati:n. '?a\fD 1 gism. lhaddu:ta. bi ju:lu inni '?aqcj Kl gisin mir rD:s lid Btifr itzammaru mcrrza 5al minda.?a:lu "da lna Cammali:n nawakkil il miSda di kulli jo:m min ge:r ta?xi:r, la itiJbaC wala 'tiJkur wala tin'falna kaman. j-tt)D nitD&,ss-Db jale:ha wi nilrib 7an tawki'lha." wi fi'lan?i)'rDhbu wi 'DtDSu janil miida kullil?akl. u baSde:n fiflu jiTffafu humma, wi jinthafu wi jijju kaman, JwDjjab JwDjja. wi lammatt?ax'xDru x.D:lis?a:lul bacti "dalina maliu?i:n. il?ijtry'b daubtacna ma fa'dna:f. ata:ri kan lil btini dijja wmDi:f(a) a'hamm il w-aDz):jif kul'laha, wi hijja h-'tm il?akl, wi tawzi:u qale:na minhiffim calaJan nici:i wi ni'wa wi.nzi:d. ba?a lamma kunnajb nin/facu kunna.,b ninfac naf'sina kaman, wi lamma tDrre'na:h iDrlre:na rulina. ata:ri kullina mitrDkkibi'n jala bacdi:na, wilina ma kun/na'f carfi:n. wi Jluli kulli wa:hlid minna 6TDru:ri lil ba:?i. wi lamma wa:hid minna jiflal, bi jiflal il kull, w iza kan wa:liid jitnab nib?a kul'lina tacbani:n. 170 Egyptian Colloquial A rabzc, Exercise on the Jiembers of the Body. 1. rmD.s ir rmD.gil hi tiw'ga~u. rrDsQ,_b tiwga~ni. r-Dsha b tiwgajha. ru(Q)sna b tiwgajna. 2. falrnLk {owi-'l, la,-zim. jin?-msi,. 3. xvidni I jamimn bi tiw~Jajni. widamni fi,.ha 7u~n. widanna fitsh 7ut-n. 4. 5andi zuka,.m fi mianaxiuri. 5. iftali,'hanakak xvi trDlla5 lisa:nak. fatai ha'nakha wi +nDlla~it li,'sanh a. 6. ruh- ii hiakiim is sina,.n jix'la5 lak id dirs (is sinus). 7. il ja:.?a tustur ir rnD?aba. 'ruj'abit ir ra:3i1 fi:ha ja:7?a. rr~a,'bitha ma flha:J ja.j'a. ro'7?abti y 8. zo-.rnik madbut.-.-xall1i'h 1. The man's head pains him. I have headache. She has, We have, 2. Your hair is (too) long, it must be cut. 3. My right ear aches. My ears have cotton in them. 0Oir,,7 1 4. I have catarrh in my nose. 5. Open your mouth and put out your tongute. She opened, etc. 6. Go to the teeth-doctor, he will pull out the molar (tooth) for you. 7. The collar covers the neck. The man's neck has a collar. Her neck has no collar. M y,,,,,,, 8. Your throat is sore. -Keep it warm. Her throat, etc. 9. 10. d afja: n. zorha,,I Ji:lI is' s&nndu:.? jala kitfak. ma tittakkia:J bi ku,-jakj__jal wa~rn?. 9. 10. Carry the box on your shoulder. Don't lean with your elbowv on the paper. 11. diratj~i matni. dir'ofjha mafru,.d. di'ri~ti 1 matni —ja. diri'5itha mafruda. 11. My arm is bent. Her arm is not bent. My arms are bent. Her arms are not bent. I Original form adrija, p. of dircu9. A Conversation Grammar17 171 tamrimn fi?aJI-n1 gasad. 12. seuba-cji -fhh xa —tirn.,s-ufba~ha fi-.h dibla.,&-wa'bi~ha mi~fbu:?a. wo'awabjak'I mafru.-da.,suba:'ju 1 kibihr maksu-.r. 6Dnwafri +Dwxi:1,a la —zirn d-owa'Ifirha f a?us'&saha. 14. Ji:l il kita,.b tah-t! ba:*fivk. 12. My finger has a ring. Her,,,, wedding-ring. Her fingers are clenched. Your,,,,, open. Hi's thumnb is broken. 13. My finger-nail is long, I must cut it. My finger-nails are long, IL must cut them. 14. Carry the book under your armpit. 15. I have a cold oil the chest. 16. I have stomach-ache. She has, etc. 17. I feel ill in my inside. 17. 18. 19. 20. ciandi bard fi sedri. 'jadi nicn-s~ fi bNotni. micjfditi fi,-ha mawo%-s,. mici/ditha?albi 2tajbamn. ajc&-io-bi sajba (fidi,.da). ~ uru:'?i I ma fihaf dammn. inkasarit rigli bi ru~:s,-,,a 18. 19. 20. My nerves are unstrung (strong). My veins are bloodless. my leg has been broken by a bullet. 21. 6Dnr-bni fi r rukba. ruk'biti wctrma (ruk'bitha). trukabi zajj illi fi:ha roDml. rutkabna mitlcuxltxct. 22. s,-wa:bici rigjle,.h fl,-ha da-g.9 21. He struck me in the knee. My knee is swollen (her knee). My knees are tired (" are like those in which is sand "). Our knees are shaky. 22. His toes have corns. I For s-nwa.-bi9ak. 2?alb (heart) generally means the "inside" vaguely. " Sing.1ns'o~b "a nerve." 'cjmspbiI"nervous." ISame word as for " Ifoot ". The special word sa:.? is, hardly used in colloquial. 172 Egyptian Cblloquial Arabic CHAPTER XXXV [Grammatical Scheme: —Verbs formed as ka:tib and itka:tib.] A Proverb. A. I say, I'm utterly disgusted! That colleague of ours in the (Government) office is continually antagonizing us in the nastiest fashion, I don't know why. Come, let's lay a complaint against him and be quit of him. B. My dear man, it would be no good. It happened to me once that some one opposed me, and so I treated him with the like, and we continued antagonizing each other, and opposing each other, and quarrelling together, and at the end of it I found I had only injured myself. I'11 tell you what: have patience and the Lord will requite him; as the proverb says, "Be patient over an ill neighbour: He will either move off, or there'll come to him A calamity which will remove him". A. You are right, Leave the affair to Allah-He knows His own business. A Conversation Grammar 173 35. ft l1 nimrit xamsa w talatin. afca:l si:gcit "ka:tib" vi si:git "'itka:tib.' masal. A. d ana.z'hiti xr:lis! zami'lna fid diwa'n bijja'kisna, mnaksa wiSfa tamalli, manij ja:rif le:h. jDtTD nijtiki:h wi nitxDtt-Ds, minnu! B. ja Je:x mafi'J fajda. iD/s'Dl Ii man rar?inni wa:lIid xr(:)/'nimni wana ia(:)miltu bil misl, wif'Tilna nitla:kis wi nitx:sDim wi nitxa:ni?, wi.n'haitu lae:t inni?aze't nafsi bass. aul lak, tDwwil ba:lak jale:h wi rDb'buna jiqa'zi:h, Iala rx?j ii masal " isbur jala ga:r is saw; ja jirfial, ja,t'gi: lu dahjaitilu ". A. jale'k nu:r; xalli:ha ja'l,-tTD, wi hu:wa jicr-Df Jlulu! Ftor Memory-work. fih na's bi j?u:lu, fwwil ba:lak cal tiadu, wi r-bbuna.jga'zi:h, qala rD?j il masal "isbur Cala q:r.,is saw, ja jirhal, jat'gi: lu dahja wi tfi:lu." 1 For this t see p. 156. 174 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Forl"m ka: t ib. Past In def. Partic. Ivmperat. Infin. Alternative Infin. I FoUr Conversational 1. Why did you answer so, Ali? 2. Why did you answer him, her, so? 3. When will you answer (to) that qu estion, Ali? 4. When will him, her? you answer 5. Why are you answering the question in that way?-I am. answering as far as I understood. 6. Answering so is not polite. -True, for children to answer their father so is a fault.-His answering his father so is very wrong.- And her's is worse. 7. No more wrangling and scuffling now!-Well,' wrangling and scuffling are no good. 8. Didn't you answer Ali harshly? - I did'nt answer him at all! 9. Don't answer Zed, Zeynab, so, it's a shane!-I'd better not ansiver him. her, at all. ga(:-)'wibti kid a le,.h ja 5a~i? ~j'ibtu, gjawib/tahia; 9jawibtu,.h, gawib~tuha. ti~Ja:wibl)cas su?a,.l da?einta tigjawbi cis su?a,.l da?emita ja fb1fma? tigjawbu cjas su?a-.l da?emta ja~wla.d? ti,'9awbu, ti9javwibha; tiqjawbu-.b, tigjawbu,.ha. tgja'wibha, bi,_tgawbu, etc. mnga~a-wib cias su?a,.l kida, le-h? inti m9awba (a)bu-.ki intu mgjawbi:n abu-.ku,, il ni~gawba di mif hi?adab! n. 9 aw'bitu. kida l~abu,.h balaf mnonazcia wi mxctn?a! mia gja'wibtif 5ali gjawa,.b fidi:d? PI fn1fma gjawibtu4. 1 iwla-.d ma tja,'wibf' ze,.d kida cjelbciaek! ze:nab, t~awbi,,f ze-,d zel-nab,,,t~awbu:,f iqj qama,-ja doJ kida! A Conversation Grammarm 175 Verb-Drill. qa(:)'wibti kida wi s sala:m!? ~ 57 7~ ga(:)wibna,,,, 9awib'na:h, qawibna:ha. aga:wib jale:h baidi JwInjja. J,t J ),, i aiwa ga:wib kida., gawbit,, gawbu, 9awbu, ga'wibha; gaw'bitu, qaw'bitha; qawbu:h, gawbu:ha. ijjak jiqa:wib wala jinsa:j.,, tiqa:wib,, tinsa:j., jigawbu,, jinsu:f. jigawbu, jiga'wibha; jigaw'bu:h, jigaw'bu:ha. ga:wib ahsan min kida! gawbi,,,,, gawbu,,,, niga:wib,, I Jy agawbu...niga'wibha, etc., etc. ananm'ga:wib?addimajfhimt. ana mgawba,,, itna mgawbi:n,, fhimna. sali:ii nmgawbit il wila:d 1 abu:hum bi fJ akli da giTh. wivmgaw'bitha 1 abu:ha aDSD*t aktctr. ai nalam in niza: wi I xina:? ma jinfaSu:I. I ma gawib'tu.: bi 1 marra!,, ga'wibtaha:J,,,,, gawibtuf,,,,,, ga'wibtaha:,,, ga'wibnahumfi bi 1 marra! il alhsan magawbu:I bi 1 mcrra.,Shi:Dtl, ma gawbu:f.,,, gawibha:f.,,,, gawbituj.,,,, gawbitha:j.,,,, gawbuhumf. baridu alsan mnajgawbu:f..,.,.,,jgawibha:.,,,,,,,tg awbu:f. Y~! t jtgawibha:f.,,,,, jawbuhumJ. tf II rnmagawib'ha:, m agawbu:f, maagawibha:,, mangawibhum,, 176 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic 3rd rad. ) 10. weak: L like bana, f jibni. J Infinitives. 11. Weak Verbs Have you hailed the cab? na(:)'de:t jala ctarabijja fiTja? -Whom are you hail- bi.tna:di jala mi:n? ing?-Hail Abraham, 0 na:du 5ala,brahi:m, ja., Ali and Fatima! wla:d. Did the hail not succeed? il manadijja ma nafajitj? -Yes, my (our) hail or in 'nida ma nafaJ? failed. For Systematic Grammar. (1) The significations of this form are: (a) to perform on a person, directly and with intent, the action suggested by a triliteral verb, or by an adjective, or by a noun, e. g. na:zij, to perform on a person directly and with intent the action in nazaj " to pull ", viz. "to strive with him ". 5a:mil, to perform on a person directly and with intent the action in Camal "do ", viz. " to deal with him ". lcatif, to perform on a person directly and with intent the action in ltBi:f " kind ", viz. " to be-kind-to ". ga:wib, to perform on a person directly and with intent the action in gawa:b "an answer ", viz. "to answer him" sa:iid, to perform on a person directly and with intent the action in sa:jida ' fore-arm ", viz. " to help him ". and so (b) by an easy transition "to have intent to do an action on a person," = " to try to do it".?a:til, to try to do on a person the action of?atal "kill", viz. "to fight him ". sa:bi?, to try to do on a person the action of saba? "precede", viz. "to race him ". A Conversation, Grammar 1 7 7 of this Form. aiwa na(:.)'de-t ciala wahda. secdhi-h 'na-.da cjala wahida b ana —di ciala,_m-hammad. 'sCLriAi7 bi jna-.di ~ale:h. M~,_ana,,_m na-,di cjale:h. jw ana kaman nm`na~dijja. (ihna,,,mna'dijji,,n.) la-., m'na',dijjiti ma nafacjitj. s'cLhih- m~'na-dijjitna ma nafacjitf.,,nida —ja ma nafa~f. ni'da-.h ma nafaTf. (2) The signification of itka —tib is (a) reflexive of ka,.tib, e. g. idda,,ra "he hid himself", itsa,.bi? "he raced himself" (with wtojja); and so (b) in the third plural the reciprocal notion already latent in ka-ftib is fully brought out; e. g. itsa(:)b(i)?u " they raced together"; (c) passive of ka:tib, mitsa-ciid "helped" (d) the combination of the conative sense of ka-.tib with the reflexive, produces the signification of feigning: e. g. jAqwhil " he feigned ignorance of" itcja:ma "he turned the blind eye to"itna:sa "hbe pretended to forget ' (3) Notice that the vowel scheme throughout these forms in all three parts is a: i, except with third radical of itka:tib weak, when it is a: a. Form ka,.tib has two infinitives; the one in m is much the comlmoner. The other is more of a noun than a verb. The infinitive of itka:tib can hardly be said to be a colloquial form at all. That 6f kaftib is substituted. The infinitive of ka,.tib with third radical weak (like nida(:.) above) is very rare, and that of itka,-tib non-existent. N 178 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XXXVI [Grammatical Scheme:-Verbs formed as is'taktib.] The short-cut that didn't come off. I was in a very great hurry yesterday and so I took a carriage so as to be in time for an imperative engagement. And as I thought the way round by the Muski and Sh. Mohammad Ali too long, I preferred to cut across by the side-streets, so I asked the driver to hurry; but he made a difficulty about the short cut through the narrow lanes,-however, I forced him to it. And the result was that we got lost, and instead of being some ten minutes late I was a whole half-hour, and missed my appointment entirely! It's as they say, " Let the man who's in a hurry never, never drive camels!" A4 Conversation Grammar 179 it ta~xri-.ma Ilii ma, nafa~itf. ana kutti mnista~qil x.:li-s& imba:rih- wi, rkibti 'jcum-bijja 5alafa-mn_,allia? rniijad 4D~ru —ri. xi lamma kutti niiS'tir~wil il laff il kibi.,r mui miuski wi fa:ri5 m~Iiammad Jali,?umtbi labbe:t Q~xirrDm mini wusf- ii hawa —ri, wjsta5~jilf ii 5ctr'baqji. la:kin hu:wa,__st-Ds'&ab it tctxri,.ma dij wu il i awa:ri-,d dajja~a. wala —kin~,,azamntujb kida. wi,_,n niti-cj a ja?axi unnina tuhna wi ba'dalm,,at?a~xx-Dr zaJj 5afctr da~a-.ji? it?axx-Drti nu&sis sa-cja tamam walaj'hi?tif il micja:d bita-cji xiz,-li,&! ciala rbD?j J1 iisal Prcunmr il mistacjqil ma jsui? qjima —l! " For Memory-worke. lamima kutti mnistrrfwil il laff habbe,-t ax-Drriom miin wus1t A hawa:ri. walakin sihi-.t an1liimasal is satjir "cuimr,,il mista~giI ma_,jsu-4 gima-.l." For Systematic Grammar. (1) Significations of this form: (a) To consider a thing or person thus or thus (see Yerb-Drill, Nos. 8, 11). (b) To ask for the doing of such and such an action (see Nos. 4, 6). N.B. —(b) may be reflexive: thus istacjlit may mean " I asked myself to hurry," i. e. " I hurried "; or transitive: " I asked soand-so to hurry," ista~qiit cjali " I hurried Ali up '15 2 (2) The penultimate vowel is a throughout and invariably. The final vowel is a or i according to exactly the same rule as was laid down on p. 151, no. 2. (3) In the verbs with second radical weak the infinitive takes on the feminine termination -a, as did the corresponding verbs of?aktab (cp. ifa,.da with istifa.,da). And in other respects the two are parallel. (4) The verbs with third radical weak are conjugated like?arvo ji?r-, not bana jibni. 1 1 forgot, failed to notice. 2 The reflexive lt has already been explained on p. 156. The s is petitive or causative. C) 180 Form istaktib. Egyptian Coll~oquial Arabic -Past. I Indcf. Imjper. Partic. Infin. } 1.Why did you hurry yesterday? 2. Why are you hurrying, my good sir? 3. Hurry up!-Why, I am hurrying!V-This hurrying is not expedient. 4. Did you ask him for forgiveness yesterday? 5. You didn't ask his forgiveness. 6. Summon for us the clerk (the woman). 7. Stay, don't summon him (her). 8..Take care you don't try fooling me.-I cry God pardon! How should I try to fool you!- Trying to fool people is had manners (taste). For Conversational ista53lt imbaArih le-.h? ista59ilti hi tista5qjil leh ja Si-.di? hi tista~gli leh ja sitti? hi tista~gilu Ieh ja 9ama.ja? istas'mahtu~,nma,.rih-? [istasmaht/taha?] istasmah,'ti.-h imba,,rih [istasrnah'ti:ha?] istasmahitu.-h imha,-rih-? [istasmahtu —ha?] mal-.stasmahtui4. [~,stasrnahtaha:Jj nma,_stasmnahtihf. [,stasmahtihaf. ma~,stasmattuhf. [,__,stasma-htuha-j.1. istcth'dior lina- 1 ka —tib (hurma). istoiiNtr',ru nina 1 h-urma. halaf! ma tistah~T-ruj! [tist~h6Dnrha:J.] halaj! ma tistath-6rruhj (tistah-Dlruha:J). iw~a tista9'hilni! form has a variant which combines istarrjjaht 'janduhum? istarnDjjahiti, istarrjjah-tu itfNvdtu istarxbjjah (-i, -u). 9. 10 - _This,~ Did you rest at their house? Please rest yourself. A Conversation Grammar 181 Verb Drill. istangilt wis sala:m! [or ma stangiltif]. istajgilna,,,, [ma staigilna:lj. b asta5gil wis sala:m [or ma bWastaqgilj]. bi nistagqil wis sala:m [or ma,lb nistacgilJ]. mana mistacgil (-a) [ma lina inistajciili:n]. faiwa,,stasrniaitu [istasmatitaha]. aiwa stasmalina:h [istasmalina:ha]. ai nacam mastasmaitu:J [stasmattaha:J]. ai nacam masstasinalnahf [, stasmalinaha:Jj. rastalchdru ha:lan [astacht'ru ' I j.lku]. a astalit7rha hla:lan L [astcalitdor'hajlku]. nistalchDrha hia:lan [nistctMDrha,lku]. J TDjjib m,astaitDT)ru:J F[astalidtDrha:f]. tDjjib ma nistahiToru:f [nistahlDrha:J ]. astctafctr )tt:):h! astagqhilak izza:j! aiwa, is/taigil [or ma staigilfj. ista'gilift [ma stagiilitf].,, istaT.gilu [ma sta.qilu:J]. aiwa, bi jista5gil [mab jistalgilJ].,,,, tistaSgil [ima.b tistaSgilf]. jista gilu [ma.b jista;;gilu:Jl. 1 isti7ga:1 da muJ mufi:d. -s'li:ih istasmaliu [istasmahha].,, istasmah'itu [istasmaiitha].,, istasma'liu:h [istasmahu:ha]. mastasmau stasmaiu stasmaha:].,,,stasmaitu:J [s,,tasma itha:fl.,, stasmalhu [.stasmatliha:lJ. xctllistihi':ru nalajj ana. xcll istitlidrha Calajj ana. istigha:l in na:s muf zo:?. the features of the kattib and istaktib forms. aiwastarDjjtit -shlii:li istarbjjal. [la: masstarDjjaihtiJ]. 7,,,,,,,, istarDjjatlit.,, -starDjjalina,, istarbjjahu. [la: mastarDjjahna:l]. mana mistarDjjal (-a) [no infinitive.] [malina mistarpjjali:nl. 182 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Wcake Verbs (A) With 2nd and 3rd rads. the same. (B) With 2nd rad. Past. A. Thief. Part., P Inf 11. Why did you belittle fellow? the ista?alle,-t,_.r r-D.,gil 1 etc., wobe leth? (,D bi tistaall~ir rm-jil I jiDf-1. le.h 2)j inta mis'taliIuil,ilnjahijja le:h? 12. why do you belittle the fellow? 13. Why do you call the salary too low -Because I want to live independent..-Well, independence is best. NOTrm.-No. 13 shows that the two final radicals are sometimes little ",?alil). Here, when they coalesce, the meaning is rather different, independent" (No. 13, column 2). -Past. Inidef., B. Infi 14. Have you not consulted the doctor? 15. Shall you consult the doctor?2-Why should I 2.. -Because a consultation will do you good. 16. The consulting of that doctor did me good.Our consulting of him did us good too.-But my consulting of him did not. rauf istaTaft, Il h-akiun?,t istafcu-tu lriaki:m? r-rDh tistaJ'i:r ~, [etc., li/ge ba:5, jibi:5] istifa:rit il haki:m da nafatitna.,kti:r. Infi NOTE.- Here again we meet with uncontracted forms, c. g. istagwib again a contracted form may coexist, but with a different meaning: a prayer' (God). Past. (7, I Indef. Imp., Part., Inf. D. Past In d ef. Partic. 17. When did you make a istabdee:Qemta [i,.u]. start? 18. Will you start at once? ha tistabda,4,dilwnD~ti hadan? 19. Start the business to-day! istabda fi J Jugi innahbtrda! [4..u]. 20. Why did you hide yester- istaxctbbe:t ledih imba:rih, day, Ali? ja 5ali. istaxabbe:ti le:h imba:rih, ja fbtmia. 21. Why did you wait for us, istannetni'I le:h ja 5ali. Ali? istanneti:ni leh ja flotma. From istanna; ista9ann is the original word, meaning "1 to await A Conversation Grammcar 183 of this Form. weak. (C) With 3rd rad. weak. (D) A variant of C. ana mastaalle(:)tu:. iina ma sta?alle-naha:f. ana ma bvasta?allu:J. calajan aliibb aji:J mista'?ill. la:! istaallu.,sDli:.li ma staalluha:f. la:! bi jistaallu. 'sli:hl 1 isti?la:l afjad. found separated, e.g. istalil, jistalil, mista?lil ("to consider too "to consider little," i.e. "to belittle" (No. 11 and 12); or "to be la ma stafcrtu:J.,,,, stafacrnahS. astaji:r laki:m le:h? [etc.] istift(:)'ritna fi:h?afaditna kaman. la:, hu:wistaja:r il haki:m.,, hummastaJt:ru 1,, ]alaJan ilistiJa:r-Dtfi:dak. umlma:lv istijcrti fi:lh m. nafaaitni:f le:h? (instead of istaga:b) "to demand an answer from " (awa:b). And here e. g. istaga:b (jistaqi:b, istagi:b, mistagi:b, istiga:ba) means "to grant istabde:t imba:rihl [istabde:na]. aiwa hastabda?awam. d ana mistabdi min imba:rih. c-. *I 3. la: ma kuttiJastaxabba. ma kuttbasta, ja ma kuttib.astanna:k, ja si:di!,,,, bvastanna:ki, ja sitti!J,'thii:h istabda mba:rih [istabdat, istabdu]. h, a jistabda?awa:m. [mistabdijja, mistabdijji:n.] siDii:q ma kanji mistaxabbi.,,,, kanitli mistaxcabbijja. svDTi:i kan mistanni:k.,, ka:nit mistannija:ki. with patience ". (Partic. mistanni, mistannijja, mistannijji:n.) 184 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XXXVII [Grammatical Scheme: ---THE RELATIVE PRONOUN.] Story of the Clever Detective. The story which I shall relate to-day is concerned with the Relative Pronoun. Whoever wants to understand this, well, let him attend to the story. [A. Relative in nore. with copula (is, are); antecedent (a) indef. (b) def.] There is a certain one of my friends who is a detective, one of the cleverest and ablest of men. Well, this detective, who is (so) clever and able, told me about an incident which happened to him, and which I think will please you when you hear of it. [B. Relative in nora., with verb: antecedent (c) indef., (d) def.] " One day I was walking in the street and saw a certain criminal, one of those under the observation of the police. The moment I saw him he got into a carriage and went off without seeing me. Immediately I hailed a disengaged carriage which was standing by the pavement, got in, and said to the driver, 'Follow the carriage which started in front of us wherever it goes, and don't pull up till (when) it pulls up. And take care to pull up at a distance from it in order that nobody may see us ' [C. Relative in accusative: antecedent (e) indef., (f) def.] "And by chance there passed by one whom I knew and whom I knew our friend in the carriage also knew. So I said to this man whom I met in the street, 'Did you see so-and-so who is in the carriage which is ahead?' He said, 'Yes, I did'. Then I said, 'Come then, jump in beside me, for I want us to be together when we catch him up'. [D. Relative in genitive: antecedent (g) indef., (h) def.] "So we rode together, and the carriage took us along until we arrived at a narrow street near the Faggala. Just then we saw the carriage in front of us come to a stand at a house the owner of which was one of those suspected by the police. So the man behind whom we had gone and whose carriage we had caught up 1 Lit. " the joined noun," for illi is not reckoned a pronoun in Arabic. It is indeclinable and is, indeed, no more than a longer form of the definite article. Case and number are expressed by a supplemental pronoun, as will be seen. 2 Or illi hi:ja?udda:m. 3 The a is intoned and prolonged to give the idea of distance, " all the way." A Conversation Grammar 185 37. fn*l sabcjaw talati:n. lism il maw-su:l.l iika:jit il muxbir ijf a:tir. il 5iika:jajlli liatki:hannahctrda muxf-s'D bi lismi il mawsu:l. illi jliibb' jifhamu tpijib jidi-r ba:lu minha. A. fih wa:liid min fimnll rDslia:bi hu:wa (a) muxbir wi hu:wa min affJor il muxbiri:n wxva'da'ham. wi 1 muxbir da (b) lli hu:wa fJc:tir wi 'gadac?al li(:) iala nadrca limD'lit lu, b aftikir innaha tibsitkum lamma tismaju:ha.?a:l: B. "fi jo:m min do:l kutti ma:li fi s sikka, wi fufti wa:liid fa?i milli humma talitimrinbit il buli:s. wi?awwil ma fuftu rikib actrDbi:ja wi tannu ma:fi min ger ma jfufni. wi fi 1 lial na(:)de:t jala IacrDbi:ja fbilja (c) ka:nit wa?fa gamb ir rrsi:f, wivrkibti fi:ha wi?ulti li 1 Carbaqi ' itbaC il cjarDbijja (d)jlli?a:mit?udda:m mnDrDli matru:Ii, wala tijaff ill(a),amma tiIaf hi:ja. wi xud ba:lak 'wi?af biSi'd canha lagli ma haddif jifu:fak.' C. <" wi bil masDdfa marri iale:na wa:tlid airDfu, (e) wi^j'rift inni -sDhibna da,lli fi 1 car-bi:ja acrfu kaman.?umntana?ulti ]i r rD:gil da (f)lli?abiltu fi s sikka, 'inta fuft fula:n illi fi 1 carDbi:ja1lli?udda:m?' 2?am?al li 'aiwa fuftu'.?umtvana 'ulti lu 'tDijib, taaictlarkab gambi, Jalajan aTibblnku'n sawa lamma nilha?u.' D. "'?umnac rkibna sawa, wi miJjit il car-Dbijja bi:na lamlma: wDSDlna fJari' dajja??ari:b mil fagga:la, wi fi 1 lahlD, di Jufnajl cjarDbi:ja1lli?uddamna wifit4 candi be:t (g) ka:n sx>libu mil mafbu(:)hi:n jand il buli:s. fa r r.:gil illimJi:na wDr-:h (h) 4 An important point here. The English infinitive 'come" is rendered in Arabic by a Past verb because the observed action is momentary and is conceived past as soon as observed. The Indef. is only used when the observed action goes on for some time, or habitually occurs, e.g. jisallim in the next paragraph. 186 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic got down opposite this house, and when he got down we also got down a little short of the house, so that he should not observe us, exactly as I had said to the coachman. [E. Relative governed by a preposition: (i) antecedent indef., (j) def.] "The instant the man got down I saw someone greet him, of whom likewise I was 'at once suspicious, though I did not know him. (This man of whom I was suspicious, when I afterwards inquired about him, I found had a hand in the affair of the robbery of X. Pasha, of which the whole country has heard tell.) [F. Relative preceded by preposition, being itself in the genitive. j "'After they had greeted each other, I saw them whispering each other. and the one who had ridden in the carriage pointed the other to a house over whose door (there was) hung a lantern with red glass, (the house being) like a hotel. And immediately they both went to the house over whose door there was hung the red lamp, and knocked twice at the door, and there opened to them a woman on whose face were evident the marks of badness and criminality. And they both went in, and the door was shut to. "Then I said to my companion, 'Go and knock at the house which these people entered, and request to meet the man between whom and yourself there is acquaintance, and keep on talking to him until I come, and see he doesn't get out of your sight'. Off went my friend without a word. And then I spoke to the policestation of that locality on the telephone to dispatch a force of the police there, and barely on my just finishing the message, lo and behold comes a posse of police. I took them, raided the house, and arrested all in it. At the enquiry in the police-station we found them all to be revolutionaries dangerous to the public security. They were all sentenced to banishment, including the woman." Or `?us:d. 2 See note on section D. The action of greeting being (in the East) not a momentary one, it is not put into the past. 3 Here, where the continuance of the action is emphasized, the verb is further strengthened by bi (contrast preceding note). A Conve sation Grammnar 187 wijlli?na iarvbijfjitu, nizil?udda:m il be:t da, wi lamma nizil nizilna. lna?ablil be:t bi Jw-jja nalajan ma jidrikna:J, zajjima?ulti lil Cjarbagi tamam. E. "wi f hal ma nizil ir rD:gil Jufti wa:liid jisallimn2 Cale:h, Cala fu:l (i) iftabahti fi:h rD:xDr, mac inni mnaCrnDfu:f. (wi r rDgil da (j) lliJtabahti fi:h larmmalictrre't canlnu baIde:n, la?e:tQ innu kan lu jaddif tadsit is sir?abta:cit fula:n ba:fa, (J) illil?utri kullu simij Canha). F. "wi bajdima sallimu Jalababctf, Juf'tuhum bi jwafwiu 3 bcl't, w illi kan ra:kib il carDbi:ja fawwar li,t ta:ni Cala be:t mitjalla? cala ba:bu fanu:s 4 bi,?za:zalimar, jiJbih lukrDnith. wi jala tu:l r-D:liu l itne-:n ~al be:t illi mitnalla? ~ala ba:bul fa:nus l,atmacr,4 wi xD)bb)TDu cal ba:b marrite:n,?a:mit fataliit luhum hurma ba'jin cala wiJfaha calama:t 4 il?aba:ha wi fJ a?a:wa, wi daxalu l itne:n wi.rtrDddil ba'b jala fu:l. " numtt.ana?ulti._illi gih wDjja:ja, ' ruh x-DbbD-t Sal be:t illi dctxalu'h ig gama:ca do:l, wuhlltb m4?ablit ir rD:g il li be:nak wi be:nu majrifa, wi tannak ithaddit wTjja:h lamm.,a9gi.lkum, w.iwca jistixctbba5 minnak.'?am -hliibna ma kaddibji xDbctr wi rn'h jala ftu:l.?umt ana kallimt il karako:n illi fin nuT) di bijt tilifo:n jijaj'jalc li?u:wa mil buli:s illi jandu, wi ja do:b bimigarrDd ma kammilt il?ija:ra, illasw gih?u:wa mil buli:s, fa xcttuhum wi hagamti cal be:t wi -zDbDtnalli fi:h kulluhum. wi bi t tahii'? mana:hum fi 1 karako:n la?e'na:hum kulluhum min bitu:cj is sawrD, illi1jxillu bil?amn il aa:m(m). fannhakam ale:hum bi n nafji kulluhum latta 1 mara kaman." 4 In these three sentences the word which is nominally attached to the antecedent (mitealla? to be:t, bajin to lurma) really agrees with a subsequent noun in its own clause. The whole clause in fact is attached to the antecedent by means of the adjectival predicate, though the latter logically has nothing to do with the antecedent. 5 Or jistaxabba. 188 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic ADDITIONAL EXERCISE IN TIlE RELATIVE. [The references correspond to those in the preceding story. ] A. (a) Among my daughter's friends is a certain lady who is one of the nicest and prettiest of women. Among my friends are people living in Helwan, who are among the best of my acquaintance. (b) This lady who is travelling to France to-morrow is not returning again. Beware of those persons who are under police-inspection. B. (c) I hailed a lorry which was standing in this place, but its owner wouldn't come. I sent for two carriages which were standing at the stand, but their owners wouldn't come. (d) We caught the train which left at 5 yesterday, but only just. Catch up those folk who have just started! C. (e) There passed a girl whom I didn't know, but whom my wife knew well. There walked in front of us a lady whom we had met before, but I can't remember when or where. We saw a person whom our servant knows well. We saw an Italian woman whom I think you know quite well. We met a party of people whom I was wanting to see very much. We met a party whom Zeynab was wanting to see. (f) So we did see Mohammad whom you like so much! The person you met chez-nous to-day we met [yesterday at the station. D. (g) We stopped at a palace whose late owner(s) was (were) one of the notables of the place. We saw a lot of prisoners of war whose clothes, poor fellows, were all in rags,-torn. (h) Where did the lady get down whose carriage we saw passing? Where did those people, &c.... A Conversation Grammar 189 tamri:n?iiD:ffi 1 ism il mawsu:l. A. (a) min n im sla'b binti walda sitt hi:ja min al1Df is sitta:t vw,agmalhum. min Tfimni iabaibi na's sakni:n fi hilwa:n humma min -Dftbl mactrfi. (b) is sitti dilli hi:ja,msafrc fa'rDnsa bukra miJ rgcja ta:ni. iwju minvna's do:l illi humma tahlitvmrD?bit il buli:s. B. (c) na(:)de:t jala carDbijja karru ka:n wa:?if fi 1 hitta: di, walardi:J sT'!hibha ji:gi. tolabt 5crbijte:n ka:nu wafi:n fi 1 mawaf, wala,rlu:J Ds'Bha'bhum ji:gu. (d) lilii?na 1?-xtr illi?a:m mil matliDtri s sa:ja.. imba:rih, la:kin bi z zu:r. iltla? in na:s do:l illi?a:mu tawwi bass. C. (e) fa:tit Sale:na walda sitti ma kuttiJ 5a'rifha, la:kin zogti 5arfa:ha tamam. mijjit?uddamna walda sitt aftikir?abilna:ha?abla, wala:kin muf fa:kir emta walla fe:n. fufna waida xadda'mitna lctrfa:ha?awi. fufna walda tD]jani:ja (a)ftikir innukum 5acrfinha tDjjib.?abilna gama:5a kutti ja:wuz afufhum?awi.?abilna qama:5a ka:nit ze:nab 5awza.,tJufhum. [Repeat these six sentences (e), placing il before antecedent, and illi after.] (f) adilna Jufna mhiammad illintu bijthiibbu:(h). if Jaxsiillintu Juftu:hinnallarda jandina?abil'na:h iniba:rih fi 1 inatinDD. rka:n il mcartu:m shiibha ' D, (g) wiifna 5andi scar:Dja ka:nit il mctrhu:ma mslDbitha ka:nu 1 marlumi:n rslabha min anja:n il balad. Jufti gama-:a?usara (masaki:n!) hudu'mhum kulluhum mIfacrmDtD, jaSni mitmaz'za?a. Make above (g) definite by supplying il... illi. (h) is sitt illi fufna actrbi'jitha fajta nizlit fe:n? in na:s illi fufna Cjarbi'jithum fajta nizlu fe:n? 190 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic E. (i) There met me a lady of whom I suspected straight away that she was a princess. I entertained some people the day before yesterday of whom I had heard that they were the best sort possible. (j) Aren't you they of whom we heard that you were sequestered (interned) in Malta? See, we are they of whom you heard that we were sequestered in Malta. Aren't you the one we passed that day when you were sitting in Sidnaoui's shop? F. I was pleased with some houses in H. whose windows had fine balconies. Just look at that grand palace over whose gates a crocodile is hung. [Or 5ala kurne:j il bawwa:ba btaqitha... over the cornice of whose gates.] A Conversation Grammiar 191 13. (i)?ablitni wah-da -z-Dnne't fi —ha clala, *u-. innaha birinsi —sa. 6ifti qjamuaca 'jandi?awwit.imbaxiri kuttil~smiijt 'janhum, innuhurn min alisan nma,,jku —n. (j) Make above (i) definite. inuf intumi illi~srniijna ciankumi innukum. rniariquzi —n fi ahojina~,lli srniltu cianna?innina mahT-juzimn fi in-Lft)&! mufJnti,,,lli futna 'jale~ki disk in rnahQL-r w inti?jacida fi bank sidna —wi? F. 'jaqabitni buju,.t fi Iiilmi-.ja fi. Jababikhum tar-nsina:t ja —l. Ju-.f is sctroD-ia di,_,l?ubbaha~,lli mit'jalla7 ciala bawvwa(:.). 'bitha tirnsa-.li! For Systematic Grammar. (1) When it is grasped that HUl is like an enlarged connective particle like the second il in il be —t Ai kibi:r, it becomes clear why it is omitted after an indefinite antecedent. Jfuft il be —t Ai kibi-Ir "4I saw the big house." Jfuft il beft RHl '(hu.-wa) kibixr " I saw the house which is big."91 fujft beat kibi:r " I saw a big house." fuj't be-,t (hu —wa) kbixr " I saw a house which is big." (2) Thus all sentences related to an indefinite antecedent seenm to lack what we call a relative pronoun. N.B.-kulli wa:-Rid, ajji wa:.-icd are reckoned as indefinite. So kulli wa:-,id jitiub ji'?bal means " Every one who asks receives "; not kulli wa:Iiid illi... But in kull~,illi ji~lub, etc., RRl is in the genitive (" construct state "). Similarly kulli min... (3) RHl can be used by itself, "he who ", "him who." (4) illi being an indeclinable connecting link, the case of the relative " who ", " whom ",~ "whose" ", is determined by a personal pronoun in the relative sentence: e. g. (" who ") ir r-D-jil illi misik ii iaga —t... where, the nominative pronoun is concealed in misik: (" whom ") ir ra:.9il ilU misku:h il buli:s... where the objective pronoun is h: (" whose ") ir r-o:.9il iRH be:tu ciagabaa... where the possessive pronoun is ua. 192 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic CHAPTER XXXVIII [Grammatical Scheme:-CONDITIONAL SENTENCES.] A dialogue about a return from travel. I. [Condition alluding to a possible event in the past.] Anees. I heard to-day that our friend Marcus came back yesterday from Europe. Boctor. If he has come (or came) really we must go and greet him. And (even) if he did not come, we have lost nothing. Gindi. No, he came for certain, for I myself, too, saw him in the Muski, but there was a big crush there. A. Well, if you really saw him, there is no dispute as to our going to greet him. But if you did not ascertain him perfectly we shall possibly have our trouble for nothing. II. [Condition a supposition which supposes a past event reversed, and is therefore impossible offulfilment.] (Enter the house-servant with a letter in his hand.) A. Well, here is an odd and wonderful thing. Here is a letter from our friend Marcus, in which he says that he will come in October, and that the cause of his delay is something in which there is great advantage to himself. G. Since the letter is from him, my view of the man whom I saw turns out mistaken. B. But if he had already started from there, it would be better for him; for it gets very stormy on the sea in October. A. But if he had not stopped on there, we should not have experienced the pleasure of the news about which he has told us in this letter. Also iza, but not lau. 2 ka:n does not by itself signify the past in conditionals; the past sense must be conveyed by a second verb in the past. 3 Or in ma kanfi lindpr. 4 Also in, ka:n also possible for kutt1 (= "if it be that I saw "). 5 A very useful way of rendering the verbal-noun of any verb by means of the verbal-noun of ka:n (ko:n = '"being' ), "our being we-go," "our going A Conversation Grammar 193 38. fs*1 tamanjaw talati:n. gumal fDrtijja. mrtiawrit huffu:r mis safar. I. ani:s. ana smijt innaharda inni svliibna murus lhTi rr imba:riimin.urubba. butDr. in1 ka:n gih2 wa la budd, jilzamnaunru:i nisallim jale:h. w in kan ma xTfiDrfi ma xusurna'J ha:ga. gindi. la:, liTDIrr bi kulli ta?ki:d, jalaJan ana za:ti karman fuftu fi 1 muski wala:kin id dinja ka:nit zahima. ani:s. -Djjib iza4 kutti fuftu tamam mafiJ niza'j fi ko(:)nna, nru.i nisallim cale:h.5 wala:kin iza ma kuttij 6 lia??a?tu tamam ja?axi jimkin nitcab min ger fajda. II. [wi fi 1 lia:l dcaxcd xcdda:m il be:t f i:du qawa:b.] ani:s. amma Je ctri:b wi?amri ]agi:b! aho da gawa:b min -s-Diibna murus, biju:l fi:hinnu r-Di jihtIDr fikto:bcr, wi sabab ta?xi:ru?arnri fih fajda accti:ma lu. gindi. le:s il gawa:b minnu, 'jiba 'n-Di-ri g~TtD: n filli Juftu. bu?'tDr. la:kin lau ka:n?amn7?abl1 dilwDti min hina:k ka:n jiku:n ah'san lu jalajan bi.jku:n fih hawakti:r fi 1 bahri filkto:bar. A. la:kin lau ma kanfi fidil 9 hina:k, ma kun'naJ Sufna 10 1 farDol bi 1 xDb"Dr illi?al lina jale(:)h fi 1 gawa'b da. 6 Or in. Alternatives: iza kutt' ma ha??a?tu:S, or iza ka:n ma ha??atu:., or iza ma kanJi ha??a?tu. The two last less common. 7 lau much better than in or iza. If ka:n were omitted, the sentence would be more suppositional and less vivid, "'If he were to have started".. Not very good. 8 Better than iza. in not correct. 9 Or lau ka:n ma fidilf, or lau ma fidilf. 10 Or ma kunnaf nifu:f. 0 194 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic G. In truth, but for our receiving this letter, I would not believe that he has not come. A. Aha, if we had believed, my dear fellow, we should have had all our trouble for nought. III. [Condition a pure supposition relating to the present. The supposition may or may not be a feasible one.] G. If Marcus were here to-day, he would go with us to Giza according to our custom every Friday. B. I think, if our friend were to change his mind, and started from there at the first opportunity, it would be better for him. A. And if he did (does) not change his mind, what do you suppose would (will) happen to him? B. I think his remaining is a danger to him, for the weather at that time will not be suitable to his health. A. No! If God will, may He protect him until he comes safely! IV. [Condition alluding to a possible event, in the present.] G. What is it that you think that Marcus is doing at this hour in which we are? But first, three o'clock here corresponds to one o'clock and a little there. A. Reckoning so, if he is not still at table, he will just have risen from table, and gone to rest. B. And if he isn't resting after his meal, what will he be doing? G. If he isn't resting after his meal, he '11 be reading a little in a book, or something. V. [Condition alluding to a future possibility, whether of a real or supposed event.] A. When Marcus comes from Europe do you think he'll get off at Alexandria or at Port Said? 1 lau la ("but for") requires a noun. istila:m is verbal-noun of istalam. Other equivalents: lau ma kunnaf istalamna, or lau ma stalamna:, or lau kunna mastalamna:f (rarer: lau ka:n... lau ma kanf...). 2 Or ma kuttif s-ddat, which means, however, "I should not have believed ". N.B. —.rddat often pronounced sadda?t. 8 Lit. "the not-thing". 4 lau, because the condition is impossible. in and iza would both suggest possibility. 5 Omission of ka:n would make meaning = '" he will go ". A Conversation Grammar 195 G. iha??a lo: lastila(:)mnal 1 gawa:b da, ma kuttij acsDdda?2 innu ma qa:f. A. aho lau kunna si-dda?na ja habi:bi kunna ti\ibna 5ala '?alla 3 e. III. G. lau4 ka:n mur?us hinannaharda kan5 jiru:h wxjj:na.ag 9i:za liasab ja(:)ditna kulli jo:m qumna. B.?aftikir lau gnDjjctr s-ilibna murus fikru wi?am min hina:k f arrDb fursnSD, jiku:n ah'san lu. A. wJin 7 ma gDjjari 8 fikru wala gal, jig'rD: lu?eh jacni? B. aftikir,?u'a:du hina:k xhDDr 'ale:h calala:n iA t'?si fil wvt0 da ma.jkunJimnwa:fi? li silihiitu. A. la:, in fa?T:TD:, rDbbina jistur li hladdima ji:gi bi s sala:ma! IV. G. illi tiftikru?inni murus bi jijmil e: fi s sa:.a dillilj na fi:ha??abli kulli e:, is sa:ca tala:ta hina tiwa:fi? wi,tna:sib is sa:ca walida wi Jwijjahnak. A. cala kida in9 ma kanli lissa bi ja:kul, ja do:b jiku:n?a:m mil?akli wi rD:ih jina:m. B. wvin ka:n 0 ma bivjnamfi bald il?akl, jiku:n bi jimmil e:h? G. in ma kanjil bijna:m bacd il?akl jiku:n bi ji?rrD fwjja fi kta:b walla 1ia:ga. V. A. lamma ji:gi mur?us min urubba tiftikru jinzil jalaskindiri:ja walla Cala bur sani:d? 6 This condition not being impossible we may have iza gnjjcar or iza ka:n jig3jjar. Also, lau ka:n jigDjjar (and also lau jiQnjjor). 7 Or lau, or iza. 8 Or w in (w iza) ma kanji jgnjjar fikru...., or w in (w iza) ka:n ma gvjjarf. But in these cases lau is not permissible because the meaning would then be "if he had not changed ". 9 Or iza, but not lau. 10 Or iza. Notice the alternative positions of the negative. The positive would be in (or iza) ka:n bi jna:m " if he is (actually) sleeping ". 196 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic B. I think the probability is, as I suppose, that he '11 get off at Alexandria, for his relations are stopping there. A. If he really got off there, I'd go and meet him at the harbour, for I shall be in Alexandria during October. But if he doesn't get off there I shan't go and meet him at Port Said, for that will be impossible for me. B. If he does get off at Alexandria, he'll stop a few days at his relations; so if you, Girgis, are to be found there at the time you will go to him too. G. Of course, if I should be there, I go to him, that's certain. If I'm not, then it's not my fault. [Here, lo and behold, enters Mlarcus.] M. Good-day to you! [All rise dumbfounded and startled.] A. What's this! Marcus?! M. Well, this is odd! Do you suppose it's my ghost? B. Why, fellows, I said that I saw him himself in the Muski! G. Why, my dear fellow, there arrived only this moment a letter from you, in which you say that you were still in France, and were coming in October! AM. The will of Providence ordained that I should come at once, because they summoned me for the Government. And, in any case, I sent you a cable before starting. Didn't it reach you? A. No, nothing reached us except this letter. If the cable had reached us we should have spared ourselves all this discussion. The Reader. But in that case we should have missed a great lesson upon the conditional particles! Or iza. 2 Or aru:h aablu ' I will go and meet them." The other construction (ruit) is more hypothetical in meaning. Notice the complete absence of past significance in the "past" tenses in the sentence in nizil, ruit; cp. the English 'l if he landed, I'd go," where i' landed " is quite timeless, though past in form. Also possible: in kan jishLii w jinzil, aru:]i aablu; here ruit is inadmissible. A Conversation Grammar 197 B. aftikir il ga:lib 7ala -Dnni?innu jinzil 5alaskindiri:ja, Calafan?arrDjbu?aedi:n hina:k. A. in 1 ~s'-tiiw nizil 7alahna:k ruiti?abiltu2 fi 1 mi:na. jalafan rDi,.aku:n fi skindiri:ja fi fahrikto:bar. a:kin iza 3 ma nizilfiKhna:k maruli aablu fi bur sahi:d calajan da, jku:n mistalii:l Calajja. B. iza ka:n jinzil4 7ala skindiri:ja ha jiftrDl kam jo:m candi?arajbu, fa?in kutti tinwigid 6 hina:k wD?taha ja girgis tib'?a.tJruht lu.~nta rv:xDr. G. bi! fobi in 7inwagatti hna:k rui'ti lu. wvin matwagattif,8 mab jaddi ii:la! 9 [wi fil hla:l illaw mur?us xctaji 5ale:hum.] mur?us. nahctrku saci:d! [?a:mu kulluhum madhuji:n wi maxfluti:n.] ani:s. dv,eh da! inta mur?us?! mur?us. amma 5aga:jib wi gxcarjib! ummacu xDja:li?! bu?+ar. ma?ultilkum jctax'wanna inni fuftu fi I muskib za:tu! gindi. ja?axi, dawsilna gawa:b minnak dilw?1ti bass, ti?ul lina fi:h innak lissa f farDnsa wi ga'j filkto:bar. mui'?us. irn:dit rabbuna hiakamit 5alajja:gi ha:lan nalafan tDlD1bu:na 1fil huku:ma. wi 5ala kulli ha:l baat'titlku talligrp:f?ablima?u:m. hu:wa ma wisilku:f? ani:s. la ma wisilnaJ ha:ga 9e:r iq gawa'b da bass. wi lau ka'n wisil it talligrv'f kunna waffarna aala nafsina 1 maTawra di kullaha... * * * * * * il?a:ri. wala:kin fi 1 la:la di kan rDR minnalna dcrsikbi:r fi mawtu:5?adawa:t if fSDr! 3 Or in, or as in next sentence, see note (2). 4 Or iza nizil, in nizil. 5 Or iza. 6 in inwagatt, iza,,nwagatt. 7 See note (3). 8 Or win ma kuttiJ anwigid, or in kutti m,anwigidJ. (The constr. with ka:n not so good.) 9 Or mab jaddi.Iii:la. Lit. "there is in my hand no device." 198 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic For Systematic Grammar. RULES FOR CONDITIONALS. (1) The "if" particle must always be followed by a Past,' either the auxiliary ka:n, kutt, etc., or some other past. But this *Past" does not express past time. (2) If the thing to be expressed is (a) a supposed event in the past, ka:n, etc., must be supplemented by a verb in the Past. (in, iza, not lau.) (b) a supposed event in the present, ka:n, etc., must be supplemented by an Indefinite with bi. (in, iza, not lau.) (c) a supposed event in the future, or a pure supposition, ka:n, etc., must be supplemented by an Indefinite without bi. But here an alternative is possible: ka:n, etc., may be dropped, and the verb in the second clause be put into the timeless "Past" tense, e.g. iza (in) kuntu ti:gu, niabilkum, or iza (in) ge:tu,?abilna:kum. (in, iza; for lan, see note (3)). (3) Only if the condition expresses a past impossibility does the Past verb in itself convey a past meaning, e. g. lau 2 r:':t = "if he had gone ". But as this might also mean present impossibility (' if he were to go "),3 it is better to add here also the auxiliary: lau ka:n rp:h. (4) The answering clause to this may be either a Past tense, or a Past with ka:n, etc., or ka:n, etc., with Indefinite: e. g. lau ka:n r):ti rufit ana kaman (" I should also have gone") (or kutti ruSt or kutt aru:.). (5) When two verbs occur together the negative may be attached to either: e.g. lau kutti ma ru:ti:J or lau ma kuttif rult. (6) ka:n may be used impersonally, e. g. iza ka:n runit "if (it be that) I went". But with the negative this construction is to be avoided. 1 lau is found followed by an Indefinite occasionally. 2 iza zith ca(txilia7y also possible; but not in. Ex., iza ka:n ro: "if he had gone I. 3 lau. ru:h suggests that lie will not go-tlh hypothesis is improbable or impossible. in rn:t (or iza) sugcosts that lie mighlt possibly go. SUMMARY OF EGYPTIAN COLLOQUIAL ARABIC VERBS A. THE, "SOUND" TRILITERAL. (a a) (i i) (?) Past. 'Ikatab,'fihim kal wi?if wi,&il (i i) (i a) (i u) or (u u) Indefinite. 'jiktib,'jifham,'jistur,'justur Imperative. 'iktib 'lifliam 'listur 'ustur Participle Active. ka-tib fa:him sa,.tir Participle Passive. maktu-.b rnafhu-.m mastu.-r B. THE "'WEAK" TRILITERAL. (a) With 1st Radical? or w. ja-.kul 'jijaf or 'j u?af ju.-s'nlI or jiws-DI kul -'i?af or 'u'jaf iwS4Dl wa-.kil wa:-?if wcgs-,il ma?ku-.1 maw?u.,f maw,&u.: (w) fa:f (fuft) (ii ba:' (bi'jt) or occasionally(w) xa:f (xuft) (j) ba:t (bitt) jifu: f jibilc jixa-.f jiba-.t (b) With 2nd Radical w or j. fu-.f bi.-j xa,.f ba —t fa'jif ba-jil xa'jif ba'jit (wanting) (wanting) (wanting) (wanting) (a -a type) (a-i type) (i-a type) (i-i type)?cLr-D (?ctre.-t) bana (hane —t) nisi (nisi-.t) risi (risi.-t) ji?r-D jibni jinsa jirsi (c) With 3rd Radical w or j.i?riD ibni insa irsi?a-.ri ba-.ni na —si ra.-si nina?ri(:,j) mnabni(:.j) mansi(:-j) (generally intransitive) C. TH.E " INCREASED " FORMS. (The Roman figures refer to the usual dictionary order.) Past. Indefinite. Imperative. Part. A ct. kattib (II) (with Quadriliteral). Part. Pass. Infinitice. (a-i) (or "-a-a) (weak in 3rd) (all a-i) kattib kctrkib lktxbirYt sawwa jikattib jikairkib jin-DII-f jilktxbnD jisawwi kattib ka-trkib laxbnD* sawwi mokattib n-11'karkib manDlo malnxb-Dt mnasaw'vi (mitkattib) (mitkairkib) (tiitsawwi) takti,.b kair'kaba taswijja itkattib (F) (with Quadriliteral). (a-i) it'kattib it,'kcrkib (or a-a'2) it'nnD&Tnf itf'ktxb-Df (weak, in 3rd) (all in a-a) ithctrrnD jitkattib jitka~rkib jitn-f;l'tDf jitkt~xb-D-t jithairr-D itkattib itka-rkib itn-DZtCtD~f itlctxbnDt ith-orr-D rnitkattib mitkarkib mnitn-Di~tnf mitkt~xboD* mithctrri (takattub) takairki.-b (tan-D1luf) talaixbi:,* tatlarri ka-.tib (III). (weak in 3rd) itka-.tib (VI). (weak in 3rd)?aktab (IF). (weak in 2nd) (weak in 3rd) in'lkatab (it katab) (VII). (2nd and 3rd rads. the same) (weak in.2nd) (weak in 3rd') ik,'tatab (VIII). (2nd and 3rd the same) (? in 1st) (w in 1st) (w or j in 2nd) (w or j in 3rd) is'takta~b (X). (a-i) (or a-a 6 (with 2nd and 3rd the same) (with 2nd weak) (with 3rd weak) Variant (with 3rd weak) ka-.tib na-.da itka —tib itcia-ma?aktab?afa-.d?,'afta in,'katab inhiall inlha-4 in'bana ik,'tatab ixtall it,'takal A4 it'talhad ' ixtaL.r intaha is'ltaktab is'tasrnal ista'?all istafai~r istabda jika-.tib jina-.di jitka-.tib jitcja-.ma jiktib j i f i.d jifti jin' kitib jinliall jinha-:J jin'bini jiktitib jixtall jit/tikil jit'tihid jixtct.-r jintihi jis-'taktib jistasmali jista'?iI1 jistafi-.r jistabda ka-.tib na,.di itka.-tib itla-rna iktib fi.-d ifti in'kitib in-hall inliajf in'bini iktitib ixtall it'tikil it-'tithid ixta..r intihi is,'taktib istahmah istalj'ill istafi.-r istabda m~ika-.tib m ana-.di nmitka-.tib muktib mufi-.d mufti - rn~M~katba or kita —b3 - ~~MUna'da-: or imunadi~jja or 'nida(:-) - ~~(taka-.tub) - ~~~(ta'ja-.mi) -~~~ ikta,.b mufa-.d ifa —da - '~~~~iftaI:-) min'lkitib minhall minaha..f min'bini nmiktitib mixtall nmit'ltikil mit'tihid mixtct-.r mintihi mis'taktib mistasmair mista/j'ill nmistafi-.r mnistabdi muktatab (muxtall) (rnut-takal) (inut'Itali-ad) muxta.-r mnuntaha mnus'taktab (mustasmali) (inusta?ll) nmu-stafaL: r (inki,'ta,.])) iktita-lb ixtila:Il ittika:l ittiia-.d iktijaLIr intiha istikta.-b istisnma.li isti~la:1 istifct.-rc istibda(:.) istairnojjall jista-r-jjah istarvjjall mistarnDjjah istanna 7 jistanna istanna mistan-ni IIf a "1heavy " consonant precedes or succeeds the second vowel. 2 See previous note. e. g. m~gadla or 9ida:1, from 9awdii. 4 For iOtakal "1to be eatable"1. The hamza sometimes appears, e. g. i9taman "to intrust ". rFor iwtahad. See note 1. 7 For iata~anna. APPENDIX S.O.S.1 SHANTIES 1. 2. CHORUS.:f u...2 hu: wa ga.: na, tia?-?a hu:wa ftr - r-f - _2. _ _ _ _ _ _~~~~~~~~~ Fine. - na: a - mi: - San, dum ja za- ma.. ni dum! (VEnES_ E ja: mu - -i: - ba ti: min du-ru:s il ca - r- bi! CHOi1U CSORns Da capo. le:h ja za -ma:. ni le:h? 3 (il gawa:b) 9ah ja si: di: fid - d1 he: - lak id - d sit - ti: i i i 1 S.O.S. (School of Oriental Studies, Cairo). 2?u hina kanin garnar":, ' mistir?aldar, mistir gafre C dktor w-aPsvn '", walla?ajjiismi ta:ni zajjima ji:ii. 200 Egyptian Colloquial Arabic le: - lak fid - d lie: - lak win maf- him tif in - nai ti:J har - da ta;-ni mar - ra: tib -?a 5a:l. i haj ja gid- a:n xcl - i: -nanhi:e fwp-jja I haj ja gid - a:n wi nid-hak ha ha ha:! 5. 1. jt - To: bi - na an ni:l jot - tp! 2. dan ni:l da 9os - li ba- r-ki-t -na nif rDh wivnhi:e wi nit - mal - la wi hu: - wa ms " dar niS - miti na CHOnUS. mat - qDo - ei - mu: ivt - ma - 9i - du: do:l Dca Capo senzC 6. 9ah 11 - a - ma1 kaa - U* - ja bi du:s 1. hulf-t+a fil mu-t:... rij, hun - u fil mu-o.... rig, 2. xo - bar wi nmb-ta... da, xD) - bar wi mub-ta... da, 3. is - m1i fil?i- dt:... f., is - m1 fil?i- dd):. fa, Appendix 201,.i _ — Z — -1-,, _q_ hut - tu fil mu - Lp:: rig 9 xp - bar wi mub - ta: da wal ba- rp - ka fil is - fil?i - cp:: fa im - ti iha:n [&c., ad lib.] 7. ja,bnil jo:m splihvin no:m?u:m ba-la no:m na: jim le:h? leh, leh, leh, leh, leh, leh, leh, leh? 8. Baladi, baladi I (VERSE)?ah ja: ja - zi:z 9e:.. ni wa-na bidd,a - rpwwah ba - la - di: ba - la - di: ba - la - di: wis (or) fih CHoRUS. sul - tr xa - dit wa- la- di:!?ah ja: a - zi:z had - di xa - dit ku - tu - bi:? Fine. Se:.. ni wa-na bidd,,a - rpw-wah ba - la-di: (For other verses, dal;.) VOCABULARY The reference-numbers are to the pages. For the Arabic grammatical terms see the chapter-headings, and the Contents, pp. ix, X. A ability 140 able (adj.) 184 about 30 above 10 accident 128 according to 76, 120 ache 170 acquaintance 188 actually 168 additional 188 advantage 192 advertisement 166 advice 120 advise (= inform) 166 affair 186 affliction (afflicted) 114 afraid 62 afternoon 100 again 1, 46 agree on 160 ail 168 air 48 all 76, 26 allow (see let) alone 64 already 166 ambulance 128 amen 116 among 188 ancestry 140 anecdote 128 angels 22 angry 52 - (get) 58 animal 64 answer 114 - (vb.) 174 -(ask for) 182 antagonistic 172 ape (vb.) 156 appear 164 - (cause to) 164 apples 130 Arabia 140 Arabic 18 ark 92 arm 170 arm-pit 171 army 140 arrange 148 ' arrest 186 arrive 127 artful 164 ascertain 192 ashamed 62 ask 24 asleep 20 ass (she-) 42 assistance 128 attend 100 attention 76 attributes 140 aunt 142 autumn 92 await 82, 162, 182 n. awake 20 Azhar (the) 37 B bad 112 badness 186 baffle 113 balcony 190 ball 78 banishment 186 barely 186 bathe 68, 76 beach 100 beast 62 beat 112 beautiful 98 become 120 bedroom 70 before 188 begin 162 (see 182) behind 10 believe 194 belittle 182 bell 42 - (little) 132 bent 170 beside 10 besiege 140 best 188 - (do) 104 between 10 bicycle 52, 57 big 4 bird 164 birds 124 bitter 38 black 2 blind(ness) 116, 117 n. blood 114 blue 114 blues (the) 118 book 2 boots 76 both 20 bound to be 52 box 170 - (match) 52 boy 20 bravo 106 breadth 32 break 82 breakfast 68, 76 breath 112 bride 26 bridle 150 bring 98 - up 150 broad 8 broken (be) 171 brother 142 brown 114 brute 112 bubble 152 build 134 building 124 buy 70 bystanders 52 C calamity 172 Caliph 90 call 92 carnels 178 care! (take) 180 carpet 6 Vocabulary 203 carriage 178 carry 130 case 196 catarrh 170 catch 78, 110 catch up 184 cattle 82 ceiling 6 certain 58 - (a) 124 - (for) 192 certainly 104 chalk 6 chance (by) 184 change 194 character 124, 140 chest 171 chez-nous 188 chief 132 China 114 choose 162 chosen 163 Christ 94 Christians 90 church 56 cinema 60 city 140 class 119n. clean 6 - (make) 150 - (vb.) 148 clever 106 clothes 68 - (put on) 68 clover 48 coffee 20 -brown 119 cold 171 collar 170 colleague 172 colour 114 come! 26, 184 come 24, 192 - in 82 - up 146 comfortable 62, 120 compel (see oblige) complaint (lay a) 172 comrades 98 concerned with (be) 184 constructed (be) 168 consult 182 continually 102 contrariwise 32 contravention 146 conversation 51 n. cook 68 cooking 104 cord 112 corns 171 correct (be) 121 correspond to 194 counsel 112 country 140, 146, 186 course (of) 64, 68 court 58 cousin 143 criminal 184 criminality 186 cripple 116 crocodile 190 crooked (get) 112 croquettes 122 cruelty 146 crush (a) 192 cunning 164 cupboard 6 custom 194 cut off from 168 cut (= pare) 171 D daily 68 danger 194 dark [of colour] 114 darkness, dark 52 date 96 daughter 26 day (one) 132 deaf(ness) 116 deal with 176 dear 56 debt (be in) 120 decision (legal) 166 defend 146 deformity 114 delay 192 deliver 152 demean 148 dentist 170 depart-from 130 depth 32 descend (get off) 62 despatch 186 detective 184 device 132 devil 82 dialogue 104 die 128 difference 46 difficulty (make a) 178 digest 168 dinner (i.e. supper) 70 dirty (vb.) 150 - (adj.) 8 - (consider) 150 disappear 158 disciple 92 discussion 196 disengaged 184 - (be) 134 disgusted (be) 172 disorder 148 dispute 192 distribute 168 do (did) 68, 76 doctor 182 dog 150 domestic 20 door 4 doubt 30 down (get) 62 dozen 97 n. drawer 10 drive 178 -off 98 driver 128 dry (vb.) 146 dumb(ness) 116 dumbfounded 196 duster 6 duty 64 E each other 186 ear 170 early, earlier 68 earth (how on) 52 east 68 edified 166 educated 152 effect (have -- on) 120 elbow 170 end (come to) 158 - (noun) 172 energetic (clever) 30 engagement 178 enough 70 enquire about 186 enquiry 186 enter 186, 196 entertain 190 enumerated 94 envelope 6 estate 44 etc. 104 evehing 98 evident (be) 186 exactly 90 exaggerate 148 204 Vocabulary fuss 52 future 38 example (for) 56 except 196 excuse 82, 106 exercise 188 existent 60 expect 162 expedient 180 F fact 56 faction (make) 168 fall 127 families 140 fantasia 58 far (at a distance) 184 fast (vb.) 106 father 142 father-in-law 143 fault (not my) 196 fear 130 feed 168 fell 150 fellow (young) 62 fight 176 figure (to oneself) 154 find 135 n. fine 22, 52, 106 finger 171 finish 70, 104 - (vb.) 156 first 116 - (at) 164 fish (catch) 164 fisherman 164 fit together 168 flea(s) 152, 153 n. follow 184 fool (vb.) 180 foot 171 forbid 112 force (vb.) 178 - (noun) 186 fore-arm 176 forget 134 forgiveness (ask) 180 found (be) 196 fraction 92, 94 franc 90 French 35 fresh(ly) 146 Friday 56 friend 120, 188 from 30 front (in - of) 10 function 168 furniture 122 G gall 152 garden 20 gate 190 general 38 - (in) 3S gentleman 62 German 35 get up 68 ghost 196 girl 20 give 136 glass 186 go 24 - back 154 - down 68, 76 - in, 100 - (let) 164 - off 100 - on 98, 102 - out 62 - round 120 -up 74 good 23 n., 43, 56, 90, 98 -(do -to) 168 good-bye 52 gospel 98 Gospels 90 Government (the) 196 - (adj.) 56 father grand Tottr 142 daughter 142 son grant (prayer) 183 grass 114 great 192 greatest 32 greet 120 grocer 52 grow 168 - big 164 -fat 164 grown up 98 grumble 168 guest 26 It habitually 38 habituation 112 hail 176 hair 170 hair cut (have) 170 half 94 hand 116 handkerchief 2 hang down 48 happen 98, 104, 194 happy 26 hardly 62 harm (vb.) 168 (see injure) Iasheesh-smoker 146 have 52 head 170 headache 170 health 94 hear 38, 62 hearing 38 heart 62 heavier 32 help 176 hide 182 high 6, 33 hillock 158 hire 128 hold 32 hole 132 holiday 94 holiday (take a) 154 honest 48 honour (vb.) 160 honoured 163 hope 26 horses 42 hospital 54 hot 70 hotel 186 hour 192 house(s) 10, 19 how 146 hung 186 hurry (be in a) 178 - (vb. tr. and intr.) 178, 181 husband 143 idiot(s) 22, 64 idle 82 ill (noun) 172 - (adj.) 171 - (get) 168 immediately 22, 70, 186 imp 22 important 168 impossible 196 imprisoned (be) 129 incident 56 including 186 indebted 129 independent (be) 182 indigo 118 individuals 92 inevitably 158 inexperienced 70 infancy 118 infant 98 inform 166 information 62 inhabit 113 injure 112, 172 (see harm) ink 2 inside (noun) 171 inside 10 instant (the) 186 instead (of) 178 interned 190 investigate 156 investigation 156 Italian 188 J jessamine 118 Jesus 98 job 52 joined 184 (n. 1) just this moment 52 K keep away 98 - back 130 - off 140 - on 64, 98 kindest 188 - (be - to) 116, 176 kinds 124 king 42 - make 140 kingdom (of God) 98 knee 171 knock 186 know 72 L lady 42 lame 116 land (vb.) 196 n. lantern 186 large 6 Vocabulary last 32, 56 - year 60 late 68, 104 - (be) 178 - (the) 188 laugh 72 laughter 64 laws (in-) 142 lazy 30, 82 lead (noun) 55 leaf 38 learn 154 leave (noun) 70,82 - (vb.) 130, 150, 158 leg 171 legal decision (give) 166 length 32 less, least 32 lesson(s) 16, 19 lest 127, 129 in. let 98 letter 10, 18 life 78 lift 98 light, lighter 32 - (noun) 52 - (of colour) 114 like of 98 - (the) 172 - (be) 186 - (vb.) 188 likewise 186 list 78 little (adj.) 62 - (consider too) 183 live 158 - in 188 lo and behold 196 load 146 loan 120 locality 186 locksmith 82 long 4 - (how) 94 - (consider too) 178 look on 108 look at 146 loop 128 lorry 188 lose 192 lost (get) 178 love 146 low (consider too) 182 luggage 130 lunch (i. e. mid-day meal) 70 205 M madman 22, 64 magnificent 124 Malta 190 mamma 22 man 42, 140 manifest 165 manners 146 n. - (bad) 180 mannerless 58 market 104 match(es) 52 mate 146 matter 98 meaning 46 meat 43 meet 184, 186 meet with 160 meeting 60, 158 members 168 mercy 164 message 186 method 134 middle 10 milk, milky 69 n. mill 124 minaret 146 minutes 178 miss 178 mistaken 192 Mohammedans 90 molar 170 moment 98, 132 money 44 Monday 56 month 90 more than 112 morning 68 morrow 164 mosque 146 mother(s) 142, 98 mother-in-law 143 motor 128 mould 112 mouse 132 mouth 170 move off 172 much (think too) 168 muddle 148 muddled (get) 154 mule 42 must 108, 164 N nail 170 nakedness 152 206 napkin(s) 6, 19 narrow 12, 184 nasty 22 nature 112 naughty (' good') 23 n. near 52, 184 necessary 168 neck 170 need 52, 70 neighbour 172 neither... nor 42, 152, 169 nephew 143 ncrve 171 nervous 171 news 192 newspaper(s), 19 next 164 nib 6, 10 nice 16, 32 niece 143 night (stop) 130 nightfall 52, 52 n. Noah 92 noon 104 north (go) 150 nose 170 notables 140 note 164 notice 98, 158 nought 194 now 2 number 128 O objection 104 oblige 164 observation 184 odd 26, 196 office(government) 172 often 82, 104 old 62 older (grow) 58 omdeh 62 once 164 one-eye(d) 114 only 20 - just 188 open 88 seqq. opinion 65 n. opportunity 194 oppose 172 oppressed 48 ordain 196 order 68 order (in - that) 184 Vocabulary origin 57 n., 98, 140 others 140 out (side) 68 overload 146 owe 30 owner 188 P pain (vb.) 127 - (noun) 168 palace 124, 188 papa 22 paper 2 parasol 48 parcel 104 parents 49 n. Paris 124 part 92 particles 196 particular 38 partner 52 party 104 pass 62 pass by 184 passion 112 passport 55 patience (have) 172 pavement 184 pay (make to) 146 peasant 124 pencil 4 people 42, 140 perceive 132 perfect 148 perhaps 2, 100 person 90, 188 pest 22 piastre 90 pick up 122 picture(s) 16, 18 piece 58 pink 119 pity 62 place 62, 188 plans 106 play 62 pleased 64 please! 32 pleased (be - with) 160, 190 pleasure (joy) 192 pocket 58 point(s) 32, 34, 112 point (to) 186 policeman 52 police-officer 128 police-station 128 polite 174 political 158 poor 62, 140, 188 posse 186 possible (the best) 190 possibly 192, 54 pound 92 poverty 152 praise 26, 27 prayer 90 preacher 100 precede 176 precious 114 prefer 178 present 38, 60 pretend to be 68, 156 pretty 188 prevent (see keep away) previously happen 98, 124 pride 152 princess 190 prisoners (of war) 188 probability 196 profit from 160 progress (vb.) 154 promise 110 property 54 prosper 168 protect 194 proud (be) 156 -of 140 proverb 124 public 186 pull 176 punish 146 put 132 - back 122 - to shame 104 puzzled (be) 162 pyramid(s) 34 Q quarrel 172 question 32 quick 20 quicker 106 quilt 120 quit (be - of) 172 R race 176 racket 58 rags (in) 188 raid 186 rain 56 Vocabulary 207 rainy 56 rarely 54 rate (at any) 34 read 134 really 192, 196 receive 191, 194 red 114 refuse 98, 140 regard (vb. and noun) 160 regret 52 relations 142 relief 128 religion 151 remaining 194 remember 46 remove 172 replace 122 reply 120 request 120 requite 172 resolution 166 rest 180 result 178 return 68 revolution(aries) 186 rich 42 ride 42, 62 right! 1, 30, 159 right 106, 170 ring (vb.) 122 ring (noun) 171 robbery 186 room 10, 18 room (have - for) 127 n. rose 38 round 10 routine 68 run off 128 run over 128 S sadder 116 saddle (vb.) 148 saffron 118 said (be) 164 sake 104 salary 182 sale 52 same 46, 106, 120 same (all the) 82 sand 171 satisfied (be) 168 Saturday 56 save 140 scene 26 school 16 sea 114 search (make - for) 156 season 90 security 186 see 38 seeing that 98 self 156, 192, 196 send 196 send word 110 sense(s) 38 sentence to 186 sequestered 190 servant 42 settle 150 settle on 134 n. shaky 171 shame (noun) 62 shame (put to) 104 sharp (=precisely) 104 sharpen 135 n. sheep 94 sheet (of paper) 116 shilling 30 shirt(s) 2, 19 shop 190 short 4 short-cut 178 shorl-cut (make a) 178 shoulder 170 show 164 shut 4 shut-to (be) 186 sick 168 side 52 side-street 178 sight 64 sight (get out of) 186 silence! 108 sin 62 sin (consider a) 146 since 192 singular 94 sister 142 sit 20 sleeping 20 small 4 smell 38 smile 120 smooth (vb.) 150 smooth (adj.) 38 so 32 so-and-so 184 some 32 some... others 68 something 20 son 26 sore 170 sort 52, 140 south (go) 150 spare 196 speak to 146 spectacles 16 spend 158 sphinx 74 spirit 112 spite (in - of) 113 n. spring 92 squint-eyed 119 n. stand (noun) 188 stand 20, 127 start (make) 182 start 104 startled 196 state 64 station 188 stave 128 stay! 180 steam-mill 124 stick-to 112 still 52 stir 152 stockings 22 stomach 168, 171 stomach-ache 171 stop 146 stop (on) 192 stop (the night) 130 stormy 192 story 132 straighten 112 strange! 152 strange 64 straw-coloured 119 street 124, 184 stretch 120 strike 168 strive (with) 176 strong 171 strong (be) 168 stuck-up 152 study 42, 68 subject 114 succeed 156 suitable 194 summer 92 summon 180 sun 62 Sunday 56 sunset 52 supper 70 208 suppose 160 suspected (by) l84 suspicious (be —of) 186 swagger 152 sweep 70 sweet 38 syrup-drink 20 T table 6, 56, 70 table-servant 68 tail 112 take 104, 126 - up 122 - away 148 down 148 talk to 186 tank 148 taste 38 taste (good) 180 teacher 16 telegram 196 telephone 186 Testament (New) 90 thankful (be) 168 thanks 26 thank-you 48 that (conjunction) 29, 30, 31 thickness 32 thin (get) 168 thing(s) 6 think 30, 184 think (out) 132 thoughts 64 throat 170 throw away 134 n. thumb 171 Thursday 56 ticket 108 tie 132 tie up 112 tiles 10 time 158 - (be ill - for) 178 tired 20 tired (get) 62 to 30 tobacconist 52 toe 171 toe-nails 168 together 62 to-morrow 38 tongue 170 too 196 too much 70, 146 tocabulary tooth 170 torn 188 touch 38 tower 146 trade 52 tram 100 travel 192 treat 172 trouble (cause - to) 164 true! 68 Tuesday 56 tumbler 22 turn out 70 turn upside down 146 twice 186 U umbrella 44 unable (be) 140 under 10 understand 16 - (cause to) 146 undone 112 unite 160 unreasonable 98 unstrung (= loose) 171 until 194 upon 10 Upper Egypt 60 upside-down (turn) 146 use 146 use (be of - to) 164 useless 132 usual (as) 55 usually 116 utmost 130 V vein 171 vex 64 view 192 village 124 violently 82 visit 130 voice 41 W wait 68 wait for 182 walk 20, 62 wall 6 want 22, 70 want to 184, 188 warm 170 wash 68, 76 watch 6 watch-maker 58 water 114 way (on your) 104 - round 178 - (by the) 74 weak 62, 132 weather 194 Wednesday 56 week 92 (nos. 20, 21) welcome 20 well (noun) 146 well-mannered 146 n. went to 186 west 68 when first 68 wherever 184 whisper to 186 white 2 whoever 184 whole 38, 140 why 52 wife 58, 143 will 62 n. will (the) 196 willingly 70 willy-nilly 108 wily 52 window(s) 4, 19 winter 92 wise 140 wish to (see want) with 30 without 108, 132 wo! 82 woman 186 (twice) women 62 wonderful 192 wonder (no) 59 n, word 82 work 68 work (at) 158 world 52 worthy (more) 140 worthy of (be) 152 wouldn't 188 wrangling 174 write 72 wrong 26, 30, 168 Y year (last) 60 yesterday 60 - - (the day before) 190 yet 100 young 22 Orp THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN DATE DUE - - DEC 301997 muN 61998 I'. — - zcY) W - 8 ----C mmmm l~*, l s~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "'r';~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~u::~~~~ ^.,.,. ~. 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