The relationship between colloquial Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic

Learning Arabic is not like learning French or German.  Many students in the UK are unaware of the diversity of Arabic when they begin learning the language.  Arabic is spoken in at least 27 countries across Africa and the Middle East, which explains why there are many different dialects.  The five main dialect groups are Levantine, Egyptian, Gulf, Iraqi and North African.

Of course, all languages have their regional differences, but spoken French and German do not differ radically from their written counterparts.  Arabic, on the other hand, does.  Colloquial Arabic is used for everyday communication.  It is spoken at home, between friends, in shops and cafes.  It is the medium of TV, film and some theatre.  Colloquial Arabic is used in informal written communication; in emails, text messages and letters.  Politicians use a mix of colloquial and Modern Standard Arabic in speeches.

 Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is derived from classical Arabic, and is similar to the language of the Quran.  It is taught in all schools and understood across the Arabic world.  It is the language of literature and the media.    In other words, people speak in colloquial Arabic and use MSA for reading and writing.

There are two common ways to learn Arabic.  The first method is to learn MSA first – to master the alphabet and grammar – and then learn an Arabic dialect.  This approach is taken by most universities in the UK.  It leads to a good understanding of Arabic grammar and a wide vocabulary.

The second method is to learn a dialect first and then move to MSA.  This approach is my preferred method for several reasons.  Firstly, it is a more natural way of learning – Arab children learn to speak their parent’s dialect from birth.  Then they learn to read and write MSA at school, through the medium of their regional dialect.  Secondly, the priority of most language students is to speak and communicate, and as colloquial Arabic grammar is simpler than MSA grammar the student can progress quickly and communicate with confidence.  Many students give up learning Arabic because they are over-burdened with MSA grammar and lack opportunities to speak and practise conversation. 

The advantage of private tuition is that you can choose the method that suits your needs.  If you want to read literature and understand the media then you should focus on learning MSA.  But if you want to travel to Arabic countries, for tourism, study or work, you should learn an Arabic dialect.  If you try speaking MSA to a shopkeeper or taxi driver they will probably respond in colloquial Arabic.  They will find it strange to hear MSA spoken and you may be met with laughter.  Or worse, they might demand a higher price, believing that you are a tourist and know nothing about the local customs.  But if you can speak the local language you will be rewarded with enthusiasm, respect, friendship and a deeper understanding of the culture – all the benefits of real communication.

You will not be restricted if you learn one regional dialect – your knowledge will build the foundations for you to learn other dialects.  Your listening skills will be such that you will be able to hear the similarities and differences between the two dialects.