Arabic
About
Arabic ranks sixth in the world's league table of languages, with an estimated 186 million native speakers. As the language of the Qu'ran, the holy book of Islam, it is also widely used throughout the Muslim world. It belongs to the Semitic group of languages which also includes Hebrew and Amharic, the main language of Ethiopia.
There are many Arabic dialects. Classical Arabic – the language of the Qu'ran – was originally the dialect of Mecca in what is now Saudi Arabia. An adapted form of this, known as Modern Standard Arabic, is used in books, newspapers, on television and radio, in the mosques, and in conversations between educated Arabs from different countries (for example at international conferences).
Local dialects vary, and a Moroccan might have difficulty understanding an Iraqi, even though they speak the same language.
Learn Arabic to pursue a career in diplomacy, business, intelligence, international relations, or linguisitics. Students in Arabic classes learn not only how to speak, read and write the language, but also about Arabic culture and society.
Pitt's Arabic courses teach Standard Modern Arabic, although classes are offered in Egyptian, Iraqi, and Moroccan dialects of Arabic.
Course Numbers
- Arabic 1: LING 0131
- Arabic 2: LING 0132
- Arabic 3: LING 0133
- Arabic 4: LING 0134
Instructors
Amani Attia |
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Razak Abedalla |
Myriam Abdel-Malek maa120@pitt.edu |
Ahmed Abdelwahab abdelwahab@rmu.edu |
Loubna Elabbadi |
Ethan Pullman epullman@pitt.edu |
Abdesalam Soudi soudia@pitt.edu |