The (Arabic) Films site is led by Duke professor Maha Houssami and supported by Duke students and community members: Allison Geary, Karly Alderfer, Sama Elmahdy, Amulya Vadapalli, and Nura Al-Shibli. This site aims to provide resources in Arabic dialects at all levels through film. Users of this site need to be familiar with basics in Modern Standard Arabic. We hope you enjoy the interactive activities on this site that will be part of a larger innovative movement in the field of Arabic as a Foreign Language.
Modern Standard Arabic
Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), known as العربية الفصحى (al-‘Arabīyah al-Fuṣḥá) in Arabic, serves as the formal lingua franca of the Arab world. Rooted in Classical Arabic, MSA maintains a high degree of uniformity across Arabic-speaking countries. It is used in formal settings such as literature, education, media, and official communications.
While MSA unifies Arabic speakers at an official level, the linguistic landscape of the Arab world is rich and diverse at the colloquial level. These spoken varieties, collectively known as Amiyya or dialects, vary significantly across different regions. Amiyya is deeply ingrained in the daily lives of Arabic speakers, reflecting a blend of historical, cultural, and social influences.
Key regional dialects include:
Egyptian dialect: One of the most widely understood dialects due to Egypt’s influence in cinema and media. It has unique phonetic qualities and a rich urban vernacular.
Levantine dialect: Encompassing dialects spoken in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine. Known for its melodious tone, it also heavily influences regional music and television.
Gulf dialect: Spoken in countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman. It features distinct phonetic characteristics and vocabulary influenced by maritime trade and Bedouin traditions.
Moroccan dialect: Includes dialects of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. Notable for its unique vocabulary and sounds, it is heavily influenced by Berber languages, French, and Spanish.
Iraqi dialect: Combines elements of Gulf and Levantine dialects, with unique linguistic traits influenced by historical Mesopotamian languages.
Sudanese dialect: Characterized by its distinct phonology and influence from indigenous African languages.
