Professional Documents
Culture Documents
March 1, 2016
Emad ADEL
March 8, 2016
Page |2
1 TABLE OF CONTENTS
2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 3
2.1 Why Arabic script? ........................................................................................................................................ 3
2.2 A standard dialect ......................................................................................................................................... 4
3 The Alphabet ........................................................................................................................................................... 5
3.1 Notes about the consonants .................................................................................................................... 6
3.2 Notes about the vowels ............................................................................................................................. 8
4 General Writing Guidelines ............................................................................................................................. 11
5 General Grammar Rules .................................................................................................................................... 12
5.1 Personal Pronouns .................................................................................................................................... 12
5.2 Possessive Pronouns................................................................................................................................. 13
5.3 Direct Object Pronouns ........................................................................................................................... 13
5.4 Indirect Object Pronouns ........................................................................................................................ 13
5.5 Conjugation ................................................................................................................................................. 13
5.5.1 Regular triliteral verb conjugation ............................................................................................. 13
5.5.2 Weak roots .......................................................................................................................................... 15
5.5.3 Regular quadrilateral verb conjugation ................................................................................... 20
5.5.4 Regular quinqueliteral verb conjugation ................................................................................. 21
5.5.5 Anomalous verbs .............................................................................................................................. 22
5.5.6 Formation of derived stems.......................................................................................................... 25
5.5.7 Meanings expressed by different derived stems .................................................................. 26
5.6 Demonstrative Articles ............................................................................................................................. 27
5.7 Numbers ........................................................................................................................................................ 27
5.7.1 Ordinal Numbers .............................................................................................................................. 28
5.7.2 Fractions ............................................................................................................................................... 29
6 Vocabulary ............................................................................................................................................................. 29
6.1 Days of the week........................................................................................................................................ 29
6.2 Months of the year .................................................................................................................................... 30
7 Examples................................................................................................................................................................. 31
8 References ............................................................................................................................................................. 33
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2 INTRODUCTION
Maghrebi Arabic is a dialect continuum with about 71,448,000 users worldwide1. The language is
descending from Classical Arabic and is heavily influenced by Berber (Tamazight) with borrowed
words from Turkish, Italian, Spanish, French, and recently English.
Although millions of people use Maghrebi as their primary language, the language is rarely used
in literature works, nevertheless, it is very used on social media websites. Moreover, the Bible is
already translated into Tunisian and Moroccan dialects. Most of users use Arabic script in writing
with many others who are using Latin script in chatting rooms and SMS messages, however, no
standard orthography exists for Maghrebi.
This work tries to standardize the orthography of Maghrebi based on Arabic script to be used by
all Maghrebi speakers. Most of grammar rules are taken from MARÇAIS, Ph. (1977) and BEN
SEDIRA, B. (1910). Spelling rules are primarily based on the work of AGUADÉ, J. (2006).
Many works and orthographies were suggested before (DAOUDA, T., & REGRAGUI, N., 2012),
however, none of them went into general use by native speakers. To overcome this problem,
this orthography is based on the one which is used on social media websites, forums,
dictionaries, and literature works, taking into consideration the phonemicity of the orthography.
Although, Arabic script has some disadvantages too, but, it is already in use and many people
are able to read it without any problem. Furthermore, this standard orthography will be mostly
phonemic with some etymological traits from Modern Standard Arabic, such as the use of short
vowels, Alif Maqṣūra, Tāʾ Marbūṭa etc…
1
Based on Ethnologue data, there are 11,440,900 Tunisian Arabic users, 31,827,000 Algerian Arabic users,
and 28,180,100 Moroccan Arabic users.
Page |4
3 THE ALPHABET
Standard Written Maghrebi is composed of 27 graphemes.
ر ذ د خ ح ج ث ت ب ا/آ
را ذا دا خا حا جا ثا تا با الف
ra ḏa da xa ḥa ja ṯa ta ba aləf
r ḏ/d d x ḥ j ṯ/t t b a/ə/i/u/-
ﻕ ف غ ع ط ض ص ش س ز
قا فا غا عا طا ضا صا شا سا زا
qa fa ġa ɛa ṭa ḍa ṣa ša sa za
q f ġ ɛ ṭ ḍ ṣ š s z
ya wa ha na ma la ka
y w h n m l k
va pa ga
v p g
Page |6
موضة ماندة
/mudˤa/ or /muðˤa/ /mˤandˤa/ (or /mˤanda/)
3. The interdentals Ḏ ⟨ ⟩ذand Ṯ ⟨ ⟩ثcan be used.3 Replacing them with D and T respectively
is also possible.
4. Emphatic Ẓ and Ṛ represents usually an allophone of /z/ and /r/ respectively. Hence, no
special grapheme was used to represent them. However, it is possible to differ between
two minimal pairs using the form Kasra + Alif. This form is used to inform the reader that
the word is pronounced with [æ] rather than [ɑ].
زنزانة زنزانة
/zənzana/ /zˤənzˤana/
دار دار
/dar/ /darˤ/
5. The phoneme /g/ in native words i.e. words from Arabic language, are obligatory written
with Qa. Words borrowed from other languages, or words without a clear origin, are
written with G.
2
Both consonants are pronounced the same which results in a big confusion for Maghrebi users. Merging
both letters in one would make this orthography more phonemic, although, this affects the etymology of
the word. Similar simplifications happened in other languages, such as dropping the circumflex in French
orthography. The use of Ḍ instead of Arabic Ẓāʾ is often seen on social media websites.
3
The use of interdentals must follow MSA spelling, hence, words such as ⟨ ⟩حتىmust never be written as
⟨⟩حثى.
Page |7
بقري
/bəgri/
a. Names of Tunisian and Algerian cities, brands etc… are written with ⟨⟩ڨ.
b. Names of Moroccan cities, brands etc… are written with ⟨⟩ڭ.
اڭادير ڨابس
Agadir Gabès
c. Borrowed words with /g/ can be written with both graphemes. Nevertheless, ⟨⟩ڭ
is recommended.4
d. If a word from Arabic is pronounced with /g/ and can be confused with another
one, ⟨ ⟩ڨis used.
ڨرن قرن
/gərn/ /qərn/
6. P and V are rarely used, it is recommended to write them as B and F respectively if the
word was borrowed a long time ago. However, recently borrowed words can be written
with P and V.
7. The glottal stop (Hamza) is spelled as in MSA. Although, dropping it is recommended.5
4
/g/ in borrowed words cannot be pronounced as /q/. Also, the consonant /g/ is phonetically near to /k/.
5
Speakers usually drop the glottal stop and replace it with either /j/ or /w/. In rural dialects, it is very
common to replace the glottal stop with /h/.
Page |8
10. The vowel diacritics in open syllables have the same value as normal vowels. They are
used with words which have different pronunciations or the ones which are recently
borrowed from Arabic.
Pronunciation Spelling
موترجم مترجم
ُ
كسكسو/ كسكسي كسكس
11. Stressed vowels in open syllables which are spelled as short ones in MSA should be
written as long vowels.
لوغة
ُلغة
lùġa
12. Hamzat Waṣl ⟨ ⟩اcan represent different vowels, but it is usually pronounced [ə] or
unpronounced ([∅]). Hamzat Waṣl represents an initial temporary Hamza which is
dropped when the definite article or prepositions are prefixed to a word. Since glottal
stop is usually dropped in Maghrebi, most of words spelled with Hamzat Qatʿ in MSA are
6
ey and ew are pronounced respectively /i/ and /u/ that’s why this form is used. ⟨ ⟩أيand ⟨ ⟩أوare
pronounced respectively as /aj/ and /aw/.
Page |9
spelled with Hamzat Waṣl instead. Vowel diacritics can be used with Hamzat Waṣl
(usually in dictionaries).
13. If Hamzat Waṣl is stressed (i.e. long), it is written as Alif Madda ⟨⟩آ.
آمس
àməs
آمن
àmən
14. If the word is recently borrowed from MSA it should follow the spelling of older words.
Diacritics can be used to indicate vowels in this situation. 7
َخريطة
xariṭa (written like ṭriza)
طبيعية
ّ
ṭabiɛiya (from ṭbiɛa)
7
Although, this orthography should be phonemic, phonetically spelling recently borrowed words from
MSA might be confusing for the reader.
P a g e | 10
15. If a word can have different pronunciations of vowels, then, long vowels are reduced to
short ones.
ُكسكس
Kʷesksi Kʷesksu
دارجة
darja darija
16. The plural form “fɛala/fɛali” is written with a dotless Yāʾ (Alif Maqṣūra).
كراسى
krasi krasa
17. The rules of Tāʾ Marbūṭa are the same as in MSA. Some words which are not spelled with
a Tāʾ Marbūṭa are spelled with it in Maghrebi. Simply, a noun which is pronounced with
/t/ in construct state is written with Tāʾ Marbūṭa.
Maghrebi MSA
بيضة بيضاء
biḍa bayḍāʾ
18. Alif Maqṣūra is written at the end of borrowed words from MSA and at the end of verbs
having a /j/ in their root but are pronounced with /a/.
قرى
qra
شرى
cra
19. To know if the verb should end with an Alif Maqṣūra or not, it is possible to
a. Conjugate the verb in the present tense with third singular personal pronoun
huwa.
b. Conjugate the verb in the present with first singular personal pronoun ana.
P a g e | 11
هزوا
ّ
həzzu
33. When writing a borrowed words, the consonant preceding the vowels [o], [a] and [e]
should be emphatic. If the consonant doesn’t have an emphatic equivalent, or it is the
consonant /d/ (see 3.1.1), the following consonant should be emphatic. If there is no
consonant preceding or following the vowel which can be written as an emphatic
consonant, then, the non-emphatic consonant is used.
طاكسي پروڭراماسيون
Taxi Programmation
8
Since Algerian is mutually intelligible with Tunisian and Moroccan dialects, it is often used as a de facto
standard dialect. Hence, many grammar rules are taken from Algerian.
9
Since it is a very common pronunciation in many Tunisian, Algerian, and Moroccan dialects.
P a g e | 13
hiya هي
ّ
5.5 CONJUGATION
5.5.1 Regular triliteral verb conjugation
Past Present Imperative
Active Singular
كتبت نكتب –
كتب يكتب –
ك ْتبت تكتب –
Plural
كتبنا نكتبوا –
كتبوا يكتبوا –
Passive Singular
ّتكتبت ن ّتكتب –
ّتكتب ي ّتكتب –
etc.
Active Singular
مديت
ّ نمد
ّ –
مديت
ّ تمد
ّ مد
ّ
3rd masculine mdd ymdd –
مد
ّ يمد
ّ –
مدت
ّ تمد
ّ –
Plural
مدينا
ّ نمدوا
ّ –
مديتوا
ّ تمدوا
ّ مدوا
ّ
3rd mddu ymddu –
مدوا
ّ يمدوا
ّ –
Passive Singular
تمديت
ّ نتمد –
تمديت
ّ تتمد
ّ اتمد
ّ
3rd masculine tmdd ytmdd –
تمد
ّ يتمد
ّ –
etc.
ماد
ّ ممدود مدان
ّ ،مد
ّ
5.5.2.2 Assimilated
Past Present Imperative
Active Singular
وجدت نوجد –
وجد يوجد –
وجدت توجد –
Plural
وجدنا نوجدوا –
P a g e | 17
وجدوا يوجدوا –
Passive Singular
ّتوجدت ن ّتوجد –
ّتوجد ي ّتوجد –
etc.
5.5.2.3 Hollow
Past Present Imperative
Active Singular
قلت نقوﻝ –
قاﻝ يقوﻝ –
قالت تقوﻝ –
Plural
قلنا نقولوا –
قالوا يقولوا –
Passive Singular
تقلت نتقاﻝ –
تقاﻝ يتقاﻝ –
etc.
5.5.2.4 Defective
Past Present Imperative
P a g e | 19
Active Singular
رميت نرمي –
رمى يرمي –
رمات ترمي –
Plural
رمينا نرميوا –
رماوا يرميوا –
Passive Singular
ّترميت ن ّترمى –
10
Formed of (e)rmi+u which results in (e)rmiw.
P a g e | 20
ّترمى ي ّترمى –
etc.
Active Singular
ترجمت نترجم –
ترجم يترجم –
ترجمت ْتترجم –
Plural
ترجمنا نترجموا –
ترجموا يترجموا –
Passive Singular
ّترجمت ن ّترجم –
ّترجم ي ّترجم –
etc.
Active Singular
پروڭراميت نپروڭرامي –
پروڭرامى يپروڭرامي –
پروڭرامات تپروڭرامي –
P a g e | 22
Plural
پروڭرامينا نپروڭراميوا –
پروڭراماوا يپروڭراميوا –
Passive Singular
ن ّتپروڭرامى ّتپروڭراميت –
ّتپروڭرامى ي ّتپروڭرامى –
etc.
5.5.5.1 kla
Past Present Imperative
11
Following the noun ⟨⟩اورديناتور.
P a g e | 23
Active Singular
كليت ناكل –
كلا ياكل –
كلات تاكل –
Plural
كلينا ناكلوا –
كلاوا ياكلوا –
passive Singular
ّتاكلت ن ّتاكل –
ّتاكل ي ّتاكل –
P a g e | 24
etc.
5.5.5.2 Ja
Past Present Imperative
Active Singular
جيت نجي –
جى يجي –
جات تجي –
Plural
جينا نجيوا –
جاوا يجيوا –
5.7 NUMBERS
1 واحد
2 ثنين/ زوج
3 ثلاثة
4 اربعة
5 خمسة
6 س ّتة
7 سبعة
8 ثمنية
9 تسعة
10 عشرة
11 حداش
12 ثناش
13 ثلطاش ّ
14 اربعطاش
15 خمسطاش
16 سطاش ّ
17 سبعطاش
P a g e | 28
18 ثمنطاش
19 تسعطاش
20 عشرين
21 واحد و عشرين
22 زوج /ثنين و عشرين
30 ثلاثين
40 اربعين
50 خمسين
60 س ّتين
70 سبعين
80 ثمانين
90 تسعين
100 مية
101 مية و واحد
110 مية و عشرة
200 ميتين
300 ثلاثة (ثلث) مية
1000 الف
2000 الفين
3000 ثلاثة (ثلث) الاف
Thousands اولوف
106 مليون (ملاين)
109 مليار (ملاير)
5.7.1 Ordinal Numbers
English Maghrebi
1st اوﻝ
12 1.
2nd ثاني 2.
12
It can be pronounced either ul or uwl.
P a g e | 29
3rd ثالث 3.
4th رابع 4.
5th خامس 5.
6th سادس 6.
7th سابع 7.
8th ثامن 8.
9th تاسع 9.
10th عاشر 10.
5.7.2 Fractions
1/2 نص
ّ
1/3 ثلث
1/4 ربع
1/5 خمس
1/6 سدس
1/7 سبع
1/8 ثمن
1/9 تسع
1/10 عشر
6 VOCABULARY
Saturday السبت
7 EXAMPLES
تتجدد،
ّ تبدلوا و خ ّليوا الافكار ديالكم
الدنيا و لاكن ّ
و ما تديروش كيفما يديروا ناس هاذ ّ
باش تعرفوا مراد هللا المزيان و المقبول و الكامل.
لمقدس
ّ —روما ،12:1الكتاب ا
الناس و الملايكة و ما عنديش المحبّة ،راني نحاس كنت نتك ّلم ب لوغات ّ 1ايذا ْ
النبوة ،و نعرف ڨاع الاسرار ّ يطنطن و ناقوس يزنزن 2 .و ايذا كانت عندي الموهبة ديال
لمحبة ،راني
ّ نحول جبل وما عنديش ا و العلم ك ّلو ،و ايذا كان عندي ايمان كامل باش ّ
يتحرق ،و كل ما نملك ،و ايذا عطيت بدني باش ّ صدقت ب ّ نسوا والو 3 .و ايذا ت ّ ما ْ
لمحبة تصبرّ الشي موش غادي ينفعني ب حاجة 4 .ا لمحبة ،راه هاذ ّ ّ لاكن ما عنديش ا
تتصرفش
ّ لمحبة ما
ّ تتكبرش 5 .ا
ّ لمحبة ما تتفاخرش و ما
ّ لمحبة ما تحسدش ،ا ّ تحن ،ا
ّ و
لمصلحة تاعها ،وما تتق ّلقش ب سهولة ،وما تعقلش ع ْ بلاش تربية ،وما تق ّلبش ع ا
ل شي، لحق 7 .تسامح على ك ّ الضلم ،و لاكن تفرح ب ا ّّ لمحبة ما تفرحش بّ الشر 6 .ا
ّ
لمحبة عمرها ما غادي ّ ل شي 8 .اكل شي ،و تصبر على ك ّ وتترجى ّ
ّ كل شي، و تثق ب ّ
تفشل][..
لمقدس
ّ —كورنتوس الاولة ،الكتاب ا
سط و سي پونتلياي كان لابس مرايات .و كان راجل تاع حكاية اربعين سنة ،طولو متو ّ
بني و رطب حرير، ضعيف ،كانت عندو حدبة صغيرة زادة .شعرو كان ّ ّ رهيف و
بدنو ّ
محجمة ب لباهي][...
ّ ممشوط على جنب .لحيتو كانت
اول شاپيطرو«The Awakening, Kate Chopin » ،
—ثاني صفحةّ ،
الطويلة
ّ لمانية ،)Deutschland :ب الفورمةّ المانيا ( ( ،(/alˤˈmˤanya/ب الا
هي
ّ لمانية،)Bundesrepublik Deutschland :
ّ لفدرالية تاع المانيا (ب الا
ّ مهورية ا
ّ الج
ّ
الدنمارك ،و بحر
الشمالّ ،
ّ مدورة ب بحر
ّ وپا،
برلامانية في وسط اور ّ
ّ فدرالية
ّ جمهورية
ّ
P a g e | 32
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