T &L 401. Erin , Kathryn, Brittany, & Kate.

April 16, 2020

Contrastive

Analysis English & Arabic

Culture Grammar The Arabic
grammatical structure is very
different from European languages.
There are far greater areas of
interference, ex: the 3 consonant root.
All verbs, nouns, adjective, etc. are
formed by putting the same 3 root
consonants into different patterns.
There are 50 combinations of 3 root
consonants that make up the patterns
and structure of the Arabic language.
Arabic speakers typically have more
difficulty with the English language
due to the lack of pattern among
In the Arabic culture Teachers are held in very high regard. In this nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.
culture it is believed that teachers have the knowledge and it is given to
the students. So this means tests are a regurgitation of memorized
knowledge. For example, there aren’t many personal experience or
Alphabet
opinion-based discussion happening in the classroom tasks. This may
Arabic has less vowels and more
be difficult for students coming to the U.S. from an Arab speaking
consonants than the English
country. Teachers are expected to dress professionally and keep covered
language. The three short vowels
(no matter the gender identity) due to their profession, they have a
cultural/social status to uphold. The schools in Arab speaking countries that Arabic has hold very little
are also strictly segregated to prevent cross-gender socialization significance in the language overall.
(outside immediate family.) They are never included in the
written language. The consonants
Rhythm and Stress Time, Tense, and Aspect and long vowels provide the most
meaning. Arabic speakers typically
Arabic is a very “word stress” They have past/perfect tense, skim over English’s short vowel
language, it is predictable and current tense, and no future sounds because, to them, they hold
regular. Arabic speakers have tense. The pas/perfect tense less meaning.
sounds like “he had ate his
trouble with English because the
dinner when I came” as opposed
word stress is less predictable.
to “He had already eaten his
Intonation
dinner” in English.
Similar to English, questions,
Punctuation suggestions, and offers have
rising intonation. However, when
Arabic punctuation, now, is pretty similar
reading aloud an Arabic speaker
to western languages. However, some
symbols like the question mark and comma tends to reduce intonation.
are inverted.