Sam

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Folktales Around
The World In
Lebanese &
Syrian Arabic

Sam
HARILYN TAHIR

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 Copyright © 2019 by Harilyn Tahir

All rights reserved.

The author’s moral rights have been asserted. All rights reserved. No
part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher.

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Conceptualised, written and edited by Harilyn Tahir
Translated by Zeina Azzam
Proofread and edited by Abdulla Chihab

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Cover Photo: Tomas Malik from Pexels.
All other photos featured in this book were taken from copyright free
stock photos sites.

Audio Tracks (MP3s) by Roaakh

Website: www.thelevantongue.com
Email: thelevantongue@gmail.com

Also published by theLevanTongue:

Folktales Around The World in Jordanian & Palestinian Arabic

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 CONTENTS

Introduction 2

1 A Man Named Tanggang (Singapore & Malaysia) 4

2 The Nail Soup (Sweden) 16

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3 The Golden Touch (Greece)

4 The Fisherman and the Turtle (Japan)

28

42

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5 The Children of King Lir (Ireland)

6 The Stone Goblins (Holland)

7 Romulus and Remus (Italy)

56

70

82

8 The Mysterious Man with the Flute (Germany) 94

9 The Sister and her Brother (Russia) 106

10 The Seal’s Skin (Iceland) 120

1
 INTRODUCTION

Storybooks written in colloquial Arabic and designed for language

learners are few and far in between. Yet there is no doubt that
reading does help in improving one’s language skills. Such benefits
include learning new vocabulary, gaining exposure to natural language
and having a better understanding of how the language works.

Thus, it is with great pleasure to publish my first ever set of

learning resources catered and designed for my fellow Levantine
Arabic learners in mind. I hope you enjoy reading the folktales and

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strengthen your Lebanese and/or Syrian Arabic proficiency in the
process.

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Last but not least, I would like to thank Zeina Azzam, Deena
Hamdan, Roaakh and Abdulla Chihab for their contributions to this
project. I would also like to extend my utmost gratitude to Diana
Waleed who has been ever so helpful and supportive in my language
journey as a Levantine Arabic learner.

Harilyn Tahir

2
Sam
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3
 A Man Named Tanggang (Singapore & Malaysia)

‫التراث الشعبي األول‬

‫ِر َّجال إ ْسمو تا ْنغانغ‬

‫ عايْشين‬،‫وختيارة ِمتجوزين اس ُمن تاالنغ وديروما‬

ِ ‫كان في ِختيار‬

Sam
‫ب الب ِح ر وكان في عندُن ولد وحيد اس ُمو‬
ِ ‫صغيرة ِبجن‬
ْ ‫بِضيعة‬
.‫تانغانغ وكانِت ظُ ُروف حياتُن صعبِة كتير‬

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،‫إجت سفينة كبيرة كتير ور ِست عش ِط الب ِحر‬
ِ ،‫ِوبيوم ِم ِن األيَّام‬
.‫وكانِت ع طالنة بسبب حادِث و ِبدا تصليح‬

In a small village by the sea, there lived an old married

couple named Talang and Deruma. They had only one son
whose name was Tanggang. Life for them was extremely
tough.

One day, a big ship landed by the shore. There had been an
accident and the ship was in need of repair.

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 Folktales Around The World In Lebanese & Syrian Arabic

‫تانغانغ كان حا ِسس دايما ً إِنُّو مو مبسوط بحياتو وشاف إِنُّو السفينة‬
ُّ ‫ُهرب ِمن الضَّيع ة ِويالقي‬
‫حظو‬ ُ ‫ُمم ِكن تكون فُرصة إِلُو لحتى ي‬
.‫بِمكان تاني‬

‫راح تانغانغ ل ِعند قُبطان الس ِفينة وحاول يقنعُو ِإنُّو ِر َّجال شغيل‬
‫شاف القُبطان قُ ِوة‬
ِ ‫ ول َّما‬،‫و ِعندُو استِعداد يعمل أي ِشي بينطلب ِم ُّنو‬
ِ ‫وعزيمة تانغانغ قِ ِبل ياخدُو معُن وقلُّو يِجي تاني‬
‫يوم الص ِبح لحتَّى‬
.‫يكملوا سفرن‬

Sam
.‫ كانِت اإلم مشغول ِة بالتَّنظيف و ِإجا تانغانغ ليح ِكي معا‬،‫ِبالمسا‬

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Tanggang has always been unhappy with his life and saw
the ship as an opportunity for him to escape from the village
and seek fortune elsewhere.

He met with the captain and tried to convince him that he

was a hardworking man who was willing to do anything that
was requested of him. Upon looking that Tanggang was a
strong and a determined man, the captain agreed and told
him to come the next morning where the ship will continue
on its journey.

And so that evening, as his mother was busy cleaning the

house, Tanggang went and spoke to her.

5
 A Man Named Tanggang (Singapore & Malaysia)

‫عرف إِ ِنك إِنتي وأبي ضحيتوا ب ِكل ِشي ِمنشان‬

ِ ‫ أنا ب‬،‫فقال "إِمي‬
‫ بس هّل إِنتو كبِرتوا بِلع ِمر وأنا ِلساتني شب صغير‬،‫تربونِي‬
‫ لهيك أنا عم ف ِكر سافِر وإِطلع ِمن الضَّيعة‬،‫صحتي‬
ِ ‫وبكامل‬
ِ
‫تغل وطا ِلع مصاري وبِتمنى إِنكُن‬
ِ ‫وحاول ح ِسن حياتِي و ِإ ِش‬
ِ
".‫توافقوا‬

‫ بس بِنفس الوقِت ِهيي‬،‫ قلبا ِوقِع‬،‫معت دريوما كالم إِبنا‬

ِ ‫ل َّما ِس‬
‫قرارة نفسا إِنُّو ِهيي وجوزا ما بيقدروا يوفروا حياة‬
ِ ِ‫عرفانة ب‬

Sam
.‫الر ِغم ِمن وجع قلبا‬
َّ ِ‫منيحة لتانغانغ ولهيك واف ِقت ب‬

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He said, “Mom, I know that you and Dad have sacrificed so
much to raise me. Both of you are getting old. Meanwhile, I
am young and healthy. Thus, I’m thinking of sailing away
from this village to try for a better life. I will work hard, bring
back a lot of money and I hope you both will agree.”

Deruma’s heart sank when she heard his son’s words.

However, she knew deep down that she and her husband
could not provide Tanggang with a better life. Therefore,
Deruma reluctantly agreed despite the pain in her heart.

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 Folktales Around The World In Lebanese & Syrian Arabic

‫عن معبية عيونُن وعطوه أ ِكلتُه‬

ُ ‫ودَّعوه تاني يوم الص ِبح ِودمو‬
.‫ض ِلة ملفوفِة بِوراق شج ِر الموز‬
َّ ‫ال ُمف‬

‫ب‬
ِ ‫تاجر غني وقِدِر ِيكسب ِإعجا‬
ِ ‫ تانغانغ صار‬،‫وبعد سنوات‬
‫القُبطان ويعلي مكانتُو ِبسبب ِإ ِج ِتهادُو ومهارتُو بعمل عالقات مع‬
ُ ‫النَّاس ِوالتَّوا‬
.‫صل معُن‬

‫واحد ِمن ال ُح َّك ِام األغنياء عن تانغانغ وعن‬

ِ ‫اإليام ِس ِمع‬ِ ‫من‬
ِ ‫ِوبيوم‬
‫صر وعرض عليه ِإ ُّنو ِيتج َّوز وحدة ِمن‬ ِ ‫مهاراتُو فعز ُمه لعندُو عالق‬

Sam
.‫بناتُو‬

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With tears in their eyes, they gave him his favourite food
wrapped in banana leaves and bid him farewell the next
morning.

Many years passed and Tanggang has become a wealthy

merchant. Due to his hard working nature and good
communication skills, he managed to win the liking of the
captain and climb up the ranks.

One day, a rich ruler heard of Tanggang’s skills and invited

him to his palace and offered him to marry one of his
daughters.

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 A Man Named Tanggang (Singapore & Malaysia)

‫ضيعتُه وال ف َّك ر بِأهلو يلي‬

ِ ‫سنوات وتانغانغ ما ِر ِجع على‬
َّ ‫ت ال‬
ِ ‫وم ِر‬
‫ كان تانغانغ ومرتُو مسافرين على متن‬،‫ ِوبيوم ِم ِن األيَّام‬.‫تركُن‬
.‫سفينِة لضيعتُو‬

ِ ُ‫شرت األخبار بِالضيعة ِإنُّو ق‬

‫بطان الس ِفينة هو تانغانغ فركض‬ ِ ‫إنت‬
.‫أه ِل القرية ليخبروا أبوه وإ ُّمو إِنُّه إِبنُن ِر ِجع بعد طول غياب‬
ِ ‫ومن ِكتِر فرحتُن ط‬
‫بخت‬ ِ ‫بسوطين كتير‬
ِ ‫كان تاالنغ وديروما م‬
‫ض ِلة ول ِفتا بِوراق شج ِر الموز وتاالنغ ِل ِبس‬
َّ ‫ديروما أك ِلة إبنا ال ُمف‬

Sam
.‫أحلى تِيابُه‬

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Throughout the years, Tanggang never went back to his
village nor thought of his parents that he left behind. One
day, the ship that Tanggang and his wife was in sailed
towards the shore of his old village.

News spread that the captain of the ship was Tanggang

and the villagers ran to inform his parents of the return of
their son. They were so happy that Deruma cooked his son’s
favourite meal and wrapped them in banana leaves while
Talang got dressed in his best clothes.

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Folktales Around The World In Lebanese & Syrian Arabic

Sam
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 A Man Named Tanggang (Singapore & Malaysia)

ِ ‫وبعد فترة ِوصلوا أهلُو لش ِط البحر ِواجتمعوا م ِع الن‬

‫اس‬
.‫المجتم ِعين‬
ِ

،‫وبانِت الفرحة على وجوهُن ل َّما شافوا ِإبنُن وصاروا يأشرولُه‬

‫ ِنحنا أهلك! اشتِقنالك‬،‫نادِت عليه ِإ ُّمو بأعلى صوت " تانغانغ ِإبني‬
"!‫ِكتير‬

‫ عن جد هدو ِل‬،‫حظت م ْرتُو لتانغانغ أبوه و ِإ ُّمو وسأ ِلتُو "حبيبي‬

ِ ‫ال‬
".‫ ُمست ِحيل ِإتخيَّل ِإ َّنك ِإبنُن‬.‫أهلك؟ تِيابُن ِوسخة ومبهد ِلة‬

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A while later, Tanggang’s parents arrived to the shore and

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joined the crowd.

Their faces lit up when they saw their son and they started
to wave at him from afar. Deruma called out to Tanggang
and said, “My son, Tanggang! It’s us - your parents! We
missed you so much!”

Tanggang’s wife noticed his parents and asked, “Are they

really your parents, dear? Their clothes are dirty and
tattered. It’s impossible to imagine that you are their son.”

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 Folktales Around The World In Lebanese & Syrian Arabic

ً ‫تحول لعصبية ورد عليها "طبعا‬

َّ ‫انحرج تانغانغ كتير و ِإحرا ُجو‬
".‫هدول مانُن أهلي! عيلتي ما ِتت ل َّما ِكنت صغير‬

‫نادت ديروما بأعلى صوت وهي عم ِبتأ ِشر ِإلبنا يلي ما شافتُو ِمن‬
".‫سبع سنين وقا ِلت "إبني طبختِلَّك أ ِكلتك يلي بتحبا‬

ِ ‫وصارت عيونُن ِمتر‬

‫كزة على‬ ِ ‫ِكل يلي ع السفينة شافوا المو ِقف‬
.‫تانغانغ ومرتُو يلي صار ِوشا أحمر ِمن ِك ِتر اإلحراج‬

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Tanggang became embarrassed and his embarrassment
soon turned to anger. He replied, “Of course they are not my

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parents! My parents passed away when I was little.”

“Son, I have cooked your favourite food!” shouted Deruma

as she continued to wave at her son whom she had not seen
for seven years.

The crew on the ship witnessed the situation and all eyes
were on Tanggang and his wife. Tanggang’s wife began to
turn red from embarrassment.

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 A Man Named Tanggang (Singapore & Malaysia)

ِ ‫فقا ِلتلُو مرتُو بعصبيِة "حبيبي شو هاد يلي‬

‫عم يصير؟ خبِر‬
".‫ أحرجونا‬،‫الختيارة إِنا غلطانِة ومخربطة فِيك‬

‫تانغانغ أخد نفس عميق واستجمع شجاعتُو وص َّرخ "أنا ماني‬

ِ ‫عرف ُكن‬
".‫تركوني بِحالي‬ ِ ‫إبنكُن وال ب‬

ِ ‫لما ِسمعوا تاالنغ وديروما كالم إبنُن قلوبُن نك‬

‫سرت و ِوق ِعت‬
‫ ضمها تاالنغ وهوعم ِيمسح‬.‫هستيرية‬
ِ ‫ديروما وهي عم ِتبكي ِب‬
.‫دموعُه‬

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“Dear, what’s this that’s happening? Tell the old woman

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that she is wrong and had mistaken you for someone else.
They are embarrassing us.” said Tanggang’s wife angrily.

Tanggang took a deep breath, gathered all his courage and

then shouted, “I’m not your son and I don’t know who you
are. Leave me alone!”

Both Deruma and Talang’s hearts were crushed when they

heard their son’s words. Deruma dropped to her knees and
began sobbing hysterically. Talang hugged her and he, too,
was wiping away tears.

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 Folktales Around The World In Lebanese & Syrian Arabic

‫رف ِعت ديروما راسا لل َّسما وب َّل ِشت تِدعي ربنا "يارب عاقِب إبني‬
"!‫إلنُّو تكبَّر ونِ ِسي أهلُو يلي جابوه للعالم وذك ُرو يارب‬

‫ون‬
ِ ‫حو ِلت ِلل‬
َّ ‫مواج البحر تهيج والغيوم ت‬
ِ ‫ بلَّ ِشت أ‬،‫وبعد ثواني بس‬
ِ ‫األسود وبلَّ ِشت الدِنيا تشتي وتز‬
‫ صا ِرت س ِفينة تانغانغ تِهتز‬.‫خزخ‬
.‫بقوة وا ِل ِكل خايف‬
ِ

‫ِع ِرف تانغانغ دِغري ِإنُّو هي العاص ِفة ِعقاب ِمن ربنا فصار‬
‫خايف وب َّلش يك ِر ر "يا ِإ ِمي ويا أبي سامحوني هللا يخ ِليكُن‬

Sam
"!‫بترجاكُن‬

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Deruma then looked up towards the sky and prayed aloud
to God, “O Lord Almighty, punish my son for he had
forgotten his parents whom had brought him into this world!
Remind him, o Lord, remind him!”

It was only a matter of seconds when suddenly the waves

became choppy and the clouds turned black. The sky opened
up and rain started pouring down heavily. Tanggang’s ship
began to sway violently and everyone started to panic.

Tanggang immediately knew that the storm was God’s

punishment. He became terrified and shouted repeatedly,
“Mother, Father, forgive me! Please, I beg you!”

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 A Man Named Tanggang (Singapore & Malaysia)

‫ وفجأة‬.‫م ِع األسف صرخاتُو ما انسم ِعت ِبسبب صوتِ العاص ِفة‬

‫وتحول ِكل‬
َّ ‫سفينِة والمكان صار هادي‬
َّ ‫وجة قويِة ال‬
ِ ‫ضربِت م‬
.‫سفين ِة لحجر‬
َّ ‫شخص بال‬

Unfortunately, his cries could not be heard amidst the

storm. Suddenly a big wave hit the ship and the place turned
quiet. The ship and everyone in it had been turned into
stone.

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Folktales Around The World In Lebanese & Syrian Arabic

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Sam
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