Learn about some tricky letters in the Arabic language
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| Simon: Hello, and welcome to the Pronunciation Series at ArabicPod101.com, where we studyArabic in a fun, educational format! |
| Hala: So, brush up on the Arabic that you started learning long ago, or start learning today. |
| Simon: Thanks for being here with us for this lesson. Hala, what are we looking at in this lesson? |
| Hala: Today we will be talking about some tricky letters, but hopefully after this we’re done… |
| Simon: Nothing is going to be tricky anymore! |
| Hala: But before we start, Simon, can you please summarize what we have done in the first two lessons? |
| Simon: For sure, we covered the four dark letters, and the four letters that resemble them in a softer tone! |
| Hala: Which were “sa, ṣa”, “da, ḍ”, “ta, ṭa”, and finally “za, ẓa” |
| Simon: Hala, I see you’re improving! |
| Hala: ( laughing ), thank you Simon, that’s very kind of you! |
| Simon: Now moving to today’s lesson, which letters are we going to cover ? |
| Hala: That would be “ʾlif” , “ḥ”, “ʿ” and “ha” |
| Simon: I don’t see what exactly do you mean when you say they are tricky! |
| Hala: The sounds produced are similar to each other, with small differences. |
| Simon: And now you’re kidding, come on, I didn’t hear one bit of similarity in all of them! |
| Hala: That’s because I was saying the names of the letters, lets try now with the sound of each one, which are “ʾa”, “ḥa” , “ʿa” and “ha” |
| Simon: Ok, you proved your point, but can you give it to us in words? |
| Hala: “ʾalam”, “ḥalam”, “ʿalam” and “halum” |
| Simon: And these are all real words? |
| Hala: Lucky for us, yes! |
| Simon: Ok, lets take them two by two |
| Hala: The first 2 are “ʾalam” and “ʿalam, as you can see, the first one is more like ( a ) as in ( apple ), the second one is a different sound, it comes from the throat, you actually feel your cords moving when you pronounce this one. |
| Simon: Is there any easy way to be able to do it? |
| Hala: Well, sorry about this guys, I know its not a very friendly image, but I’m afraid it’s the only one to make it closer! |
| Simon: I’m ready! And I’m sure our listeners are too! |
| Hala: Well, think of the sound you make when you’re about to vomit (ʿʿʿ), and that’s the one we’re looking for! |
| Simon: Well, at least I know I wont confuse it from now on with the “ʾ “ of ( apple). |
| Hala: Another two words in which to see the difference are “ʿibar” and “ʾibar”. |
| Simon: “ʿibar” and “ʾibar” |
| Hala: Yes, but try to pronounce the second as we explained, “ʿibar” and “ʾibar.” |
| Simon: “ʿibar” and “ʾibar.” |
| Hala: Much better! |
| Simon: Ok, I’m starting it get the hang of it, how about another one before we move to the second set of letters? |
| Hala: Hmmm, let me think… Okay “saʿal” and “saʾal.” |
| Simon: “saʿal” and “saʾal.” |
| Hala: Great job Simon, Ok moving on, we have “ḥa” and “ha.” |
| Simon: The difference is not very clear to me I’m afraid. |
| Hala: “ḥa”, “ha”, let me put it in words to make it more clear “ḥallh”, “hallh.” |
| Simon: What’s the trick to get this one correct? |
| Hala: Well, we have the “ha” which is the same as the “H” in English, so that’s easy, as for the “ḥ”, its called in Arabic a hollow letter, because of the way we pronounce it, think of it as a “chilly” letter, it’s the exact sound ( making the sound ). |
| Simon: That makes it more clear, so lets test it, more words please! |
| Hala: “hama” and “ḥama” |
| Simon: “hama” and “ḥama” |
| Hala: niiiiiice, ok, please try repeating these 2 words “ḥammām”, “hammām” |
| Simon: Please repeat it slowly again. |
| Hala: “ḥammām”, “hammām” |
| Simon: Now its my turn, “ḥammām”, “hammām” |
| Hala: Wonderful Simon, the thing you have to remember is, by mixing up the sounds, its not a matter of making the word sound strange but understandable, you will actually end up with a complete different word! |
| Simon: Will pay attention to that for sure from now on! |
| Hala: That just about does it for today. |
| Simon: Premium members, use the review track to perfect your pronunciation. |
| Hala: Available in the premium section of the website, |
| Simon: the learning center |
| Hala: and through iTunes via the premium feed, |
| Simon: the Review Track gives you vocabulary and phrases followed by a short pause so you can repeat the words aloud. |
| Hala: The best way to get good fast! |
| Simon: Bye! |
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