Lesson 18

Emphatic consonants in Arabic

Arabic has several ‘emphatic’ consonant sounds /ṭ, ḍ, ṣ, ẓ/ which have some additional features, namely:

1. strong back-tongue elevation;
2. a very vigorous (tense) pronunciation;
3. slight rounding of the lips.

The letter ط and the sound /ṭ/

Буква ط /ṭа̄’un/ denotes the emphatic consonant /ṭ/, which is similar to the simple English /t/, having the same tongue placement, but with greater intensity.

The consonant /ṭ/ is a sun consonant.

To pronounce it correctly, follow these steps:

1. Place the tip of your tongue against the back of your upper front teeth.
2. Exhale forcefully through your mouth, creating a burst of air.
3. Release the tip of your tongue from the back of your teeth while making the ‘t’ sound.

Exercise 1. Pronounce the following short syllables vigorously:

طَ طَ طَ طَ طَ طَ

طُ طُ طُ طُ طُ طُ

طِ طِ طِ طِ طِ طِ

The letter ط connects both ways and has four graphic shapes (see from right to left):

In the isolated form, the letter ط consists of a flat, lying on the line, a leftward pointed loop running clockwise from the left, and a vertical stroke descending slightly to the left of the centre of the loop. The height of the entire letter is equal to the height of alif. The vertical stroke may not reach the loop itself, and in any case should not cross it.

In the initial form, the lower branch of the loop passes into connection with the following letter. In the medial and final forms, the loop is drawn with a clockwise return movement of the pen, and its right side is slightly raised above the line.

The vertical stroke is in all cases added only after the whole word has been written, or at least that part of it which can be written without taking the pen off the paper.

Exercise 2. Read by pronouncing ط correctly. Write it down 5 times.

طِ طَ طُ طِطْ طَطْ طُطْ طُطَطِ طَطِطُ طِطُطَ

Exercise 3. Read, write it down and give the transcription. Mark the main stress.

Exercise 4. Write down the transcribed words in Arabic letters.

/ḥīṭа̄nun, ṭurbatun, ṭīnun, ‘а̄ṭilun, fiṭnatun, χaṭṭarun, muḥaṭṭamun, ṭarafun, ’aṭrа̄fun, ṭа̄libatun, basīṭun, χuṭūṭun/

Exercise 5. Compare the pronunciation of ت and ط in the following syllables and words (no need to memorise the words).

The letter ض and the sound /ḍ/

The letter ض /ḍа̄dun/ denotes the emphatic consonant /ḍ/, which is the voiced counterpart of the already learnt sound /ṭ/.

The consonant /ḍ/ is a sun consonant.

The letter ض connects both ways and has four graphic shapes (see from right to left):

The loop ض is the same as the loop ط in all positions, but there is a prong to the left of it. The ornamental tail is the same as the س. The letter ض has one dot at the top.

Exercise 6. Read by pronouncing ض correctly. Write it down 5 times without forgetting the prong.

ضَ ضِ ضُ ضُضْ ضِضْ ضَضْ ضُضَضِ ضِضَضُ ضَضُضِ

Exercise 7. Read, write it down and give the transcription. Mark the main stress.

Exercise 8. Write down the transcribed words in Arabic letters.

/ḍarbun, ḍarasa, nuḍūbun, nа̄ḍirun, maḍīḍun, maḍrūsun, taḍmīrun, muχaḍḍiḍun, muḍа̄ddun, ḍа̄dun, ḥuḍūrun, χuḍratun/

Exercise 9. Compare the pronunciation of د and ض in the following syllables and words (no need to memorise the words).

The two-case declension of nouns in the regular plural form

In Arabic, the two-case declension is a type of declension in which a noun has only two case forms: one for the nominative case, and one common for the genitive and accusative cases. In particular, nouns in the regular plural of both genders belong to the two-case declension.

Nouns in the regular feminine plural in the genitive and accusative cases have the same ending: ـَ اتٍ /-а̄tin/ for the indefinite state and ـَ اتِ /-а̄ti/ for the definite state.

Nouns in the regular masculine plural in the genitive and accusative cases have the same ending: ـِ ينَ /-īna/ for both states.

Declension of nouns in the regular feminine plural form

Notes: 1) When combining a two-case modified noun with a three-case attribute (e.g.: مجلات عربية) they are each declined according to their own type of declension, and their accusative case endings do not coincide.

2) The demonstrative pronouns هؤلاء and اولئك are not declined.

Declension of nouns in the regular masculine plural form

Note. When combining a three-case modified noun with a two-case attribute and vice versa (e.g. كتّاب بارزون، مهندسون جدد), they are declined each according to their own type of declension.

Exercise 10. Translate into Arabic and decline the following phrases in definite and indefinite states (answers on hovering, don’t miss the light bulb).

1) These diligent pupils (m). 2) These diligent pupils (f) 3) These new magazines. 4) Those old houses. 5) Those Iraqi workers (m). 6) These Sudanese farmers. 7) These Turkish farmers (f). 8) Those prominent writers (m). 9) These famous engineers (m).

The verb رأى (to see)

The verb رَأَى /ra’а̄/ is irregular. It is conjugated as follows:

Special attention should be paid to the irregular third person forms of both genders and numbers, as well as to the spelling of the third person singular masculine form, where the letter ى denotes the long /ā/.

The verb رَأَى is transitive; it requires an object in the accusative case: رَأَيْتُ رَجُلًا — I saw (some) person..

Exercise 11. Translate from English into Arabic.

1) She saw a new film. 2) They (f) saw those farmers. 3) Have you (m) seen these teachers? No, we have not seen these teachers. 4) Have you (f) seen these diligent pupils (f)? Yes, I have seen these pupils. 5) Have (m) you seen that new school? No, I have not seen that school. And did he see that school? Yes, he saw that school. 6) They (m) saw those famous writers. 7) Have you (f) seen these Arabic books? Yes, we have seen these books.

The words for the text of lesson 18

Exercise 12. Make at least 10 sentences using the words for the text of lesson 18.

Text of Lesson 18

١) هل هذا العامل عضو في الشركة الرياضية؟ نعم، هو عضو نشيط في الشركة الرياضية الروسية.
٢) ماذا زرع الفلاحون في السنة الماضية؟ زرعوا في السنة الماضية الحنطة والبطاطس والخضروات المختلفة.
٣) رأينا في المعهد كثيرا جدا من الطلاب الروسيين والطالبات الروسيات ايضا. بين الطلاب والطالبات في هذا المعهد رياضيون كثيرون ورياضيات كثيرات ايضا. رأينا هؤلاء الرياضيين والرياضيات امس في الاستعراض الرياضي. رأينا كثيرا من الرياضيين والرياضيات هناك.
٤) متى دخلت هؤلاء الطالبات هذا المعهد؟ دخلت هؤلاء الطالبات هذا المعهد في السنة الماضية وقبل ذلك درسن في المدرسة.
٥) الى اين ذهب اولئك الطلاب بعد الفطور؟ ذهبوا بعد الفطور الى المحاضرة. هل رأيت اولئك الطلاب بعد المحاضرة؟ لا، ما رأيت اولئك الطلاب بعد المحاضرة.
٦) هل ذهب الطالب المريض الى الطبيب؟ لا، ما ذهب الطالب المريض الى الطبيب. هذا الطالب المريض ضعيف جدا وما خرج اليوم من البيت.
٧) ماذا رأيت على الارضية في تلك الغرفة؟ رأيت على الارضية في تلك الغرفة بساطا عريضا وطويلا ورأيت هناك ايضا طاولة كبيرة. وعلى تلك الطاولة رأيت كتبا ومجلات مختلفة روسية وعربية. ورأيت على الحائط خريطة جغرافية كبيرة.
٨) هل هذا الطريق عريض او ضيق؟ هذا الطريق ضيق جدا وذلك الطريق عريض وطويل.

Exercise 13. a) Write down the text with vowel marks, translate it, give the transcription of the passage # 7. b) Make a syntactic analysis of passage # 6. c) Read the text, paying attention to pronunciation ط and ض.

Exercise 14. Give detailed answers to the questions.

١) هل أنت طالب او طبيب؟ ٢) هل أنت طبيبة او طالبة؟ ٣) هل هو طالب روسي؟ ٤) هل هي طالبة روسيّة؟ ٥) متى دخلت هذا المعهد؟ ٦) هل أنت عضو فى الشركة الرِياضيّة؟ ٧) هل أنت عضوة فى الشركة الرياضية؟ ٨) الى أين ذهبت أمس بعد المحاضرات؟ ٩) هل يوجد في هذا المعهد رياضيون؟ ١٠) هل توجد في هذا المعهد رياضيات؟ ١١) متى وأين رأيت الرياضيين المشهورين؟ ١٢) هل أنت رياضي؟ ١٣) هل هي رياضية أيضا؟ ١٤) هل دخلت هذه الغرفة؟ ١٥) ماذا رأيت هناك؟ ١٦) ماذا رأيت على الارضية؟ ١٧) ماذا رأيت على الطاولة؟ ١٨) هل أنتم طلاب؟ ١٩) هل أنتن طالبات؟ ٢٠) هل هم رياضيون؟ ٢١) هل هنّ رياضيات؟ ٢٢) ماذا رأيت على الحائط؟ ٢٣) هل خرجت الطالبة المريضة اليوم من البيت؟ ٢٤) هل هذا الطريق عريض أو ضيق؟

Exercise 15. Translate from English into Arabic.

1. Are there any sportsmen in this company? There are very many sportsmen and women among the workers in this company. I saw a sports parade there last year.
2. In this room there is a narrow table. On this table there are now many different books and magazines. These books and magazines are Russian and Arabic.
3. On the floor in this room there is a beautiful and large carpet, and on the wall there is a geographical map. This room is wide and long.
4. That company sowed wheat, potatoes, and various vegetables this year.
5. Did you go to the lectures yesterday? Yes, we went to the lectures. Did you see the Arabic student there? No, we did not see this student. He is very sick and did not come out of the house yesterday.
6. When did you enter this institute? I entered this institute last year and before that I studied at school.

Exercise 16. Form positive and negative personal forms from the verbs لبس، قرأ، خرج، أخذ، درس، زرع، رأى corresponding to the following personal pronouns (answers on hovering):

١) انتم ٢) هو ٣) انتِ ٤) هم ٥) هى ٦) انتن ٧) انا ٨) هن ٩) انتَ ١٠) نحن