Reflections from home: Arabic music and language

"I can’t think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.” - Bill Bryson

I chose the quote above because it applies to learning a new language. To our ears, foreign languages sound enticing and perhaps attractive because we don't understand what is trying to be communicated. But, we can appreciate the uniqueness and maybe relate to the emotional appeal. That is why through foreign music, we could come to appreciate the language even more and enjoy the novelty. That is one way I deepened my appreciation of the Arabic language, through Arabic music. I didn't learn any new words in the music, but I tried to pick up on words that I knew. 

A sampling of frequently used Arabic words:

"ee-yawn-ee" = in other words. Emilee and I would hear our host family use that word often in between phrases and clauses. They would say, "Dinner, ee-yawn-ee, let's eat!" 

Insha-Allah = Allah willing. Surprisingly, tt is used in the same context as Americans do with the Christian God.  Americans would say, "We can't go to the zoo today because, God willing, it will rain." In Abu Dhabi, they would say, "Safe travels, Liz, inshallah." 

"Sway sway" = little. For example, I could ask a native speaker if there is a major difference between it being very hot outside or being incredibly hot outside, and s/he would respond with "sway sway". Ha!

Jemeela = beautiful. Beautiful eyes are eyes that see the good in everything, something I learned while teaching at the Al Sorouh American School!

Hallas = stop, halt, understand, take this in. For example, our students would be chorally responding the letters and words on the Word Wall when all their voices start to blur together. My teacher would call out, "Hallas! I cannot understand you. Start again."

La la = no

Na-am = yes

A mal jayeed = good job

Geloose = sit

Keam = stand

Bahebbak = love you 

I love music. When I was a dance coach many years ago, I would chase after various types of music and lesser known songs to use in choreography. I sought it everywhere; in theme songs of television shows, commercials, movies, friends, YouTube, everywhere. So after the season of dance in my life concluded, the habit of researching music stuck with me. Guess it's a hobby now. Therefore, while in the U.A.E., I asked the host family daughters to share a few names of their favorite Arabic artists. Success! Those artists are below. 

     1.       Nawal El Zoghbi "Gharbibi Hal Denyi" at : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-0fl_N1KFc

2.       Balqees "Ya Hawa" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIHxZkhFn_I
3.       Balqees "Gdar Gdar" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2zpX-cJwS0
4.       Hussain Al Jasmi (spelling?) "Al Shaky" at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d6VgO5B7mg  
5.       Hussain Al Jasmi "6 El Sob7" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XJn6PonE2k

Nawal El Zoghb

Balqees

Hussain Al Jasmi

    

      




  Do not ask me for the lyrics or for the translation because I know neither! Just enjoy. :) 

      Concluding with examination of the opening quote, few things excite a sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are near complete ignorance of the language and popular music. Being in that state of wonder reminds me that there is an entire different sphere of popular culture and norms that I knew little of. It brings me back to the idea that the world becomes smaller the more you travel and make connections. I learned that music can be means to learning or reinforcing languages and emotions shared across cultures. We can learn to appreciate and enjoy it despite not knowing the words.