tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414859680777728593.post5140780782384231952..comments2023-06-10T07:41:43.276-04:00Comments on VS. THE POMEGRANATE: The Politics of Pronunciation Part 2: Arabic Lessons at the New York TimesJoseph Shahadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02563551051906038151noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414859680777728593.post-17780620836759308312009-08-11T04:15:48.633-04:002009-08-11T04:15:48.633-04:00This is a great post, Joe. You're right about...This is a great post, Joe. You're right about the Orientalist tone in Worth's article, especially the part about "angry consonants," which doesn't surprise me since I've heard the whole "Arabic=angry" thing so many times. It's so offensive and ignorant because it reinforces the stereotype that Arabs and Muslims are "angry" and "aggressive" people (even though not all Muslims speak Arabic, the stereotypes still get lumped together).<br /><br />I think it's a great thing that you're learning Arabic. There's something really special and moving about connecting with your roots. We should all embrace the multiple identities that we have. I wish I could speak Urdu better, but I'm making more efforts to improve on it (as well as Punjabi). I am glad that I can at least understand the language really well though. When I read Urdu or Punjabi poetry or listen to the music, I always feel like I'm connecting with a missing part of me and I cannot help but think of the past. We are here because of our ancestors, and it's almost like spiritual time travel, where I imagine myself living in the Punjab and speaking the language so fluently. <br /><br />This is not meant to sound ethnocentric or anything, but there's a lot to be proud of about where our parents and ancestors come from. I know I say this because of how I internalized racism in grade school; I didn't learn anything special about Islamic history or South Asian history. When I finally learned about the contributions Arabs, Persians, South Asians, and Muslims made to the world, it really had a profound impact on me because these groups are surrounded by so much negativity in media and society.<br /><br />You may remember from my post on "Pakistani Identity" that I studied Arabic quite frequently after 9/11. I also took Tajweed classes and listened to a lot of Arabic music (I still do). Though I am not Arab, I cannot deny that I feel a closeness to Arabic too, and even Farsi. Aside from all the tensions that occur within the Muslim community, no one disputes the beauty of the Qur'an's Arabic or the fact that Muhammad, peace be upon him, was an Arab.<br /><br />When I read about Islamic history, I find myself connecting with it, even with the parts that don't concern Islam in South Asia. I still consider it as part of my history as well as my roots. I know it's because of my faith in Islam, but at the same time, I find myself appreciating the possible Hindu and Buddhist roots I may have. <br /><br />Anyway, before I ramble on further, thanks for writing this and I like what you wrote about how you use a slash instead of a hyphen to describe yourself. That gives me something to think about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414859680777728593.post-14003721241225306802009-08-10T20:31:38.716-04:002009-08-10T20:31:38.716-04:00Thanks all,
Yes, the Arabic = Angry thing is anno...Thanks all, <br />Yes, the Arabic = Angry thing is annoying but very telling. It seems like when I see people do their Arabic "ching-chong" they make a mad face and strangling sounds in the back of their throats. I always think, "is that how it sounds to you?"Joseph Shahadihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02563551051906038151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414859680777728593.post-58519229053069960822009-08-10T17:34:58.368-04:002009-08-10T17:34:58.368-04:00Russell Peters, in his latest DVD (Red, White, and...Russell Peters, in his latest DVD (Red, White, and Brown), has a bit making fun of how non-Arabic speakers, and Western media, view/portray Arabic as an angry language. If I could find a link to it I'd post it here, but critiques this stereotype fairly well. <br /><br />Personally, I am grateful that I can both understand and speak both Urdu and Punjabi but I do worry about passing it on to my future kids, if God gives me children. I know I'm definitely going to make every effort to. AS Abu Sinan mentioned, language is a very important element of cultural preservation. My grandmother's language was Pashto and since she passed away, taking the language with her, I've been wanting to learn Pashto so that I can bring it back to life in her descendents. Just today I was actually thinking about learning it and now after reading your post I think I will set out in earnest to learn it. In practical terms it's probably not so handy, but it's culturally invaluable. <br /><br />@Abu Sinan:<br /><br />Are there any Arabic educational videos for children you could get to use as a learning tool for your children? Because they may not be hearing Arabic at home, this may, to a limited extent granted, replace that lack of Arabic in the home. <br /><br />Sobia (not Farheen)Farheenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05432706760059040473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414859680777728593.post-11192799449313670412009-08-09T06:15:31.252-04:002009-08-09T06:15:31.252-04:00Joseph,
What a great post on so many different ...Joseph,<br /><br /> What a great post on so many different levels. I think your experience is a typical Arab-American one, even typical immigrant American one. My family is Germany and a segment of it immigrated here and some stayed in Germany. The ones that came into the US had the same rules, no German at home.<br /><br /> My wife is a Saudi, daughter of a diplomat here at the Embassy in DC. There was an oppposite rule for her and her sisters, no English at home. The idea being that they got enough English outside and going to local schools.<br /><br /> Even so it wasnt enough so he ended up getting them a tutor twice a week for several years. Arabic is like that, it takes years even for native speakers to master.<br /><br /> When my wife and I married to worked hard to learn Arabic, took university level classes and took advanced Arabic grammer classes at a local Saudi institute. The Uni was fine, but even 4 years of University Arabic you are still only cable of basic conversation.<br /><br /> Language is VERY important as part of who people are. It is not coincident that the destruction of control of native languages is one of the basic steps for all colonial powers.<br /><br /> I have met many Arab-Americans who speak no Arabic. I feel bad enough about it that I have stopped speaking in Arabic to Arab-Americans I dont know because I had heard too many times "wow, your Arabic is good, what did you say"? I knew one guy who had been born in Bethlehem and I ran into him one day and I was wearing a shirt that said "Palestine" in Arabic and he had to ask me what it said.<br /><br /> As the father of two bi-racial Arab American kids we try to do what we can to make sure that they have a grasp of Arabic, but it is hard when most day to day conversation is in English. I just know how important graps of Arabic is to Arabs and I also know that being half white they are already going to be viewed in a different light. Good Arabic might get them past some of that.<br /><br /> As to the article, if anyone had done research at the paper they'd realise that one year of Arabic wasn't going to be enough. Places like Georgetown offer four years and then send you abroad to the Middle East to study there for a minimum of a year. It is good practical experience and does wonder to geet beyond the "fus7a" Arabic taught in Western class rooms.<br /><br /> The "uneducated" bit about Fus7a is a bit off the mark. AS if the uneducated dont watch TV news which is done in formal Arabic? As if they dont pick up a paper and read it from time to time?<br /><br /> Anyway, Egyptian and Lebanese dialects would be the best to know, as both countries pretty much rule the Arabic entertainment industry and much of what you hear from it will come from those two countries.<br /><br /> Arabic is hard for me because of the fact that every different places has it's own dialect. I know the Khaliji dialect best, but the farther you get from the Hijaz, the less I know.<br /><br /> I still get a kick out of it when Arabs are surprised that I even speak Arabic, let alone with a Saudi tinged accent.<br /><br /> I also had to shake my head about the Arabic t-shirt incident. My white privledge has meant that I could wear Arabic t-shirts on many occassions and never have an issue. The only issue I usually get is when an Arab asks me if I know what my shirt says and I answer in Arabic.<br /><br /> I have shirts in Arabic that say "Allahu Akbar" "Support the Uprising for an Independent Palestine" "Palestine" and "I am not a terrorist". I have never had an issue. More proof that even white converts to Islam dont get the white privledge card revoked when they say the shahada.<br /><br /> Good luck on the Arabic learning. If you are anything like me, it is going to be a life long project!أبو سنانhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04213826171467402183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414859680777728593.post-84799909982559800352009-08-09T03:28:24.691-04:002009-08-09T03:28:24.691-04:00Learning a new language as an artist is a great wa...Learning a new language as an artist is a great way to expand your expressive capabilities. And, the fact that you are studying what your ancestors spoke gives you a connection to your history. I, too, am used to hearing Arabic culture referenced in a negative fashion. I don't think I've ever heard an entire sentence in Arabic, only "key" phrases. Why don't we ever hear or see printed the word that means the opposite of Jhihad, for example? <br /><br />I am learning to speak Spanish more fluently, as I live in a Latino community and quite a few of my clients are from Mexico, Puerto Rico and other islands. I get a chance to practice pretty much daily. <br />Do you have a community where you can converse in Arabic?<br /><br />I enjoy reading your blog postings. Gives me an idea of what events I may check out next time I'm in NYC.Emily Eplerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15918813521283216548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414859680777728593.post-54126732713033197172009-08-08T20:23:39.062-04:002009-08-08T20:23:39.062-04:00I have to admit "angry consonants" gave ...I have to admit "angry consonants" gave me serious pause. What does that mean exactly? As a Black person who has been told to "calm down" when I raised my voice - not even in anger - this irked me. If the very parts of your speech - how your tongue rolls around a word - are interpreted as angry, how can you NOT be interpreted as the same? It seems problematic and grossly unfair. Maybe I'm reading too much into it. I do that.<br /><br />I am sorry that Arabic is something you had to pursue as an adult, but I understand why, and I am glad that you made a conscious decision to connect with your cultural hertiage. A lot of people choose not to. I have many, many friends who don't speak Spanish, Italian or Portuguese for the exact same reasons that you mentioned. By the second generation, it seems, language and a lot of culture tied to it are lost, and it is shaming (not self-hate, but racist/ethnocentric othering) that banishes it. We live in a different world than we did a century ago, but it is important to acknowledge and honor the sacrifices of those who came before we did, and I think you're doing that. Good on you. <br /><br />I'm curious: do you know what my name means? It's usuallly very well received by Arabic speakers, and I just kinda want to be all smug about it now. :o)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com