Written Arabic
An Approach to the Basic Structures

A. F. L. Beeston (Author)

9780521095594, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 1 November 1968

124 pages
21.6 x 13.8 x 1 cm, 0.15 kg

' … this little volume fills a definite gap in the field … Written Arabic makes the complexities of the Arabic language about as clear for the students as a book is able to.' The Modern Language Journal

The aim of this introduction to modern written Arabic is to bring the student quickly to a reading knowledge of the language so that he can use Arabic sources in subjects like history, economics and sociology. The book can also be used in conjunction with others as an ordinary grammar. Professor Beeston presents essential features of Arabic needed for an accurate comprehension of written material. He excludes the mass of linguistic detail contained in traditional Arabic grammars which assume the student wishes to master all aspects of the language. On the other hand the book provides for a sound understanding of abstract literature on scholarly subjects, in contrast to manuals teaching a quick understanding of journalistic Arabic.

Introduction
Grammatical terminology
The Arabic script
1. nouns and adjectives
2. Demonstratives, pronouns and the basic thematic sentence
3. The verb
4. Qualifying clauses and similar structures
5. Connectives
6. Thematic sentence forms and noun clauses
7. Modifications of the thematic sentences
8. Verbs of vague application, participles
9. Negatives
10. Intensified adjectives and similar word patterns
11. Circumstance clauses
12. Conditional sentences and similar structures
13. Terminal variations in nouns and adjectives
14. Terminal variations in the imperfect
15. Prepositional phrases
16. Queries, commands and exclamations
17. Some miscellaneous functionals
18. Dual number and numerals
Appendix
Arabic index
English index.

Subject Areas: Grammar & vocabulary [CJBG]