Learn Levantine Arabic Dialect: How the Language is Spoken in the Levant Region

admin
31 Aug, 2018

If you want to learn Levantine Arabic Dialect, you’ll need to become familiar with one or more of its dialects in order to communicate properly. MSA is not used in regular conversation. Instead, it is used for legal documents, official speeches, newspapers, books and news broadcasts. MSA is also taught at universities worldwide because it is a standard language that is used by scholars.

Arabic is a language made up of a number of different dialects. Like English, which has different accents, words and expressions depending on whether the person speaking is from America, Canada, the UK or Australia, native Arabic speakers learn a local dialect as their mother tongue as children. They learn to read and write Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) when they go to school.

About Levantine Arabic Dialect

Approximately 20 million people worldwide speak Levantine Arabic. Many of these people are expatriates from countries where it is spoken. Levantine Arabic doesn’t have any official status in the countries where it is spoken. It is, in effect, the national working language in Lebanon.

Where the Levantine Dialect is Spoken

The Levantine Arabic dialect is spoken in the Levant region. This is the native tongue of people from Cyprus, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine and the Gaza strip.

It can also be divided into Northern (Lebanese and Syrian) and Southern (Palestinian) dialects. The Northern one more closely resembles Gulf Arabic and the Southern one is more similar to Egyptian Arabic.

Why Learn the Levantine Arabic Dialect

If you are planning to travel to a country where Levantine Arabic is spoken and you want to be able to communicate with local residents, you’ll want to learn this dialect. You may have already had some Arabic language training in MSA, which the vast majority of the population may understand, but this is not used for spoken communication at all. If you try to speak to someone in that manner, you will find it very difficult (and frustrating) to have a conversation.

If you would like to be able to make friends when you are on your trip and try to understand the local culture, you will want to have an understanding of the language. You may as well immerse yourself and enjoy going to cafes and restaurants, shopping, and other activities on your visit. These things will be much more meaningful for you if you understand the language enough to have a conversation, at least.

Would you like to be able to relax and unwind at the end of the day by watching television on your trip? Your knowledge of the Levantine Arabic dialect will benefit you directly when you are watching this form of entertainment. You’ll be able to watch comedies or other types of programming and follow what is being said. This activity will help you get to know the culture, as well.

In a situation where you are interested in working in a country where Levantine Arabic is spoken, it is even more important for you to learn the dialect. You will be living and working in an environment where your work colleagues and business associates will be communicating in that language. In order to fit in and be accepted as part of the workplace, you will need to be able to communicate effectively.

The best way to prepare for your new position is to invest the time and effort required to learn Levantine Arabic before you arrive in country for your new job. If you are being transferred, your current employer will appreciate your diligence in preparing for the move. In a case where your move coincides with accepting a new job, you’ll want to make a great impression on your new employer by being fully prepared to step into your new role, and that includes having a good working knowledge of the local dialect.

Learn to Speak Levantine Arabic with the Nassra Arabic Method

The Nassra Arabic Method can help you to become fluent quickly. Our private lessons are customised to suit your specific goals and learning style. For this reason, you will make progress at a faster pace than a cookie-cutter language program.

For your convenience, we can provide your private lessons face to face or online via our Arabic teaching platform.