Arabic Expressions?

Shlama l'kulhon:

My family, coming from mostly Arabic speaking countries have adopted many expressions into everyday speech (eventhough they neither speak arabic fluently nor are Arab by ancestry)

While I have an idea about some of thier meanings, I am trying to determine the literal meanings of these phrases and how Aramaic may have influenced their present usage. Could someone (Akhi Paul )please help?

1) Mashalah
2) Alamak, Alamakon
3) Mabruk
4) Hamdala, Hamdulala
5) Shukran
6) Shlonak
7) Kefak

Thanks

Dean Dana

In reply to message #0
 
Shlama Akhi Dean,

I can try to explain some of these, as there are also Arabic loan-expressions found in many modern neo-Aramaic dialects of Assyrians today too. I'm no Arabic expert , so please don't hold anything I say as authoritative. Anyone out there know Arabic well?

Anyway, here is my understanding of these phrases....many of which are used by my people as well:

1) Mashalah

An idiomatic construct using the two Arabic words "Masha" (Much, many...."Rabba" in Aramaic) and "Allah" (God, "Alaha" in Aramaic).

The expression, in targum, means "By the strength of God" ("b'Khayla d'Alaha" in Aramaic), or it can also mean in a very free paraphrase "May the eye of God be upon you" ("Ayna d'Alaha Amakh" in Aramaic).

It is most frequently used in a sort of 'congratulations' type of way. When someone says "My son is a doctor" or "I just graduated from college".....a typical response would be "Mashalah".

2) Alamak, Alamakon

This one is very close to an Aramaic expression, "Alaha Amkhon" (God be with you (plural)) or "Alaha Amakh" (God be with you (singular)).

3) Mabruk

This is close in meaning, but not in form, to an Aramaic expression, "Haweh Brikha" (May he (or, 'it') be blessed)

4) Hamdala, Hamdulala

This is an idiomatic expression meaning, in very free targum (paraphrase), "It's about time".

I'm not sure whether it is a single word, or an idiomatic construction of several words.

5) Shukran

This is a simple "Thank you." It's Aramaic equivalent is "Tawda". I believe the Hebrew is "Todda".

6) Shlonak

This is the Iraqi dialect of Arabic. It means "How are you?".

In some modern neo-Aramaic dialects, the way to say this would be "Dakh Ewith" (male) or "Dakh Ewath" (female).

7) Kefak

This is exactly the same as #6, but this is the Lebanese (and I believe Egyptian too) dialect of Arabic.

I hope this helped, and God bless!

Shlama w'Burkate,
Paul

>Shlama l'kulhon:
>
>My family, coming from mostly Arabic
>speaking countries have adopted many
>expressions into everyday speech (eventhough
>they neither speak arabic
>fluently nor are Arab by
>ancestry)
>
>While I have an idea about
>some of thier meanings, I
>am trying to determine the
>literal meanings of these phrases
>and how Aramaic may have
>influenced their present usage.
>Could someone (Akhi Paul )please
>help?
>
>1) Mashalah
>2) Alamak, Alamakon
>3) Mabruk
>4) Hamdala, Hamdulala
>5) Shukran
>6) Shlonak
>7) Kefak
>
>Thanks
>
>Dean Dana

In reply to message #1
 
Shalma Akhi Dean wa Shlama Akhi Paul,

Thanks for the invitation to comment on these Arabic expressions. While I am a beginner in Aramaic, I do speak and write Arabic fluently. Pls allow me, therefore, to clarify some of those expressions.

(1) Ma-sh'-allah = Ma + sha' + allah, or literally what God wills, akin to the famous expression "In - sha' -allah = God willing" --- an expression of faith and (in Western eyes) devout resignation.

(2) Hamdullillah or Al-hamdullillah = praise be to God = Hamd (praise) + l' (to) + allah (God), often used as a reply to the two following expressions, how are you? One replies "al-hamdullilah"

(6) Shlonak = yes, indeed, in Iraqi, how are you. Literally it means, "what is your color? (!)" = Shu (what) + lon (color) + ak (yours)

(7) Kefak = yes indeed in Lebanese and Egyptian, how are you. From Kef (How) + ak (2 person sing suffix=you.

Akhi Paul and Akhi Dean, I found it very rewarding to learn from your reply the equivalent of some of these expressions in Neo-Aramaic. Since my Aramaic comes from my Peshitta and Torah/Targum reading, I do not know the everyday expressions used today in Neo Aramaic, and would be keen to learn some more, in order to carry on a simple conversation with pleasantries. Your time and patience permitting, I would love to receive a list of some more useful social phrases in Neo Aramaic (with any equivalents in Old Aramaic - Lishana Aatiqua!) Tawda wa Shlama wa Burkate, Akikhon Nicholas.

In reply to message #2
 
Shlama Akhi Nicholas,

Thanks for the clarification of those Arabic verses. Wow, how did you learn Arabic? My parents and siblings speak and write it well, but I guess they never bothered to teach me! I only learned the Aramaic/Neo Aramaic at home and at Church.

What would you like to learn how to say in the various Neo-Aramaic (Modern Assyrian) dialects? I think that would be the easiest way for me to explain them.

I will try to give, when applicable, the equivalent in the literary standard of Lishana Aramaya/Lishana Atiqa.

Shlama w'Burkate,
Paul

>Shalma Akhi Dean wa Shlama Akhi
>Paul,
>
> Thanks for
>the invitation to comment on
>these Arabic expressions. While I
>am a beginner in Aramaic,
>I do speak and write
>Arabic fluently. Pls allow me,
>therefore, to clarify some of
>those expressions.
>
>(1) Ma-sh'-allah = Ma + sha'
>+ allah, or literally what
>God wills, akin to the
>famous expression "In - sha'
>-allah = God willing" ---
>an expression of faith and
>(in Western eyes) devout resignation.
>
>
>(2) Hamdullillah or Al-hamdullillah = praise
>be to God = Hamd
>(praise) + l' (to) +
>allah (God), often used as
>a reply to the two
>following expressions, how are you?
>One replies "al-hamdullilah"
>
>(6) Shlonak = yes, indeed, in
>Iraqi, how are you. Literally
>it means, "what is your
>color? (!)" = Shu (what)
>+ lon (color) + ak
>(yours)
>
>(7) Kefak = yes indeed in
>Lebanese and Egyptian, how are
>you. From Kef (How) +
>ak (2 person sing suffix=you.
>
>
>Akhi Paul and Akhi Dean, I
>found it very rewarding to
>learn from your reply the
>equivalent of some of these
>expressions in Neo-Aramaic. Since my
>Aramaic comes from my Peshitta
>and Torah/Targum reading, I do
>not know the everyday expressions
>used today in Neo Aramaic,
>and would be keen to
>learn some more, in order
>to carry on a simple
>conversation with pleasantries. Your time
>and patience permitting, I would
>love to receive a list
>of some more useful social
>phrases in Neo Aramaic (with
>any equivalents in Old Aramaic
>- Lishana Aatiqua!) Tawda wa
>Shlama wa Burkate, Akikhon Nicholas.
>
>
>

In reply to message #3
 
Shlama

How does one say "Please" in Aramaic? Arabic?

In Hebrew one says "Bevaqasha"

Thanks

Dean Dana

PS: What does "Atiqa" mean?

In reply to message #5
 
Shlama Akhi Dean,

"Atiqa" literally means "old/archaic", we use the phrase "Lishana Atiqa" (pronounced Lee-Shaah-Naah Ahh-Tee-Qaah) to denote the Classical or Literary speech.

Another way people refer to the literary language is "Lishana Kthabanaya", or the "written" tongue.

Today, we have many different dialects, some closer to the literary standard of the Peshitta, others very distant....but none exact.

There is a movement to try and standardize all the different dialects and bring them closer to Lishana Atiqa (the literary standard of the Peshitta), but the movement does meet with resistance, as everyone likes their own dialect.

I don't believe there is in the modern dialects of Aramaic (nor in Lishana Atiqa) a single word to say 'Please', as usually to plead we would use entreatic language like "have mercy on me" (Ith-rakhim Alee) or other such idioms.

I'm not sure about Arabic, but I have heard the phrase "Allah Khaleeq" (not sure of it's literal meaning) used in such an idiomatic way. Any thoughts on this one, Akhi Nicholas?

Shlama w'Burkate,
Paul

>Shlama
>
>How does one say "Please" in
>Aramaic? Arabic?
>
>In Hebrew one says "Bevaqasha"
>
>Thanks
>
>Dean Dana
>
>PS: What does "Atiqa" mean?

In reply to message #2
 
Kefak Nicholas w'Paul?

Thanks to both of you for such detailed answers. Now I know what we (those in my family) are "really" saying!

And now I can greet (and reply) to my Arabic Brothers!

One question: Why is Aramaic referred to as "Neo-Aramaic" while Arabic and Hebrew are not. Especially when the Hebrew spoken today is "far newer" considering how much different the grammar and syntax is from any Hebrew spoken in the past?

Shukran,

Dean

In reply to message #4
 
Shlonak Habibi Dean, :7

It bugs me too that such distinction is made, although I am guilty of doing it myself on occasion because I am so used to other people here in the West making that distinction.

I guess to be super-accurate and consistent, we would have to say Neo-English, Neo-Hebrew, Neo-Greek and Neo-Arabic....etc., but we don't.

So I agree that no such dichotomy should exist between "modern" and "ancient" dialects of Aramaic.

All languages evolve, and this should be expected. Aramaic today, however, does relate closer to the Peshitta Aramaic than does, say, modern Greek to that of the ancients.

Shlama w'Burkate,
Paul

>Kefak Nicholas w'Paul?
>
>Thanks to both of you for
>such detailed answers. Now
>I know what we (those
>in my family) are "really"
>saying!
>
>And now I can greet (and
>reply) to my Arabic Brothers!
>
>
>One question: Why is Aramaic
>referred to as "Neo-Aramaic" while
>Arabic and Hebrew are not.
> Especially when the Hebrew
>spoken today is "far newer"
>considering how much different the
>grammar and syntax is from
>any Hebrew spoken in the
>past?
>
>Shukran,
>
>Dean

In reply to message #7
 
Shlama Akhi Dean and Akhi Paul,

The most common expression for 'please' in Arabic is "Min Faddlak " (to a man) or "Min Faddlik" (to a woman). It literally means "as a result of your favor -- or as an expression of your favor". The double dd is a typical ancient Semitic sound that has apparently disappeared in the other Semitic languages. It is the dd in Saudi Arabia for example. In fact, that sound (ddaad) is so rare indeed unique among the Semitic languages that the arabs refer to their language as "lughat-udd-ddaad" -- the language of the ddaad! Lisan is also used for language. And, yes, aatiq also means ancient in Arabic. Arabic is a great boon to my in my study of the Peshitta. Indeed, as I read Mshiika's words, the logic of the sentence structure etc. is very similar to many dialects of Arabic. (e.g. anaa maamad anaa l'khon b'mayya l'tayyawuta...huu maamad l'khon b'rookha d'qoodsha wa b'noora....la t'seemuun l'khon seematha b'ara'....ella... b'shmayya.. ghannave la faalsheen wa la ghanbeen) The vocabulary too although many words are different. Brothers, I would be very keen on acquiring fluency in Lishana Aatiqua so as to be able to speak it. I would be thrilled, Brothers, if you would introduce into your postings, sentences in Lishana Aatiqa (along with the translation pls.) It is the only bridge over all the dialects of Aramaic. Plus I would want to address M'sheeka in it in my own prayers! Shlama wa Burkate, Alaha amkhoon, 'Oshana l'Breh d'Alaha, 'Oshana l'Barnasha, Nicholas

In reply to message #8
 
Shlama Akhi Nicholas,

I am investigating how we can post using the Estrangela font on this forum. I think it would help out.....this transliteration stuff is just not cutting it

For starters, you may want to check out (if you have not already done so) the Grammar portion to the left.

You should be able (when the grammar is done) to have a pretty good grasp of the literary tongue (Lishana Kthabanaya).

In the meantime...........

Alaha w'Kul-hon Qa-di-sheh d'Edta d'Madinkha Am-akh w'Am Bnay Bayth-akh.

(May God and all the Saints of the Church of the East be with you and your household).

Shlama w'Burkate,
Paul

>Shlama Akhi Dean and Akhi Paul,
>
>
> The most
>common expression for 'please' in
>Arabic is "Min Faddlak "
>(to a man) or "Min
>Faddlik" (to a woman). It
>literally means "as a result
>of your favor -- or
>as an expression of your
>favor". The double dd is
>a typical ancient Semitic sound
>that has apparently disappeared in
>the other Semitic languages. It
>is the dd in Saudi
>Arabia for example. In fact,
>that sound (ddaad) is so
>rare indeed unique among the
>Semitic languages that the arabs
>refer to their language as
>"lughat-udd-ddaad" -- the language of
>the ddaad! Lisan is also
>used for language. And, yes,
>aatiq also means ancient in
>Arabic. Arabic is a great
>boon to my in my
>study of the Peshitta. Indeed,
>as I read Mshiika's words,
>the logic of the sentence
>structure etc. is very similar
>to many dialects of Arabic.
>(e.g. anaa maamad anaa l'khon
>b'mayya l'tayyawuta...huu maamad l'khon b'rookha
>d'qoodsha wa b'noora....la t'seemuun l'khon
>seematha b'ara'....ella... b'shmayya.. ghannave la
>faalsheen wa la ghanbeen) The
>vocabulary too although many words
>are different. Brothers, I would
>be very keen on acquiring
>fluency in Lishana Aatiqua so
>as to be able to
>speak it. I would be
>thrilled, Brothers, if you would
>introduce into your postings, sentences
>in Lishana Aatiqa (along with
>the translation pls.) It is
>the only bridge over all
>the dialects of Aramaic. Plus
>I would want to address
>M'sheeka in it in my
>own prayers! Shlama wa Burkate,
>Alaha amkhoon, 'Oshana l'Breh d'Alaha,
>'Oshana l'Barnasha, Nicholas