I have found 2 different plurals, plus one dual for the word for bathroom. I'm ok with the dual, but why is there one masculine and one feminine plural? This is all on one page of my text book. I can live without the answer, but am curious.
حمام
حمامان
حمامين
حمامات
Please comment below if you know the answer.
Showing posts with label Endless Questions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Endless Questions. Show all posts
Tuesday, 11 August 2015
Wednesday, 1 April 2015
Endless questions 12. - 15.
12. In my dictionary there are 2 plurals, are they the dual, then the 3+ plural? It doesn't say.
eg: سنة, سنون, سنوات
13. Also, there are several versions of a noun, with no explanation as to why there is both a masculine and a feminine version, plus appropriate plurals.
eg: to follow when I next bump into one.
14. My children's book, from publishers Nelson Thomas, has all sorts of extra accents, presumably the more formal and correct version of fusha. However, why is there an unexpected, to me, kasra at the end of قالت when it relates to the adult woman, the mother in the story, but not when it relates to the little girl, her actual name is given? Is it because a noun is different from a name?
15. Why is the bear in the accusative, eg dubban, after ureed? I was taught to say ureed qahwa, without the 'an' at the end. Why??? Is adding the 'an' a bit too correct and over the top?
eg: سنة, سنون, سنوات
13. Also, there are several versions of a noun, with no explanation as to why there is both a masculine and a feminine version, plus appropriate plurals.
eg: to follow when I next bump into one.
14. My children's book, from publishers Nelson Thomas, has all sorts of extra accents, presumably the more formal and correct version of fusha. However, why is there an unexpected, to me, kasra at the end of قالت when it relates to the adult woman, the mother in the story, but not when it relates to the little girl, her actual name is given? Is it because a noun is different from a name?
15. Why is the bear in the accusative, eg dubban, after ureed? I was taught to say ureed qahwa, without the 'an' at the end. Why??? Is adding the 'an' a bit too correct and over the top?
Wednesday, 25 March 2015
Endless questions 8. - 11.
8. How am I supposed to create elegant sinuous sentences?
By using linking words like thumma, baada dhalik, walakin etc. Lots of wa's too. There is more to it than that, there always is. I will have to copy out examples of gently repeating and mildly varying sentences. Those seem to be the key qualities. Here I use short, to the point sentences. A totally different approach.
9. Why is the letter at the end of موسيقى, musiqa, sometimes pronounced 'a' and sometimes 'i'? Now I can't remember a single example to add, but there are some. Aha, تفضلى is tafadali, which has 'i' at the end.
10. What is that letter 'ى' called anyway? It is not in the dictionary as one of the sections?
11. Why is 'a' at the end of words spelt in different ways: طفلة ,كتب ,موسيقى? The 'a' at the end of kataba is invisible, but it's there all the same.
By using linking words like thumma, baada dhalik, walakin etc. Lots of wa's too. There is more to it than that, there always is. I will have to copy out examples of gently repeating and mildly varying sentences. Those seem to be the key qualities. Here I use short, to the point sentences. A totally different approach.
9. Why is the letter at the end of موسيقى, musiqa, sometimes pronounced 'a' and sometimes 'i'? Now I can't remember a single example to add, but there are some. Aha, تفضلى is tafadali, which has 'i' at the end.
10. What is that letter 'ى' called anyway? It is not in the dictionary as one of the sections?
11. Why is 'a' at the end of words spelt in different ways: طفلة ,كتب ,موسيقى? The 'a' at the end of kataba is invisible, but it's there all the same.
Wednesday, 18 March 2015
Endless questions 3. - 7.
3. The 'an' at the end of words like 'for example' or 'in the morning'.
Why is the 'an' sound written with two tiny lines up in the air above the alif? It could just be written with a 'nun' and a 'fatha'. But it isn't.
So in the distant past, did people decide to deliberately use that way of writing the sound to mark out its grammatical function? Did Arabic get its written rules from people who were into grammar in a big way and laid them down because they could and because they bamboozled everyone else with less interest in grammar, and had worse spelling and handwriting anyhow. People with social lives and families :)
4. No italics, what is that all about?
Arabic has a dark side with unreasonable quirks. It receives all these foreign names and doesn't even use italics to mark out their presence. Try searching for the root letters of 'Elizabeth' in a dictionary, or a nice short word like 'Hans', 3 letters, so obviously a verb like 'hanasa'... That kept me busy for ages. I was so cross when I realised what was going on. Try 'Wall Street'!!
Now I am feeling less repentant about English and our wonky ways with language. It functions as a silent weapon, as all languages do.
I like the way that Arabic is getting less and less phonetic the further I go. I have examples, but not to hand.
Why is the 'an' sound written with two tiny lines up in the air above the alif? It could just be written with a 'nun' and a 'fatha'. But it isn't.
So in the distant past, did people decide to deliberately use that way of writing the sound to mark out its grammatical function? Did Arabic get its written rules from people who were into grammar in a big way and laid them down because they could and because they bamboozled everyone else with less interest in grammar, and had worse spelling and handwriting anyhow. People with social lives and families :)
4. No italics, what is that all about?
Arabic has a dark side with unreasonable quirks. It receives all these foreign names and doesn't even use italics to mark out their presence. Try searching for the root letters of 'Elizabeth' in a dictionary, or a nice short word like 'Hans', 3 letters, so obviously a verb like 'hanasa'... That kept me busy for ages. I was so cross when I realised what was going on. Try 'Wall Street'!!
Now I am feeling less repentant about English and our wonky ways with language. It functions as a silent weapon, as all languages do.
I like the way that Arabic is getting less and less phonetic the further I go. I have examples, but not to hand.
5. Why are there 3 'a' sounds? As in 'bat', 'bar' and 'bare'. Yes, I know there is no answer to this, but I am still asking.
6. Why does the letter 'Q' suddenly become sayable with no warning and without me having made the slightest effort? It has a wierd pre-sound, a throaty thing as well, as if I am going underground somewhere first. You will know what I mean if you have recently learnt that one.
7. Oh yes, why was learning the names for the accents so impossible? Then one day it was fine. The teacher would merrily mention this or that accent in passing and I'd think and get nowhere, hiding my 100% confusion. And then missing the next 30 seconds of intelligent whatever it was. Nightmare. Sitting there in the land of 'Shit, what the hell was that, and now what is going on? Arrgghh, I need tea.'
Friday, 20 February 2015
Start of my endless questions series 1. 2.
1. Why is ain alif used at the start of 'a'ila, immediate family? Why not alif with hamza on top? Surely they sound the same? Is it because it is a more ancient word? Or because it is a less ancient word?
عائلة
2. Which words apart from herdha and allah have unusual markings? Again, is it because they are the most ancient words?
I will add the Arabic when I am at my laptop.
عائلة
2. Which words apart from herdha and allah have unusual markings? Again, is it because they are the most ancient words?
I will add the Arabic when I am at my laptop.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
