Difference between revisions of "Arabic language"
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[[Image:Arabic speaking world.png|thumb|right|*Green=Official language<br>*Blue=One of several official languages]] | [[Image:Arabic speaking world.png|thumb|right|*Green=Official language<br>*Blue=One of several official languages]] | ||
| − | '''Arabic''' ('''اللغة العربية''' "''al-luġatu l-ʿarabiyyah'', or simply '''عربي''' "''arabī''") is a [[Semitic language]] spoken by some 270 million people worldwide. Having | + | '''Arabic''' ('''اللغة العربية''' "''al-luġatu l-ʿarabiyyah'', or simply '''عربي''' "''arabī''") is a [[Semitic language]] spoken by some 270 million people worldwide. Having it's origins in [[Saudi Arabia]], Arabic is closely related to [[Hebrew]] and [[Aramaic]]. |
Arabic is a macrolanguage, made up of 27 dialects. Arabic is also the liturgical language of [[Islam]]. | Arabic is a macrolanguage, made up of 27 dialects. Arabic is also the liturgical language of [[Islam]]. | ||
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| + | The Arabic alphabet includes ''ʼalif'', ''bāʼ'', ''tāʼ'', '''''ṯ'''āʼ'', ''ǧīm'', ''ḥāʼ'', ''ḫāʼ'', ''dāl'', ''ḏāl'', ''rāʼ'', ''zāī'', ''sīn'', ''šīn'', ''ṣād'', ''ḍād'', ''ṭāʼ'', ''ẓāʼ'', ''ʿayn'', ''ġayn'', ''fāʼ'', ''qāf'', ''kāf'', ''lām'', ''mīm'', ''nūn'', ''hāʼ'', ''wāw'', and ''yāʼ''. The language also includes the short vowels fatHa, damma, and kasra, as well as symbols to aid pronunciation such as the sukoon and shadda. These characters are not typically written, appearing mostly in poetry and the Qur'an. | ||
[[category:Semitic Languages]] | [[category:Semitic Languages]] | ||
[[Category:Islam]] | [[Category:Islam]] | ||
[[Category:Middle East]] | [[Category:Middle East]] | ||
Revision as of 22:22, February 22, 2009
Arabic (اللغة العربية "al-luġatu l-ʿarabiyyah, or simply عربي "arabī") is a Semitic language spoken by some 270 million people worldwide. Having it's origins in Saudi Arabia, Arabic is closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic.
Arabic is a macrolanguage, made up of 27 dialects. Arabic is also the liturgical language of Islam.
The Arabic alphabet includes ʼalif, bāʼ, tāʼ, ṯāʼ, ǧīm, ḥāʼ, ḫāʼ, dāl, ḏāl, rāʼ, zāī, sīn, šīn, ṣād, ḍād, ṭāʼ, ẓāʼ, ʿayn, ġayn, fāʼ, qāf, kāf, lām, mīm, nūn, hāʼ, wāw, and yāʼ. The language also includes the short vowels fatHa, damma, and kasra, as well as symbols to aid pronunciation such as the sukoon and shadda. These characters are not typically written, appearing mostly in poetry and the Qur'an.