Saturday, August 30, 2008

Using Arabic: A Guide to Contemporary Usage

Using Arabic: A Guide to Contemporary Usage

This is a guide to Arabic usage for intermediate-level students and above who wish to extend their knowledge of the language. Focusing on Modern Standard Arabic, it is divided into three sections: A vocabulary chapter showing which words are current and appropriate to different registers; a grammar chapter giving an overview of Arabic grammar with modern-day examples; and a chapter on varieties of Arabic, describing linguistic variation in the Arab world. Clear and readable, it is an essential reference for students seeking to improve their fluency and confidence in Arabic.

This book is well written and clearly presented. There is a long section that reviews how different words are used in Arabic and provides a lot of information I haven't seen in other "textbooks". The section points out differences between English and Arabic usage which is helpful. The last section of the book focuses on grammar, which provides a useful review. I would recommend this book to someone who already is at a high- intermediate level of proficiency.

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