Now living in Cairo, I am able to reflect on my experiences in Morocco. As I am still adjusting, it is interesting what retrospect can offer to help me understand how I function in another country. My language acquisition is a primary example of how I now have words that I realize that I use a lot in another language. These are the words at the moment, that I am not able to switch over and use the Egyptian form yet. I have a tendency to use these words, even within an Egyptian sentence.
A. mazel: not yet
B. Kayn/Kayna; There is or There are
C. Safi: Enough
D. dyal: of
E. A3fak: please
F. Blesh: something you don’t need
There are things that I am able to absorb quickly into my vernacular, and other things that I rely on from my Moroccan dialect. Of course, when I was learning Moroccan dialect, I couldn’t remember the word for socks for almost a year. Some words stick, while others just don’t. With time and practice, you can train your mind to refer to the new words, but for me I think it is important to document these words and the challenges that come with being new again in a culture.
I know that when I return to Morocco again, my Arabic will seem silly to them as well. I will be adjusted to Egypt, and will have integrated new words and will probably rely upon new ones as well.
I have always enjoyed learning languages, and part of this is due to the fact that I like collecting things. I am collecting words. I find words that I relate to and also words that sound interesting to me. In Arabic, I like words that use Z, Kh, Q, and letters that do not exist in the English alphabet. Perhaps this is why it is a little harder to transition into Egyptian dialect because in Morocco you would use a Q (Qaf) sound a lot, whereas in Egypt this turns into an A sound. It took me some time to get the Qaf sound and differentiate it between the K sound. But now that it has been taken away, I realize my appreciation for this sound.
Also, another thing is that I am in a formal learning setting again, and learning colloquial Arabic in the classroom is much different than being in a village and just trying to use it. Part of the fun of it is in the mistakes and the jokes that can come from making the mistakes. When I was in Morocco, I longed for their dialect to be written, to have opportunities to buy publications in the dialect.
Now that I am in Egypt, and I am learning Egyptian dialect from a written textbook, I find it a little strange. So long I have just created my own techniques of how I learn new words or try new phrases. Mostly through trial and error, but also actively hearing. I would write down new words in arabic script and also in transliteration of how I hear the word. I created my own personal lexicon.
As I end my first 5 weeks of language courses this coming week, I know that I need to actively seek the conversations that will help me to build upon what I have been learning. I know that it will take at least 3 months to get to the point where I feel comfortable with the language and where it is less of a struggle. Right now it is just frustrating because all that comes to my mind is Moroccan phrases…. But I always remember this universal phrase. (And I know I just have to be patient).
shwaya shwaya (Egyptian)
shwiya b shwiya (Moroccan)
imik c imik (Tashelhit)
Little by little (English)
Dear Dominique,
This is cool to read about–that transition to Egyptian/Standard Arabic. I still find Egyptian frustrating to understand, though it’s gotten better. You’ll be a pro at it before long, and I bet that you’ll hold Moroccan in your mind as a separate thing so when you return to Morocco you’ll be able to access it pretty easily. All your pictures and reflections are interesting, so keep them coming. Brian