In Syrian Arabic Voices, you will meet Amani, Umran, Nada, Fares, Bayan, and Rami, all Syrians in diaspora, who share their personal stories of war and emigration, along with more lighthearted topics such as self-introductions, hobbies, and fond memories. Syrian Arabic Voices is designed to provide intermediate and advanced students of Arabic with an opportunity to hear and study authentic Levantine Arabic as it is spoken by native speakers today. Unlike the scripted materials read by voice actors used in many course books, Syrian Arabic Voices offers dozens of audio essays spoken naturally and off-the-cuff by individuals from around Syria. Each of the six native speakers has contributed audio essays that have then been transcribed (as voweled Arabic text) and translated for study. Each segment (audio essay chapter) contains: 1) accompanying audio tracks available for free download at www.lingualism.com/sav. 2) vocabulary and comprehension exercises to sharpen your listening skills and increase how much you can understand 3) in-chapter answers to the exercises (no having to flip back and forth to the back of the book) 4) verbatim transcripts of the audio with side-by-side English translations. 5) lined sections for taking notes and recording new vocabulary.

Arabic Voices is a two-part series designed to provide students of Arabic with an opportunity to hear and study authentic Arabic as it is spoken by native speakers today. Unlike the scripted materials read by voice actors used in many course books, Arabic Voices offers dozens of audio essays spoken naturally and off-the-cuff by individuals from across the Arab World. Each of the twelve native speakers has contributed audio essays in both Modern Standard Arabic and his or her native dialect, which have then been transcribed for study. In Arabic Voices 1 and 2, you will hear Egyptian Arabic, Levantine Arabic (Lebanese Arabic, Palestinian Arabic, Jordanian Arabic), Yemeni Arabic, Tunisian Arabic, Moroccan Arabic, as well as Modern Standard Arabic. MP3s are available for free download at www.lingualism.com. The segments in Modern Standard Arabic provide valuable insight into native speakers’ range of style and proficiency in the language. The segments in colloquial Arabic dialects offer a fascinating look into the many varieties of Arabic, and how similar and different they really are from one another. Fine-tuning your listening to the idiosyncrasies of each dialect will truly help you better understand spoken Arabic. Each “segment" (audio essay chapter) contains: 1) exercises to sharpen your listening skills and increase how much you can understand, whatever your level 2) in-chapter answers to the exercises (no having to flip back and forth to the back of the book) 3) a voweled transcript of the audio with side-by-side English translations 4) cultural and linguistic notes 5) web links to articles and videos related to the segment 6) select segments feature grammar focuses with additional exercises.

Arabic Voices is a two-part series designed to provide students of Arabic with an opportunity to hear and study authentic Arabic as it is spoken by native speakers today. Unlike the scripted materials read by voice actors used in many course books, Arabic Voices offers dozens of audio essays spoken naturally and off-the-cuff by individuals from across the Arab World. Each of the twelve native speakers has contributed audio essays in both Modern Standard Arabic and his or her native dialect, which have then been transcribed for study. In Arabic Voices 1 and 2, you will hear Egyptian Arabic, Levantine Arabic (Lebanese Arabic, Palestinian Arabic, Jordanian Arabic), Yemeni Arabic, Tunisian Arabic, Moroccan Arabic, as well as Modern Standard Arabic. MP3s are available for free download at www.lingualism.com. The segments in Modern Standard Arabic provide valuable insight into native speakers’ range of style and proficiency in the language. The segments in colloquial Arabic dialects offer a fascinating look into the many varieties of Arabic, and how similar and different they really are from one another. Fine-tuning your listening to the idiosyncrasies of each dialect will truly help you better understand spoken Arabic. Each “segment" (audio essay chapter) contains: 1) exercises to sharpen your listening skills and increase how much you can understand, whatever your level 2) in-chapter answers to the exercises (no having to flip back and forth to the back of the book) 3) a voweled transcript of the audio with side-by-side English translations 4) cultural and linguistic notes 5) web links to articles and videos related to the segment 6) select segments feature grammar focuses with additional exercises.

This book is not just about the linguistic translation process; it delves deeper into the socio-cultural journey, the unique challenges faced, and the broader implications of this cross-cultural exchange. It stands out for its novel perspective, taking the readers on a fascinating journey from the humorous undertones of ‘Monsters Inc.’ to the satirical edges of ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘Family Guy’. It uncovers the intricate process of dubbing and transcreating Western audiovisual content into Arabic, highlighting how visuals, irony, and stereotypes interplay in this complex process. It offers readers insights into the world of media translation and cultural adaptation in Arabic, making it a compelling read for linguists, translators, media scholars, cultural enthusiasts, and anyone intrigued by the intersection of language, culture, and humour. It is a unique blend of academic research and engaging storytelling that will leave readers with a newfound appreciation for the art of dubbing and the cultural nuances it negotiates.

LONG-LISTED FOR THE CARNEGIE MEDAL Reminiscent of the work of Nobel Prize winner Svetlana Alexievich, an astonishing collection of intimate wartime testimonies and poetic fragments from a cross-section of Syrians whose lives have been transformed by revolution, war, and flight. Against the backdrop of the wave of demonstrations known as the Arab Spring, in 2011 hundreds of thousands of Syrians took to the streets demanding freedom, democracy and human rights. The government’s ferocious response, and the refusal of the demonstrators to back down, sparked a brutal civil war that over the past five years has escalated into the worst humanitarian catastrophe of our times. Yet despite all the reporting, the video, and the wrenching photography, the stories of ordinary Syrians remain unheard, while the stories told about them have been distorted by broad brush dread and political expediency. This fierce and poignant collection changes that. Based on interviews with hundreds of displaced Syrians conducted over four years across the Middle East and Europe, We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled is a breathtaking mosaic of first-hand testimonials from the frontlines. Some of the testimonies are several pages long, eloquent narratives that could stand alone as short stories; others are only a few sentences, poetic and aphoristic. Together, they cohere into an unforgettable chronicle that is not only a testament to the power of storytelling but to the strength of those who face darkness with hope, courage, and moral conviction.

Narrated by dozens of activists and everyday individuals, this book documents the unprecedented events that led to the collapse of dictatorial regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen. Beginning in 2011, these stories offer unique access to the message that inspired citizens to act, their experiences during revolt, and the lessons they learned from some of the most dramatic changes and appalling events to occur in the history of the Arab world. The riveting, revealing, and sometimes heartbreaking stories in this volume also include voices from Syria. Featuring participants from a variety of social and educational backgrounds and political commitments, these personal stories of action represent the Arab Spring's united and broad social movements, collective identities, and youthful character. For years, the volume's participants lived under regimes that brutally suppressed free expression and protest. Their testimony speaks to the multifaceted emotional, psychological, and cultural factors that motivated citizens to join together to struggle against their oppressors.

Sarmada, Arabic for “perpetuate” or “the eternally-not-changed,” is the novel’s fictitious setting. In the title, Fadi Azzam creates a new word (a derivative female form of noun-verb, which does not exist in Arabic) and in so doing immediately lets the reader know that women are the protagonists of this story that spans several generations, from Syria to Paris and back again. The novel is set in the Druze area and is a declaration of love for tolerance and for the peaceful coexistence of the many religious groups that live in close proximity. Myths, communists, nationalists, murder, illicit love, superstition, erotic trees and women’s breasts make up the tapestry of this strange, beautifully writen, first novel. Fadi Azzam narrates, just as he writes poetry: Sarmada is direct, ruthless and full of fire.

Kameen Shwayy 'An Haali ("A Little More About Myself") will be of tremendous help to independent language learners who want to develop their conversational skills and increase their Arabic vocabulary. Bonus Free audio tracks available to download and stream from www.lingualism.com. Very simply, Kameen Shwayy 'An Haali presents the results of a survey given to 10 Levantine Arabic speakers, five from Lebanon and five from Syria. Each of the 36 sections in the book begins with a question from the survey followed by the 10 responses and a breakdown of the vocabulary and concludes with a page where you are encouraged to give your own answer to the question using newly learned words and phrases. This book is the second of a two-part series. If you are not yet at an intermediate level of Levantine Arabic, it is advised that you complete the first book, Shwayy 'An Haali before moving on to Kameen Shwayy 'An Haali. The responses are typically somewhat longer than those in the first book. For more advanced learners, the texts appear again in the back of the book without voweling (tashkeel) or translations (Appendix B), to provide a more challenging reading experience without distractions. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) translations of the texts are also given on each page for learners who are more proficient in MSA and can benefit from comparing the similarities and differences between it and Levantine Colloquial Arabic (LCA).

Bana's mother tells her of the strong bana tree that grows in their homeland, Syria, and how Bana's strength helped her survive war, being a refugee, and starting fresh in a new country.