An Introduction to Koranic and Classical Arabic: An Elementary Grammar of the Language Key to Exercise [Paperback]

Wheeler M. Thackston (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0936347511 | ISBN-13: 978-0936347516 | Publication Date: June 1, 1994

Key to Exercises for W.M. Thackston's Introduction to Koranic and Classical Arabic.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Thackston's textbook is the most recent addition to Arabic instructional materials. It is perhaps the friendliest Western grammar of Arabic. Its grammatical explanations are lucid and concise, yet they provide a complete, adequate description of a basic grammar of Arabic." -- Mahdi Alosh, The Ohio State University, Modern Language Journal.

Language Notes

Text: English, Arabic

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Product Details

• Paperback: 69 pages
• Publisher: Ibex Publishers, Inc. (June 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0936347511
• ISBN-13: 978-0936347516
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,046,591 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Okay, but could certainly be better, December 14, 2008

By 

Paul Stevenson "Linguist" (Duhok, Iraq) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An Introduction to Koranic and Classical Arabic: An Elementary Grammar of the Language Key to Exercise (Paperback)

For a general evaluation of this book, I can hardly do better than a previous reviewer, Muhammad Omer Iqbal. I just want to add a couple of details.

First, this answer key shows the same minimalist style as the grammar itself when it comes to offering information useful to the student. Aside from the lack of the tiniest jot of explanation for the answers given, the answers themselves can be rather minimal. In the section of each lesson where the student is asked to produce inflected forms of words (always part "a" and sometimes part "b"), the answer key does not always provide complete vocalization. By lesson 19, for example, the student's head will be brimming with hundreds of vocalized forms of words, many of which are not distinguished from others in unvocalized writing. Exercise 19(a) asks the student to give the jussive of a number of verb forms. The key for this section only puts in the most minimal distinguishing features of the vocalization of each word, rather than fully vocalizing each. Yes, the student theoretically should have all this memorized, but in practice, practically no one will have every detail perfectly and unhesitatingly fixed in his or her mind. And yes, the student can flip around in the book or in a dictionary and find the missing details. But why not just put all the vowels in the key and be done with it? It would save some frustration in what is already a daunting task.

Second, as I have already suggested in my review of the textbook, the student would do well to acquire the very useful reference grammar by William Wright, Arabic Grammar. It is not very expensive and it is a treasure trove of grammatical explanations that will supplement Thackston's textbook and answer key.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Mistake and no explanations in the key, January 19, 2008

By 

Muhammad Omer Iqbal "omeriqbal.com" (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An Introduction to Koranic and Classical Arabic: An Elementary Grammar of the Language Key to Exercise (Paperback)

Remember, this is the review for the answer key only.

The book just lists the answers but does not explain any reasoning or grammar for having arrived at those answers. This works in a class environment because you always have a teacher to go to, but for self-studying, it becomes a hindrance quite often and you really have to work hard to get across the book. Sometimes, you just have to let few things go and move on to come back later and find out why that particular answer was correct.

There are often multiple ways to translate from one language to another, but this answer key just gives one answer. This is easy in the earlier chapters where very few rules have been introduced but later in the book, it becomes difficult because you may have formed a past sentence using one way, while the book may have used another method. While you cannot find out if your approach was correct or not, you do have access to 'one' possible solution in the answer key. I would have liked to know multiple translations and which one would be preferable etc, especially in the second half of the book.

Lastly, and most importantly, there are a few mistakes in the answer key, and if you are self-studying, then it takes you off guard at times. When one is trying to 'decode' why a certain answer has been given, at times there is an element of doubt that may be the answer is wrong if one is not able to find the reasoning behind it.

Other than that, if you have energy and stamina, this answer key will help you (along with the book of course) to understand basics of classical arabic.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nearly Indispensable, February 6, 2008

By 

Colby A. Scott (New Mexico) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An Introduction to Koranic and Classical Arabic: An Elementary Grammar of the Language Key to Exercise (Paperback)

If you plan on using Thackston's text to teach yourself Arabic, this answer key is nearly indispensable. The answer key is virtually free of mistakes. And, when used in tandem with the teaching text, the student should be able to understand the grammar involved in each sentence that he comes across.

I only have one mild complaint about this answer key: I wish the Arabic font had been a point or two larger, because the vowel marks are sometimes difficult to discern.


**UPDATE** This book has some errors. Nevertheless, there are only about 2-3 minor errors per page. Also, in one chapter an entire section is missing from the answer key! This might seem like a lot. Yet, if you are studying on your own, this will be better than not having it. Thus, after several years, I stand by this review. Ideally, you should have a teacher. But, if not, buy this answer key.