Iraqi Phrasebook : The Complete Language Guide for Contemporary Iraq [Paperback]

Yasin Alkalesi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0071435115 | ISBN-13: 978-0071435116 | Edition: 1

The only language guide of its kind, the Iraqi Phrasebook provides you with the Iraqi-Arabic phrases you'll need to communicate effectively in general travel, medical, and security situations, as well as with ordinary Iraqis on the street. The book:

• Separates content by topic
• Focuses on conversational language
• Presents Arabic phrases in easy-to-read transliteration
• Features phrases addressing needs of military, aid, business, and construction personnel

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Author: Alkalesi

ISBN: 0071435115

Category: Language/Arabic

Trim Size: 5 x 7

UPC: 639785387046

Price: $8.95

[category] Language/Arabic

The one-stop guide to essential communication in Iraqi Arabic

The only Iraqi Arabic phrasebook available today, this up-to-date guide is a must-have resource for foreigners about to enter Iraq, giving them access to the real Arabic that Iraqis speak every day. In addition to featuring content specifically chosen for its relevance to Iraqi reconstruction, the book also covers all the basic topics important to travelers. Iraqi Phrasebook starts with basic grammar and vocabulary and moves on to useful phrases--from asking for directions, finding accommodations, and making purchases to communicating with medical personnel, the police, and at checkpoints.

All Arabic phrases are presented in easy-to-read transliteration, and much of the language is in a conversational format that shows how the phrases fit together to help with communication.

Iraqi Phrasebook:

• Presents the Iraqi dialect spoken in and around Baghdad--the most widely spoken and understood form throughout Iraq
• Contains chapters based on everyday situations such as shopping and eating, as well as an English{-}Iraqi Arabic dictionary
• Includes sections on security, military, construction, and public services, complete with lists of highly useful words and phrases

Yasin M. Alkalesi, Ph.D., has taught classical and colloquial Arabic for more than thirty years. Through his company, ARABICO, INC., Dr. Alkalesi offers language, cultural, and consultation services on the Middle East to corporate executives.

About the Author

Yasin M. Alkalesi, Ph.D., has taught colloquial Arabic for 30 years at universities such as UCLA and Yale and at corporations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071435115
• ISBN-13: 978-0071435116
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #423,203 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #93 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Arabic

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very handy and well-designed, July 21, 2004

By 

R. ARANT "Toun" (Lanesville, Indiana USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Iraqi Phrasebook : The Complete Language Guide for Contemporary Iraq (Paperback)

This is a useful phrasebook for the novice heading to Iraq for the first time. No Arabic script; a shame, but that seems to be the case with almost all such handbooks tailored to one dialect of Arabic. The almost pocket-sized booklet starts off with a description of the phonetic system and moves quickly to a few very basic elements of grammar, basic words, numbers, telling time, and common situations from greetings to arrival at the airport, checking in at a hotel, getting around town, food and drink, personal care, sight-seeing, visiting mosques, medical care, security situation, and timely police station and checkpoint dialogue. Nothing special in terms of military lingo, but handy sections on "searching a house" and handling "demonstrations". Prepared in 2004, but not with the occupation and post-occupation too much in mind, no mention of roadside bombs or beheadings, prisoners, or prisoner handling; almost as if Iraq were a normal country. Ends with a 1,000 word basic dictionary. At this price you can't go wrong by keeping a copy handy.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be BII!, February 3, 2008

By 

Adam Dever - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Iraqi Phrasebook : The Complete Language Guide for Contemporary Iraq (Paperback)

That means Basic Issue Item for any of you wondering. If you're going over to Iraq this is a fantastic book to pick up. There is a ton of useful information in it. From ordering food to asking for a better room at your hotel you'll find plenty to get you by. And thankfully the locals in Iraq are very forgiving when you butcher the Arabic language. They understand that Arabic is a very hard language and they're just impressed that you're even trying. And possibly one of the best things is the size of this book. It's small enough to fit in any brief case and most pockets (in my case, my cargo pocket on my ACUs). Remember that each region has it's own form of Arabic (something I didn't know until arriving here) so if you're studying the "mother" Arabic dialect you might have some trouble because not everyone knows the "mother" dialect (as has happened to me already). So make sure your Arabic is region specific.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but needs a site for sound, August 27, 2008

By 

E. Lind - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Iraqi Phrasebook : The Complete Language Guide for Contemporary Iraq (Paperback)

The book is small and well written overall. It has a section at the front for phoenetic writing but it needs an audible example, like maybe on a website or soemthing. I found it difficult to follow directions for the phoenetic writing used in the text like, "s (underlined) - emphatic "s", similar to the "s" in "sum", with the central part of the tongue depressed and the back part raised.". If anyone knows if this has been produced, please post a link to it.