A Reference Grammar of Modern Standard Arabic (Reference Grammars) [Paperback]

Karin C. Ryding (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521777712 | ISBN-13: 978-0521777711 | Publication Date: September 19, 2005

Keeping technical terminology to a minimum, this comprehensive handbook provides a detailed yet accessible overview of Arabic wherein its phonology, morphology and syntax can be readily accessed. Accompanied by extensive examples, it will prove an invaluable practical guide for supporting students' textbooks, classroom work or self-study, and a useful resource for scholars and professionals.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

A Reference Grammar of Modern Standard Arabic is a comprehensive handbook on the structure of Arabic. Keeping technical terminology to a minimum, it provides a detailed yet accessible overview of Arabic in which the essentials of its phonology, morphology and syntax can be readily looked up and understood. Accompanied by extensive examples, it will prove an invaluable practical guide for supporting students' textbooks, classroom work or self-study, and will also be a useful resource for scholars and professionals wishing to develop an understanding of the key features of the language.

About the Author

Karin C. Ryding is Sultan Qaboos bin Said Professor of Arabic, Department of Arabic Language, Literature and Linguistics, Georgetown University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 734 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (September 19, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521777712
• ISBN-13: 978-0521777711
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.9 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Arabic
  • #52 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > Arabic > Instruction

More About the Author

Karin Christina Ryding

Karin C. Ryding is professor emerita of Arabic linguistics in the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Georgetown University. She holds a B.A. from Middlebury College, M.A. from The American University of Beirut, and Ph.D. from Georgetown University. From 1980-86, she was head of Arabic training at the State Department's Foreign Service Institute. From 1995-98 she served as Dean of Interdisciplinary Programs at Georgetown University. From 1996-2002, she was a member of the Georgetown University Board of Governors.
From 1991-1995, 1998-2000 and from 2002-2004, she was chair of the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Georgetown, and from 1995-2008, she held the Sultan Qaboos bin Said Professorship of Arabic. Principal publications include A Reference Grammar of Modern Standard Arabic (Cambridge University Press, 2005), Formal Spoken Arabic: Basic Course (Georgetown University Press,1990, second edition, 2005), Formal Spoken Arabic: FAST Course (Georgetown University Press, 1993, reprint, 2004), in addition to many published articles on Arabic linguistics and Arabic as a foreign language.
Ryding is a past president (2007-2008) of the American Association of Teachers of Arabic (AATA), as well as a three-term member of the AATA Executive Committee. From 2005-07, she was principal investigator and project adviser to the Arabic Language Flagship Project at Georgetown, a full-year intensive Arabic program to bring students from the intermediate to advanced or superior level of proficiency. Ryding currently sits on the Executive Council of the Modern Language Association (MLA), was a member of the MLA's Association of Departments of Foreign Languages (ADFL) Executive Committee from 1995-98, and was on the MLA Ad-Hoc Committee for Foreign Languages from 2004-06. She currently sits on the board of directors for Georgetown University Press, the national advisory board of the National Middle East Language Resource Center (NMELRC), on the Arabic language advisory board of AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs, on the advisory committees for the Concordia Arabic Language Village (Al-Wâha), and the National Capital Language Resource Center (NCLRC).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Reference Grammar: it's what it says it is, October 6, 2007

By 

Nathan B (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: A Reference Grammar of Modern Standard Arabic (Reference Grammars) (Paperback)

This is an excellent reference manual for MSA Arabic. I found it a useful reference for somebody who already has a firm grasp of Arabic and would like to gain a deeper understanding of the language. If you are a beginner, or even intermediate student, this really isn't the right text for you. It is simply too difficult to make sense of without adequate background. I majored in Middle East Studies/Arabic and also lived in the Mid East for a while--and found it just right for me. I selected this book a while after graduating to solidify and deepen my understanding of the extreme complexities of the language. I was not the top student in written Arabic (nor was I the bottom student), so perhaps a more exceptional student academically could make use of it with less experience. Personally, I did much better in spoken Arabic, but less so in written Arabic--so I needed (need) a book like this.

The book does build from chapter to chapter, so skipping right to chapter 11, for instance, may be difficult for the average person. If you skip chapters, it assumes that you understand the previous chapters. The amount of material covered in this book is both its strength and it's weakness: if you are ready for over 700 pgs of complicated Arabic grammar (not a page is wasted), go for it. Again, I don't recommend this for any but the VERY serious intermediate student (any student of Arabic has to be serious--I mean serious even for an Arabic student), or advanced skilled Arabic user.

I think it is best to look elsewhere if you are having trouble with a particular concept at a functional level. However, if you already understand the concept at a fairly functional level, and want to deepen your understanding, this book may be right for you. For example, verbs. If you in general know how to work an Arabic verb but want to know just how hollow verbs or assimilated verbs (/etc.) works beyond a basic recognition/survival ability, than this is a good choice. If you stumble with simple verbs then this is less useful--it will only confuse you with the level of detail.

However, everybody is different--I tend to be much less grammar oriented, and much more "speak to me and I'll speak back--if you look blank I'll try again" type of guy, not the academic guy. I got this book to balance that, and got more than my money's worth. This book is exactly what it says it is, and if that's what you want, get it.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best current reference on Arabic, September 10, 2006

By 

T. Potter (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Reference Grammar of Modern Standard Arabic (Reference Grammars) (Paperback)

In 39 crisp chapters covering more than 700 pages Ryding organizes both the grand lines and essential details of Arabic language structure and grammar. This is a highly readable, easily searched linguistic reference. The index really does the job and her list of references alone is a significant academic contribution. Finally, this gem will make life easier for both students of Arabic and researchers. All my thumbs are up for this once in a lifetime linguistic treasure.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, concise Arabic grammar guide, March 8, 2007

By 

Melissa Finn (Denver, Co USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Reference Grammar of Modern Standard Arabic (Reference Grammars) (Paperback)

I have been studying Arabic for two years and this book is MUCH better at explaining Arabic grammar than the Ahlan wa Sahlan series by Mahdi Alosh. Though it is really dry (after all it is a reference guide), Ryding is much more concise and consistent than Alosh. She also presents the material in a sequential order that is more conducive to learning complex Arabic structure. I find this to be the most frustrating aspect of the Ahlan wa Sahlan series. Ryding also provides an excellent guide for Arabic verb structure which is the foundation of the language. Alosh only hits on it occassionally and well after a student of Arabic should be exposed to it.

The reason I am giving it 4 stars, instead of 5 is because she does get a little too technical with the usage of English grammar concepts. However, she does provide a good explanation for why she does this and it does help provide a better understanding of how Arabic relates.

I hightly recommend this guide as a companion to any university Arabic program. Wish I had discovered it two years ago!!