Quote:
Originally Posted by lyndsay552
I'm doing the same. I got the Rosetta Stone CD-ROm but found it hard to use. I got a new one yesterday, Talk Now and it seems must better. I',m starting to recognise some words now but ask me what dog is and it's another story.
As you say it will be easier once we are over there. I've noticed that the egyptians seem to appreciate you speaking Egyptian but it takes me a huge amount of concentration and planning to say 'thank you' to a waiter but it'll come.
Lyndsay
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Ah ha...at least I know what dog is - kelb (soft 'B') as Arabs tend to use it as a derogatory remark! try and get a CD/book that teaches Egyptian Arabic. I think that's always been part of my problem - my husband tells me the Egyptian word then proceeds to tell me that it's different in formal Arabic, and tells me that too! I then give up
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Arabs everywhere apparently understand Egyptian as many films and TV programmes are made there - just like most English speaking countries understand the different American accents, phrases etc. My husband barely understands e.g. Tunisian Arabic as it's heavily accented - maybe like an American wouldn't understand a Glaswegian! They'll all understand formal Arabic, if that's what you use, but in Egypt they'll speak back to you in Egyptian Arabic! Is it any wonder I barely speak a word of it!!!