Media Arabic: An Essential Vocabulary

M A n

e

d

i

a

E s s e n t i a l

A r a b i e V o c a b u l a r y

Elisabeth Kendall

Edinburgh University Press

CONTENTS

© Elisabeth Kendall, 2005 Edinburgh University Press Ltd 22 George Square, Edinburgh Reprinted 2007 Typeset in Times New Roman and Geeza Pro and printed and bound in Germany by Bercker Graphischer G m b H & Co. A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library I S B N 0 7486 2150 4 (paperback) The right of Elisabeth Kendall to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Introduction

1

1. General

5

2. Politics

27

3. Elections

51

4. M i l i t a r y

55

5. E c o n o m i c s

67

6. Trade & Industry

75

7. L a w & Order

81

8. Disaster & A i d

87

INTRODUCTION The ability to access M e d i a A r a b i c — the language of printed or broadcast news items — has become increasingly important in the light o f recent developments i n the M i d d l e East. Consequently, the need for a ' q u i c k - f i x ' vocabulary o f M e d i a A r a b i c is greater than ever. A r a b i c dictionaries are not equipped to deal with M e d i a A r a b i c w h i c h involves many new coinages to express contemporary concepts (for example, multi-culturalism, anti-aircraft missile, globalisation). W h i l e English-speaking students can deduce some terms from A r a b i c to E n g l i s h by thinking laterally (for example, ministerial straightening equals cabinet reshuffle, the falsification o f elections equals election-rigging), this is a much more hit-and-miss process when attempted from E n g l i s h to A r a b i c . U n t i l now, getting to k n o w the A r a b i c for c o m m o n contemporary media terminology has necessitated a long period o f familiarisation with the A r a b i c media. This book is designed to help undergraduates, postgraduates, governmental, military, diplomatic and business personnel bypass this lengthy process. This book aims to supply the core vocabulary o f M e d i a A r a b i c i n a logical format to provide easy reference and easyto-learn lists testing both A r a b i c to E n g l i s h and E n g l i s h to A r a b i c . Familiarisation with this book w i l l furnish the reader w i t h an invaluable knowledge o f the key vocabulary components essential to comprehend, translate, write and speak contemporary M e d i a A r a b i c . W h i l s t independently useful, this book is best used in conjunction with Julia A s h t i a n y ' s excellent Media Arabic ( E U P , 1993), a coursebook w h i c h sets the vocabulary i n context and teaches students to manipulate typical M e d i a A r a b i c structures and formats.

2 •

INTRODUCTION

This book comprises eight sections, organised by topic: General; Politics; Elections; M i l i t a r y ; E c o n o m i c s ; Trade and Industry; L a w and Order; and Disaster and A i d . The initial General section comprises vocabulary pertaining to reports, statements, sources and c o m m o n media idioms o f a general nature. Prepositions and idiomatic time expressions are listed only where particular variations arise in M e d i a A r a b i c . F o r example, ' d a y ' , ' w e e k ' and so on are excluded whereas ' i n the l o n g t e r m ' , ' i n the near future' are included. Generally, basic vocabulary such as w o u l d be acquired during elementary grammatical training is excluded. The General and Politics sections are naturally the longest, since much o f this vocabulary is also used i n media discussions concerning the M i l i t a r y , E c o n o m i c s , Trade and Industry and so on. Vocabulary is not repeated except where this forms part o f an expression to produce a new meaning. Expressions have been excluded where the reader has the information to assemble these logically. F o r example, 'intelligence' and ' m i l i t a r y ' are both supplied as general media vocabulary items in the General section, therefore ' m i l i t a r y intelligence' does not feature as a separate entry in the M i l i t a r y section. E a c h section has its o w n internal l o g i c . F o r example, the Politics section begins w i t h c o m m o n political acronyms and organisations f o l l o w e d by political systems, descriptors o f political stance, political bodies and organisations, political offices and roles, geographical entities, and so on. Direct subtitles for groupings within each section have been avoided since not all vocabulary items can be neatly categorised beyond the broad section title. W i t h i n each logical grouping, alphabetical order has purposely been avoided since this has a negative impact on the learning of vocabulary lists. Lastly, this book does not c l a i m to be exhaustive and the choice of vocabulary is necessarily to some extent subjective. H o w e v e r ,

INTRODUCTION

• 3

every effort has been made to select the most useful and/or c o m m o n vocabulary items. Notes on the formal presentation The A r a b i c is vocalised to ensure correct pronunciation and entrench in the m i n d the vocalisation patterns o f certain structures. H o w e v e r , short vowels are not supplied where: • a fatha precedes a long alif or a ta' marbuta • a kasra precedes a long ya • a damma precedes a long w a w The pronunciation of sun and m o o n letters is assumed knowledge and has not been marked. E n d vowels have not been supplied where they are not generally pronounced or where they vary for case. In general, A r a b i c nouns are supplied in both the singular and plural; the plural is printed after the c o m m a . A circular ha is shown to indicate the location o f the direct object in cases where verbs take prepositions after the direct object. Where '+ idafah' is written i n the text, this indicates that the A r a b i c must be f o l l o w e d by the genitive construction. First form verbs These have been supplied in the form o f the basic stem (past tense masculine singular) f o l l o w e d by the present tense (masculine singular w i t h the middle v o w e l marked) and the masdar (verbal noun). The middle v o w e l o f the past tense has only been supplied where this is not a fatha. Where two short vowels are marked with the same letter, this indicates that both are possible.

4 •

INTRODUCTION

Derived forms of the verb

1. GENERAL

These have been supplied only i n the form o f the basic stem (past tense masculine singular), since present tense vocalisation and masdars are predictable for derived forms o f the verb. The present tense and masdars have been supplied only where the spelling o f the verb changes significantly (for example, the present tense o f second form first radical hamza verbs), where a separate vocabulary item is intended, or where the w o r d is c o m m o n l y mis vocalised.

journalist

Abbreviations

newspaper

s.t. s.o. pi. lit.

the media the press press agency

something someone plural literally

interview '^ \

"~> J - ^ J - °

press conference source

d« 1U „

s

/N

j \l

informed sources

"*

'

sources close to reliable/trusted sources high-level sources d »j ^ 11 • a, r.*\

-v

vn

anonymity to say

JUL J ^ d ¿1 . A1 . i i . ^ u al

1

it was/is said to add

GENERAL

GENERAL

d-** l j -

o - -

V_J J ]

to continue

to let s.o. k n o w s.t.,

a -

J ' j ^ ^ <Jj^ ^ < J ' j L°

carry on (lit. not to cease) -a

*4?JJ \ L$h (SJi

to deem, consider

- o

j^Jalxxi I

to go on to say

1

J^- J^^f

to mention, recall

j j ^ G J^JJ j l l

- - o

Ssklc\

to confirm t o

I -

inform s.o. o f s.t.

to continue,

^jli. Jjlc

refute, deny, repudiate #

to deny

to comment on

- a¬

to give a speech

o- o

^*/>« nl

to believe

to rule out;

jj-^al

to publish, express, issue

to regard as unlikely \

to criticise

fj£

to evaluate

to concentrate, focus on to emphasise, stress i i J ^ La-i a ft i i j,j ^C_OJUJ 0 -

lX

'

^

a l

to cause, provoke, give rise to

j ^ l

to provoke, incite, arouse

J - W >»'

Jj_a»iii \ (JXLXL J

4JJG ^JJJ

n •

MJ

J-s^uL

to incorporate, take i n , include

f ^ajl

to comprise, include

to influence J ! f-^J

to be influenced J l

to discuss

'

J

J^

^>^lj to make a phone call to

to lead to

jjilll

CJI—

^ j l u l l j V

^L-ul J t

n

aspect, approach, standpoint p Ij ]

J^J J

with regard to

on the basis o f (+ idafah)

it doesn't have to ... as long as

14 •

GENERAL

GENERAL

to some extent

0^ c ^ j J j ^ - ^ ' 3-°

• 15

it is necessary to

to the extent that equally

Je-'

0-°

for the sake o f (+ idafah) thanks to (+ idafah)

s^

mere, pure (+ idafah) meaning that

¿,1 ^ ( ¿ 1 1 ¿1 Jj^">. .it I 1

01

L»

x'

-

a

£

-

on the international stage

o *

L*J I f. LaJ I > *^ ' aI

v

0^'

J ^ ^-sjj*-* l

7

lft

ju?4- - - \

j ^ - ^

oral

hitherto k n o w n as famous, w e l l - k n o w n prominent

(3

written

it ^ ^

specific

J*-^

factual, actual;

it* *

distinct

efficient; practical (3%^

real

(^-^'j

realistic, real

L L u <JJLC\ j L .

private, special if

general, public -.J>

various

completely untrue

different just

-.t 1 «î'i » A the R e d Cross

4_Jj d l JÛ*1I Ï«1;«A JLÛJJI *_>3^(j\Jà^ LaJJ v '^-^

^

O

< tr

1 Ua 1

feudalism neo-Nazism

A m n e s t y International the L a b o u r Party

communism totalitarianism

f

the Red Crescent

capitalism socialism

Axis of Evil Greenpeace

anti-semitism

1

^ ' 13(3 *"'***

Zionism racism

the Conservative Party 5- -

the Liberals

extremism

0

the Democrats

terrorism

•

POLITICS

POLITICS

factionalism J

0

4 A 1 , ^ c \ 1 separatism

d «aM U \ J

of

o ^

developed countries

o ^

UL u

sultan

nation-state

' * i j ^ *l P il^ol

prince

capital (geographical)

^^ia!>L_u

S^j < J l j ^.^JJ^LIJI

ft (J^OJ

yW")

4 ft

H i s Majesty

governor, ruler

^jLk

^/-ojjiJI

tJ

^ Lc ^ L i

I

cjjVift

the Superpowers the G u l f States

dill i

ambassador

jikjuu

<JaJLll J j j J I

Guardian o f the T w o H o l y Shrines (i.e. Saudi king)

*\JLLJJ

Lr

L r

Jjj

ii

o UI j ^ - j 0

I '" "

0

•I o U I J

0

\

'O

11J

O o -

1 uft

*

hesitation

p.ji*j

progress

innovations, recent measures

f

lj^JliJILJJjj

JJj* exceptional measures

f

i

to exert effort

f

>-àl-^">

backwardness

Aj^ o

0 -

o l — < <Jj)~^

round ( o f talks); tour round ( o f talks)

ol ^



jL-ci

iy

to o v e r w h e l m , overcome

^ j l t x i l -

to resist

i_y**j Le0 ^

O '

-

to abolish

POLITICS

POLITICS

J

1 5

'

J > - J > e J>¬ Jf J

i,A loi i

U » «A

JP

Lutaj

> &La> i QU^J ' aiaa> PIa
JLL=JJ jLA>a ^ j j L - ¿ a

CJIJ^.J

^ L i ^ -»Lc *
«

^_yJ Li-jj j

O I— JLU

fighter aircraft

CJ — I là^âiia

destroyer

60 • MILITARY J O '

MILITARY • 61

f t

J

O

'

"

J>iu_u "a i o L i ^ i c

economic sanctions

Jjljlll J^liJ ^JJ

at the close o f trade

o

-

1^

0 '

I«

O f

soft currency capital

-

0 0.'

-

Jjk. j j 1

o J

< ,. d

bond

*

tax

hard currency

4 I o r

0 d

JAJ "

C> 1 4. 1 I Ti Oderivatives

o ^

j • ^ income tax

0

(j~ -

a|. At 1

d t

d

-

..V1

value added tax ( V A T )

5»ij,X

* .at 1

»«j,

d

A

II

capital gains tax

O '

inheritance tax

income • I*

purchasing power

11

< MQLII S j j i competitiveness 0

o -

exchange rate »Uil

CJ 1—

1

< j

VJ i

1

1° *

CJI— i j l J J |

£_LAJ I J.».I.U

preferential rate o f interest

deposit

dividend, return revenue, profit income, y i e l d

interest rate

.Li 6 j i m o 6J_il

investment

asset

CJ 1— < JJLC

'

i

ill

id_j|_jjj

^Jlljj t

o

£J L - o

-0 < ^

1

> o

amount profit

retail price

o

j V j j J I J j L l a JjJ-JI

profitable

the price o f the euro o >>

against the dollar ^ 0

J

0 -

share

^JJLI_Jli-a t^JII 1^ o

bankrupt

ECONOMICS

ECONOMICS o

^LJI^J

oULaj ^yJLaja.1 ^ L - Ä

iA">H JJI j U y i i J

^.Jt

V_> J j Jj

expenses

5 , V. » * I 1

^j-J}

0

S

standard o f l i v i n g

ß 0 -

«LûajJ-a

price control

3^ ' " 1

J

i>t

A

debt/indebtedness outstanding debt

0

loan

price stability -

0 -

globalisation 0

>n

o

<JjjJI *

v^ijia ¿^0 j LA^LXI^ I 6 j j Lxua

instability

bankruptcy

total, gross net

J«J

o

jlJSLL I.VI

costs

trade deficit

the welfare state 0

'

-

j , ^ » t 1 A-ijl

to blossom, flourish

j

to raise/lower taxes

j

# - >• -

ÙL9

—

'dta-*-^

1 ulj-^lI

financier J

OJ

—

«^jL-alSl

j j j — <J^L*^

economist trader, dealer

t> -

O

^ ' j f * ' cr*

-

' j

a

j ^

^ i> -

1

to reduce the budget deficit J^-i

to come into effect

broker Cx$~ ' ¿ ¿ 3 —

n

V

i^_ALxto

j j — , j T> 1,10 ft

0 - 0

speculator shareholder investor

^

j j — uill(j"\. no

consumer

P I^JJUL _£jL»Ji ^LfJ-^

trade partner

">*'al oL^fljc. aaj

to apply economic sanctions

i(

Jj-o ^ L ^ u l j Ji-iij 3^' f L ^ l

to finance to invest capital to spend to squander

jLu^al^V I U itn J L j JIJ-LXI \ JJ-U J 1' M j-uo 1

¿3"*"* "' uH-L^ I ^ '

the national guard

I CJ I j i

the security forces

- o

-

_

1^

• " i l I 4-Uj^iiJ I -

ol_>JL^I J

'

the intelligence service

Of

0

-

*

j u d i c i a l power

of

i U x j ^ i ^ 4 U l . .i ° i

4-ilol

the military police

>•

legislative power

°

oU

security measures

l^=J

- t

o t

*

<J£J

" (Arabic pi.) U N R W A (United Nations

'i

6JJ=^UI ,a-_a^U

R e l i e f and Works A g e n c y )

f-cj ^ l a i A ~* \ A