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"Batariiya" (ﺒﻄﺎﺮﻴﺔisn't the only European word in this dialogue. The word for "map" (ﺨﺮﻴﻄﺔ may have been borrowed directly from ancient Greek (χάρτης, Latin (charta) or some modern European language such as French (carte), Spanish (carta) or Italian (carta). The Latin word was borrowed from ancient Greek, the French, Italian and Spanish words are all derivatives of Lat. "charta", and the English noun "chart", which is a synonym of "map" (cf. Sp. "mapa"), belongs to the same family.

I really like this lesson. It was very clear. Thanks!

i learn a lot thanks for this website...

مساء الخير. I'm still practicing on the keyboard and, I had planned to try writing ten or twelve words plus several phrases. However, somewhere along the line I had written down

هدهد. Have no idea what it is other than it sounds like hudhud. Certainly couldn't find it in any of my dictionaries. Does one eat it,fly it, or stick it on his car? I know this has little or anything to do with the above lesson...which I really enjoyed as I have with all the lessons. But when I run into a word, in any of several languages, with which I have a little knowledge, I want to know what that word is trying to tell me. And, to employ a word heard all too frequently around my neck of the woods...it drives me 'bonkers' until I succeed.

Regards'

MC

I know that word, Mario. ﻫﺪﻫﺪ means hoopoe. On 27th February 2010 I mentioned that lexical item in a comment on the podcast entitled “Repeat the sentence”.

The hoopoe plays an important role in Arabic culture. Do you know the story about “Bilqis”, King Salomon and the hoopoe?

I've just noticed a typo. I meant to write "Solomon". "Salomon" is German.

Thanks Desmond. Although I've returned to the podcast at least six times, it just proves the truth about being in the forest and missing the trees. I do not recall ever reading about "Bilqis," I will before this day passes.


شكرراًً I know there is supposed to be a couple of lines above alif to change it to an 'N'. I even know where they are located. Getting them together is another matter...c'est la vie...

MC

"Bilqis" is Sheba. If you key in "Solomon" and "hoopoe" and run a Google search you'll find several versions of the story I alluded to. There's also an Arabic video about King Solomon on YouTube (with English subtitles). I think you'll enjoy the video as much as I did.

It's possible to write Word documents in Arabic with the aid of Microsoft's special characters. "Alif tanween" is in the little box that will appear on your screen when you click on the appropriate word.

I asked my wife...just to prove that husbands are smarter then wives...: Do you know what a hoopoe is...hee hee hee? "It's a bird. Everybody knows that," she said with a shrug. Perhaps you'll tell me it (ain't)so,otherwise I may have to agree with her the next time she says: "I love you dearly sweetheart,but husbands are really a sorry lot!"

Oh! The evil of it all, as my Irish friends are wont to say.

Thanks again. I'm off to that Arabic video.

MC

Have you noticed the similarity between the Arabic noun ﻫﺪﻫﺪ and its Latin equivalent (“upupa”)? Both words have been formed by reduplication.

In Germany the commonest word for “hoopoe” is “Wiedehopf”, and this word is quite well known because it occurs in a very popular fifteenth-century folk song entitled “Die Vogelhochzeit”: “Der Wiedehopf, der Wiedehopf, der bringt der Braut nen Blumentopf.”

Hoopoes are occasionally sighted in England (cf. The Guardian 16.12.1996: 30), but the word “hoopoe” is now almost as rare as the species. In France the word “huppe” (in the sense “hoopoe”) is also very rare, but its derivative, the adjective “huppé” (posh, smart) is extremely common. It collocates with nouns like “public”, “quartier” and “client”. A typical example can be found in G. Simenon’s “Maigret au Picratt’s”: “Je m’en suis envoyé d’autres, et pas seulement des mômes, mais des clientes huppées.”

A BIRD...!!! Now, let it be understood that my wife is the best thing that ever happened to me and, I hope to be with her for ever. Unfortunately, she does not always understand(my) humor...like a couple of months ago when she returned home wearing a new hat.
"How do you like it honey?" she asked, turning her head fromside to side.
"Well," I replied with a wide grin. "It would really look much on Arthur..." Arthuer is the name of our seventy pound Old English Sheep dog. "Look," I added. "He's even looking at you expectantly."

That (humorous) response earned me a three day leave within the confines of my study and its sofa bed.

Therefore, I'm sure you will understand that I now leave the subject of birds behind me.

I certainly appreciate your help. Thank you.

Oh, yes, let it be known that my sofa bed is really quite comfortable...once I get the dog to move over.

MC

I appreciate your sense of humour, Mario.

شكرآ

I do believe I've found it and, I can even hear Mozart calling out: "You finally did it!" Exsultate,jubilate!

I really appreciate you tome and help.

MC

Mario and Desmond, you are priceless. Thank you.