Language Study

For the month we were in Meknes, we went to language classes every afternoon and studied in the evenings and/or mornings. Sometimes we were together with a tutor and sometimes we were separate. By the end of the month we had learned greetings, introductions, basic shopping, basic restaurant language, and we could read s-l-o-w-l-y in Arabic.

I was thankful for a little background in the languages from where I grew up which use the same alphabet. About 5-10% of the words are similar or the same in Arabic. I also wished I had paid better attention in high school French class because Moroccans constantly mix Arabic and French with each other and especially when speaking to foreigners.

As in many cultures, Moroccans love greetings - we learned pages of them! They love them so much that when the French came, they threw in a few French greetings too just for fun.

There is one sound I was having a hard time with. Ron suggested I pretend to swallow a cockroach every time I say it and - voila! I could make the sound!

We also decided it's impossible to be an atheist and know Arabic - every greeting, every comment in conversation, every goodbye - has God in it. "Praise be to God" or various forms of that are everywhere.

Moroccans are quite the linguists. Most people know at least French and Arabic - both spoken and written (that is basically two different languages). Many know the Berber dialect of their families and farther north most know Spanish as well. It is not uncommon to meet people who are fluent in 4-5 languages. The two times Gerald has told people he knows only one language, the response has been, "Shameful!" with a head shaken in disbelief.

We wish we could have had more time for classes, but we are SO thankful for the month we did have. It has really helped us over and over again. I start up with a tutor next week and Gerald would like to once things settle down.