Lost in translation
[source]
It’s hard for me, as an Arab, to fathom the idea that I have serious problems understanding other Arabs. Or maybe I just think I do. 
People assume that since my site is written in English, that they have to communicate with me in English. Last time I checked, I can actually read Arabic. I cannot type it because my computer is set to English, and my keyboard is English, but I can read it. Also, I am too lazy to reply back in Arabic or try to set more language features on crappy Windows Vista. However, I can reply to people in Arabic using English letters. Wow, is that too HARD!?
So, when I receive emails from people, but I don’t answer or I answer in confusion, because I am. It’s not the grammar or spelling. No. I have worse spelling and grammar. Don’t worry. However, the way some people try to write out their points is what confuses me.
Also, I noticed many people lately are having hard time understanding the jokes or humour behind my posts, because they are just pure humorous sometimes and really no hidden meanings. You just have to “get it.” Maybe the English speaking world does, but many things cannot be directly translated between languages. Especially Arabic and English.
So, I honestly don’t care really how you communicate with me, but is it the language that is the barrier? Or is it the new SMS style of writing? Because I am so old and I don’t get it or understand many people.
Just please, communicate with me in your native language from now one. However, don’t do it in the comments area. For some reason the submit form cannot parse Arabic letters properly. So, via emails, I can read Arabic and I understand it. I happen to be an Arab first and I did go to an Arabic school back in the day. I didn’t forget or plan to ever forget how to speak and read my mother tongue.
Anyone up for a fiesta? I happen to know a bit of Spanish too. Bailamos mis amigos!
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Hey I knew that! Ana 7keet m3aky 3arabi kaza marra mn 2abl bil comments, especially while joking…
That reminded me of a documentary I watched a couple of years ago called Arabizi (3araby-Inglizy), I think that some of it is uploaded on youtube, quite interesting…
Anyways don’t feel left out cuz ur computer doesn’t have Arabic, I got it right here and I never use it. Typing in Arabic is so hard, and no one ever uses it anymore… It’s a shame… But there you go…
????? ????
?????? ????? ???? ????
and this requires so much effort!
Translation for Non Arabic Speakers:
Hayf Haal-ak = how are you?
Qua’wais = tamam = zain = good = ok ; anna = I;
usage in reply = anna zain
Note: There are region specific usage – slangs that are as similar in any other language.
But nothing can beat a good smile when you say it.
loool tab iza hek mmtaz bas by the way fe website ismoh http://www.yamli.com
u can actually write arabish o btalel3lik el kilma el 3arabi so u just copy paste it
enjoy !
@marwa
Great! Found it hard trying to figuring out the actual way to write Arabic.
For those readers who does not know, writing Arabic has a unique “design” method. In Asian languages few command artistic form and Arabic calligraphy is one of them.
In normal writing, spacing between letters creates its unique style. So its frustrating for a learner to put in respective on “correct” form when neglecting the “artistic” form. Its not like these English letters. Do a search for Japanese and Chinese calligraphy. To compare and learn more.
Historically and culturally speaking, when art forms could not be developed due to restriction as regard to the choice of subject; creative artists used lines, letters, colors, events, nature subjects in very interesting forms that has now viewed as Arab identity. Look at the mosques, look at the Persian carpets (yeah its a lot older in terms of origin), some books (i forgot them) contain excellent form for lines, and letters on cover, borders etc.
oh another thing, Arabic has guttural sounds not found in English. The sound is produced from the throat and at times from tightening the stomach muscles (this due depends on some ethnic groups on how they speak Arabic slang). SO if you notice something like “btalel3lik el kilma el 3arabi” Notice the “3″, it denotes the special sound there.
Thanks again Marwa, the utility is much appreciated. The irritating part is when the words are pasted in MS Word. The -words- followed a -wrong order-. From right to left! Is there a work around for this?
@John Jacob
Are you some sort of Arabic language scholar?
@Ahmed Masri
lol, scholar nope, nomad yes.
===
the captcha feature posted interesting words
for cupids
Yes, this sort of explains it… i like to study it out of love.
@John Jacob
Ah I see.. a prolific traveler. Thats cool.
@Moey Halawaty
I wrote in the post saying that you cannot type in Arabic in the comments. It won’t parse it properly.
@marwa
I use yamli sometimes when I am searching for something in Arabic online. However, I don’t need it here!
It it due to people not being much familiar to the Asian or the Palestinian sense of humor
???
Well I thought I’d give it a shot!
There’s also http://www.onkosh.com it’s a search engine and does the same thing as yamli… I prefer that…
@Rahul
Everyone has a sense of humour. It just some Arabs don’t understand the English humour that I use.
@Moey Halawaty
Cool.. I will check out that site!
@Ahmed Masri
The prolific adjective can be removed. And the way I define travel, its outdoor travel, and very few can really call it cool. Its really ok if one is prepared physically, mentally and depended for fewer resources for such a travel.
Having a resort and spa arranged in your travel plans are cool. Laid back and lazy time. Which i consider its already done in majority of civilian jobs. (oh yeah? yeah. Measure your every move and you will see that time is wasted on how to think to do a job! And many are stressed out when they bring in the time factor as well as when other subconscious thoughts come to play)
@Moey Halawaty
maybe as a fast experienced typist this option works great.
Onkosh was not patient enough to allow me to type the words as picks up the incomplete word for arabic conversion.
Comparing Yamli, it has a drop-down menu to choose the word from, feels like the T9 feature in cell phones. Seems better for now.
Alhamdulillah. It’s interesting that in Arabic you give that reply to the question ‘Kayf halak?’ even if you are feeling terrible. In some ways, English is not so different. In reply to the question How are you? people automatically answer ‘Fine, thank you,’ even if they are ill. This, by the way, can be very confusing for doctors when they meet patients.
I am in the process of learning Spanish; when I have some confidence, you can expect some SMS like Spanglorabic style emails arguing with you about why I need your details to meet you up and why your political views are against Arabs etc etc etc
For what it’s worth, I think I get your humour, regardless of the view you hold, or “how” you write. The biggest problem in the blogging community is that people judge a post with a static view in hand. Reading a blog post is different to reading a newspaper; the stance taken by the writer can change with every post; I just wished people read the posts with a clean slate everytime!
@John Jacob
glad u liked it !
you can add the arabic as a language from the languages in thecontrol panel tab ,,,,,,,even if u pc is not customized for arabic
Hey hey hmmm, dude this time i’m not writing to comment on ur posts, something else caught my attention
. Its seems like someone is trying to get ur audience bad, i.e. using ur blog. Plus the comments ma 2elhom da3i abadan wa kteer gaba and freakin annoying 
, fa its ruining the enjoyment of reviewing ur blog, haha
Have a nice day
@Maria
Hmm.. Maybe he/she is, and they are very annoying and I don’t read their comments at all. I barely skim through them.
John Jacob,
A lot of people are complaining about your comments. They do not understand it, and you are sort of taking over and answering people instead of me. So this is a final warning. People do not want to read your comments because they don’t make sense. Just answer comments like everyone else. No need to be philosophical about it.
@Mona
Oh dear, to take over your blog? that’s pretty lame objective.
???
????? ?? ??????? ?? ???
translation for the question marks in the above comment:
taib
I’ll apply the new blog rule on user Johnny
blah , im full i ate too much cant read yr post nor the comments lol
@yazan
do any of us care?
@Mona
but Mona, we do!!! Really!
begging you to care!
Uff.. I am dealing with children.
@Mona
hahahahaha… I believe this is a test of your patience to see if you are capable of having and raising real children. You should thank them.
@Ahmed Masri
My children would never act this week because I will raise them right.
@Mona
that is good to hear. I like your confidence. We should get married. Your dad would love me and I smell good. I want 12 children though. One for every month. Can you handle that?
@Ahmed Masri
Not with you. Sorry.
@Mona
How cold. Tell me you at least chuckled?!
Oh well. Back to work.