If you’re willing to study Arabic, you will find yourself confused about many versions of them, which make your decision to choose one to study a little hazy. However, it all depends on your purpose of study.
Quranic Arabic, also known as classical Arabic is perfect if you are willing to study the Quran or religious, and theological books written in Islamic history and is distinct by its hard-to-understand style of writing.
MSA on the other hand, is perfect for studying modern books, published after the 19th century, besides academic literature, TV news, documentaries, and modern novels.
In this article, we will clarify the differences between Quranic Arabic and MSA in more detail. Keep reading.
What’s Modern Standard Arabic?
MSA is the form of Arabic that is used in modern media, education, and official documents in the Arab world. It is a standardized form of the language that is used across different Arabic-speaking countries, and it is the form of Arabic that is taught in most Arabic language courses, schools and universities.
MSA emerged in the 19th century in the wake of a renaissance movement that aimed to modify the old classical form of Arabic for introducing many neologisms for modern technologies and concepts, and many new syntagma have become part of modern writing.
MSA is characterized by its simplified arabic grammar and vocabulary, which make it easier to learn and use in everyday communication.
What’s Quranic Arabic?
Quranic Arabic, on the other hand, is a very armchair form of Arabic that has been codified by the Arab grammarians around the beginning of the ninth century, and compared to other versions of Arabic, it has the highest traction of Arabic vocabulary.
This variety of Arabic language is used in the Quran and other Islamic texts. It is a highly structured and complex form of language, with a rich vocabulary and complex grammar.
Get Online Quran Arabic course from professional native Arabic tutor because Quranic Arabic is still used today in Islamic scholarship, literature, and religious rituals.
The Differences Between Modern Standard Arabic & Quranic Arabic
Many differences between MSA & Quranic Arabic can be easily wrapped up in the following points
1. Phonology
Classical Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) differ in their phonology in several ways. Here are some of the key differences:
-
Vowel Length
Classical Arabic has a system of long and short vowels, while MSA generally only distinguishes between short vowels. This means that in Classical Arabic, the length of a vowel can change the meaning of a word, while in MSA, vowel length is less important.
-
Consonant Pronunciation
Some consonants are pronounced differently in Classical Arabic and MSA. For example, the letter “a” is pronounced as a velar stop in Classical Arabic, but as a glottal stop in many varieties of MSA. Similarly, the letter “jim” is pronounced as a voiced palatal fricative in Classical Arabic, but as an affricate in some varieties of MSA.
-
Pronunciation of Hamza
The letter “hamza” (ء) is pronounced differently in Classical Arabic and MSA. In Classical Arabic, it is pronounced as a glottal stop, while in MSA, it is often pronounced as a vowel sound.
-
Pronunciation of Certain Letters
Some letters are pronounced differently in Classical Arabic and MSA. For example, the letter “ha” (ح) is pronounced with a pharyngeal constriction in Classical Arabic, but with a glottal constriction in many varieties of MSA.
2. Morphology
Classical Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) differ in their morphology in several ways. Here are some of the key differences:
-
Dual Number
Classical Arabic has a dual number in addition to singular and plural, while MSA only distinguishes between singular and plural.
-
Verb Conjugation
Classical Arabic has a more complex system of verb conjugation than MSA. For example, Classical Arabic has a separate conjugation for the passive voice, while MSA uses a construction with the verb “to be” to express the passive.
-
Pronouns
Classical Arabic has a more extensive system of pronouns than MSA, including separate pronouns for different grammatical cases.
-
Vowel Length in Verb Forms
In Classical Arabic, the vowel length in verb forms can change depending on the tense and person, while in MSA, vowel length is generally fixed.
-
Noun Declension
Classical Arabic has more extensive noun declension than MSA, including separate forms for the genitive case and the construct state.
3. Syntax
Classical Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) differ in their syntax in several ways. Here are some of the key differences:
-
Word Order
Classical Arabic has a more flexible word order than MSA, which generally follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure. In Classical Arabic, the verb can come before or after the subject, and the object can come before or after the verbs.
-
Use of Particles
Classical Arabic uses a wider range of particles to indicate grammatical relationships and to add emphasis to sentences. For example, Classical Arabic uses particles such as “inna” and “anna” to introduce a noun clause, while MSA uses the particle “that” for the same purpose.
-
Use of Inflection
Classical Arabic relies more on inflection to indicate grammatical relationships than MSA. For example, Classical Arabic uses inflection to indicate the grammatical case of a noun, while MSA uses prepositions to indicate the same relationship.
-
Use of Complex Sentence Structures
Classical Arabic is known for its use of complex sentence structures, including the use of participial phrases and relative clauses. MSA also uses these structures but to a lesser extent.
4. Vocabulary
Quranic Arabic uses many words and expressions that are not commonly used in MSA, and vice versa. For example, Quranic Arabic includes many words and expressions that are not commonly used in MSA, as it was written over 1400 years ago. Some of these words have become obsolete or have been replaced by more modern terms.
Quranic Arabic also includes many religious or Islamic terms that are not commonly used in MSA. For example, Quranic Arabic includes many terms related to Islamic rituals, such as “salaah” (prayer) and “zakat” (charity).
On the other hand, MSA includes many technical terms related to modern fields of study and technology, such as “computer” and “internet,” which are not found in Quranic Arabic.
-
Style
The style of Quranic Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) differ in several ways:
- Quranic Arabic is written in a highly poetic style, with a focus on rhythm, rhyme, and repetition. The use of metaphors, similes, and other literary devices is also common in Quranic Arabic. MSA, on the other hand, is written in a more straightforward style that is less focused on poetic expression.
- Quranic Arabic includes many archaic words that are not commonly used in modern Arabic. These words can give Quranic Arabic a more formal, archaic tone, while MSA tends to use more modern vocabulary.
- Quranic Arabic often uses longer, more complex sentences than MSA, with clauses and subclauses that can be difficult to follow. MSA, on the other hand, tends to use shorter, simpler sentences that are easier to understand.
- Quranic Arabic often uses repetition to emphasize key points and create a sense of rhythm and flow. MSA also uses repetition but to a lesser extent.
- Quranic Arabic makes extensive use of rhetorical devices, such as parallelism, antithesis, and hyperbole, to create a powerful and persuasive style. MSA also uses these devices but to a lesser extent.
6. Usage
By Quran Spirit Arabic tutors, Quranic Arabic is primarily used in religious contexts, particularly for reciting and understanding the Quran. MSA, on the other hand, is used in a wide range of contexts, including news broadcasts, literature, and official documents.
Besides, Quranic Arabic is also used in literary contexts, as it is considered one of the most important literary forms of Arabic. MSA is also used in literature, but it is not as closely associated with literary expression as Quranic Arabic
What’s Colloquial Arabic?
Colloquial Arabic, also known as dialectical Arabic, refers to the spoken varieties of the Arabic language that are used in everyday communication. Unlike Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), which is a standardized form of the language used in formal settings such as news broadcasts, literature, and official documents, colloquial Arabic is the language of everyday conversation, regional literature, and popular media.
There are many different varieties of colloquial Arabic, each with its distinct vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Some of the most widely spoken colloquial Arabic dialects include Egyptian Arabic, Levantine Arabic, Gulf Arabic, and Maghrebi Arabic.
Learning colloquial Arabic can be challenging, as the language can vary significantly from one region to another and may include many unique words and phrases that are not used in MSA.
However, it is a valuable skill for those who are interested in communicating with native speakers of Arabic, traveling to Arabic-speaking countries, or working in fields such as journalism, diplomacy, or international business.
The Seven Regional Dialects
Arabic is a language with many regional dialects, which can vary significantly in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. While there are many different dialects of Arabic, some of the most widely recognized regional dialects include:
-
Egyptian Arabic
Spoken in Egypt and widely understood throughout the Arab world due to the popularity of Egyptian media.
-
Levantine Arabic
Spoken in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine. This dialect is known for its soft pronunciation and unique vocabulary.
-
Gulf Arabic
Spoken in the countries of the Arabian Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. This dialect is known for its conservative pronunciation and use of loanwords from English and other languages.
-
Maghrebi Arabic
Spoken in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, this dialect is known for its unique vocabulary and pronunciation, influenced by the Berber and French languages.
-
Iraqi Arabic
Spoken in Iraq, this dialect has a unique vocabulary and pronunciation influenced by the country’s history and culture.
-
Sudanese Arabic
Spoken in Sudan, this dialect is known for its unique vocabulary and pronunciation, influenced by the country’s history and geography.
-
Yemeni Arabic
Spoken in Yemen, this dialect is known for its unique vocabulary and pronunciation, influenced by the country’s history and geography.
Overall, Arabic dialects can vary significantly from one region to another, and learners should be aware of the differences between dialects when studying the language. So get Arabic group classes to learn all of the regional Arabic from natives.
