The Top 1,000 Words for Understanding Media Arabic

by Elisabeth Kendall

What is the Arabic term for "suicide bombing"? What phrase would be used to describe "peacekeeping forces" in the Arab media? Or "economic sanctions"?

In light of recent developments in the Middle East, it is essential that scholars, journalists, government workers, military personnel, businesspeople, and diplomats familiarize themselves quickly with Arabic/English translations for many of these key words and phrases. Media Arabic―the language of printed or broadcast news items―emphasizes contemporary terms like multiculturalism or globalization that are not covered by most Arabic dictionaries.

This concise and accessible volume provides easy-to-learn lists of the most relevant vocabulary, providing key terms for translating from and into Arabic. Organized by topic, these word lists furnish the reader with an invaluable knowledge of key vocabulary to comprehend, translate, write, and speak Arabic.

Topics
o General (reports, statements, sources, common media idioms)
o Politics
o Elections
o Military
o Economics
o Trade & Industry
o Law & Order
o Disaster & Aid

With access to the most contemporary media vocabulary, guesswork disappears and students and professionals can begin to discuss and understand the most recent developments in the Arab news media.

Genres: Nonfiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published July 30, 2005

Reviews

[Brett C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is essential for learning how to read Modern Standard Arabic media that is found in Al-
Jazeera and BBC-Arabic. The layout of the book is simple and presents the words in groups based on subject. The categories include: economics, elections, military, politics, etc.

I used this book extensively when I was in Arabic training many years ago. I would still recommend it to anyone today. Thanks!

[Matal “The Mischling Princess” Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was an undergraduate and began studying Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) around 2005, I couldn’t have conversations with native speakers because I live in a rural area where none lived. To compensate for this, I purchased two dish network subscriptions to Melody Arabia and Al Jazeera (this was way before Al Jazeera English!). With the news channel, I entered into a whole new realm of Arabic and found myself confronted with new words. Kendall’s THE TOP 1,000 WORDS FOR UNDERSTANDING MEDIA ARABIC helped to fill this void.

This slim book is divided into eight different sections: General, Politics, Elections, Military, Economics, Trade & Industry, Law & Order, and Disaster & Aid. Each section provides words that many learners of MSA won’t readily find in dictionaries, such as ‘high-level sources’, ‘Greenpeace’, ‘non-binding opinion’, ‘seismic shock’, and ‘entrenched interests’, just to name a few. The author included the names of all major governing bodies (e.g., GCC, IAEA, OIC, etc.), as well as a slew of terms that dealt specifically with military engagements (this book was published in 2005, just after the American invasion of Iraq) so this volume came in handily.

All in all, this small book was worth the price and is still a part of my language library. If you studying MSA, I highly recommend this book.

[Kitaabworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good way of targeting useful vocab. V clear. Would have benefited from sound files to aid pronunciation.

[Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

هذا الكتاب جيد جدا للفهم عندما تستمع الى الاخبار. فقط فيه المفردات لكن هي مفردات جيدة بالتأكيد