Arabic Epiphanies in Akkadian Class: خلق, the Rule of 12, and 19 Verb Forms

خَلَقَ

root: خ-ل-ق / form I verb / definition: to create

I’ve taken on a few new projects recently which have made for an exciting–albeit very busy—week. My tranquil Monday mood helped me to take everything in my stride… and the giant pizza over a business dinner didn’t hurt mood-wise either.

But in between reviewing journal article submissions and preparing for an important launch, I can’t stop my mind from wandering back to a moment in last week’s Akkadian class.

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Date Syrup, the Ocean, and Nuts

دِبْس

root: د-ب-س / noun / definition: syrup, molasses

It’s a blissfully slow morning.

I roll out of bed and into my rocking chair. I send off a funding application and set up a new website. I make a plan for the day.

I still need to send some emails, prepare work for my supervisor meeting on Wednesday, and make notes on a book. But, right now, I can’t help but take a moment to appreciate what a blessing it is to live an unrushed, quiet morning and ease into the day.

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What’s the Difference Between ما إذا and إذا ما?

نِسْيان

root: ن-س-ي / form I verbal noun / definition: oblivion, forgetfulness

Winter is deepening and I realised I left my productive research routine somewhere between نيسان (last April) and نسيان (oblivion), and the upward crawl to find it again over the rim of the crater is proving to be a… task.

I don’t know if there are any appropriate adjectives here, but I’m looking for something between “slow”, “adventurous”, and “uncertain”.

But whilst I hunt for that adjective (and my routine), let’s amble a little in the fields of Arabic grammar.

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Exploring Time in the Arabic Dictionary: Is سنة Longer than عام?

سَنَة

root: س-ن-ه or س-ن / noun / definition: year

Both سَنة and عام are translated into English as “year”, and they’re used interchangeably.

So why does the dictionary tell us that one of these years is longer than the other? What’s the real difference between these two words?

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Four Dual Nouns Meaning “Day and Night”

نَهار

root: ن-ه-ر / noun / plural: أَنهُر / definition: day, daytime

At the beginning of the year, we looked at some dual nouns which carry the meaning of “the Sun and the Moon“, because sometimes the dual is used to refer to a pair of things often mentioned together.

So, I thought, why don’t we round off this year with some more dual nouns—this time with the meaning of “day and night”?

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Reading Arabic Literature: Endings and Never-Endings

نِهائيّ

root: ن-ه-ي / nisba adjective / definition: final, definitive

It’s becoming a pattern in my life, I’ve noticed, that things end in winter. I can’t wait to bid farewell to this season of goodbyes, some of which have felt final.

What feels endless, on the other hand, is having my head buried in literature.

I’m in a trance-like state—turning pages, typing, pencilling, typing, pencilling…—and I’m not sure I’ve had an original thought in days.

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Academic Arabic: Some Form II Verbal Nouns

ضَجَر

root: ض-ج-ر / noun / definition: restlessness

I’ve been feeling a little unsettled for the past week. I can’t seem to sit still and write, despite “sitting still and writing” equating to approximately half of my to-do list.

So, in an attempt to offset this restlessness, or—perhaps more accurately—appease it, I’ve decided to start a new series of posts: Academic Arabic.

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Ten Arabic Verbs Meaning “to Support”

قَريباً

root: ق-ر-ب / adverb / definition: soon

Books seemed to be the gift of choice when I was in Qatar, as I received—I think—eight. With my overly-packed suitcase exceeding 30kg and three more books stuffed into my hand luggage, I managed to take with me all but one.

And I left that one, a novel, with a dear friend for safekeeping until we meet again. Soon, I hope.

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Winter, Aleppo, and Longing

الشِّتاء

root: ش-ت-و / noun / definition: winter

To round off my program here in Doha, I presented my research paper last week, focusing on the image of Aleppo in the Arabic novel.

It was somewhat of a triumphant end, on a personal level, as I decided—instead of reading notes or preparing a speech—to improvise during the presentation. I wanted to get over the fear of being “unprepared” to speak in Arabic.

I think that fear now, الحمد لله, is receding at pace.

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Dictionary Finds: أَبَّ

الرُّجوع

root: ر-ج-ع / form I verbal noun / definition: to return

Do you ever let your mind wander, then pull it back, then realise the wandering might have been going somewhere?

Let me explain.

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