Studying abroad in the Middle East is a transformative experience. It's a land rich in history, religion, and culture, and there'll be no end to the sights you discover. Before jumping in, it's beneficial to learn one of the region's languages. Knowing common words and phrases makes for easy navigation and a deeper appreciation of the area. It also broadens your knowledge — a perk that serves well even after you return home.
Read on for a list of the six most useful Middle Eastern languages to learn. Whichever you choose will bring a world of adventure and new experiences.
1. ARABIC
Arabic is native to the Middle East. People in numerous areas speak it, but you'll mostly hear it in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. Arabic is the official language in 22 countries from Southwest Asia to Northwest Africa. It's similar to English in that it has a standard form branching off into several dialects. If you learn Arabic, you'll mostly learn out of educational texts. However, you'll hear and see variations once you're around locals.
Grammar rules are more important for reading and writing than speaking. Don't feel confused or discouraged if the Arabic you learn is different from how people talk in reality. This phenomenon occurs with every language — most people won't use formal syntax in everyday conversation.
Unlike English, Arabic dialects aren't comprehensible across different speakers. For example, you'll hear Levantine Arabic in Syria and Jordan, while people in Saudi Arabia and southern Iran speak Gulf Arabic. North Africa is home to Egyptian Arabic. Learn the vernacular of the region you're visiting as well as the standard language.
Arabic also is the hallmark of the Quran, making the language a significant part of the Islamic religion.
2. TURKISH
Turkish is the official language of Turkey. Although it isn't native to the Middle East, its usage is widespread. Countries like this demonstrate how regional boundaries of the Middle East often become blurred. Some people consider Turkey an official part of the region, while others do not. Regardless of which side you take, the language's presence is significant.
Historians theorize the language began in Mongolia. An early form of it, called Ottoman Turkish, remained in use until the 1920s. It was more formal than the current version, and it appeared primarily in writing. It consisted of Persian and Arabic characters, though it looked like Arabic script. Most of the people who used it were high-class, while the lower-class spoke a version called raw Turkish.
Modern Turkish consists of several dialects, including Anatolian, Syrian, and Balkan. It may be more accessible than others on this list because it uses Latin letters rather than symbols.
3. PERSIAN
Persian is the primary language in Iran, and Iranian people speak a version of it called Farsi. Two other dialects exist, too — Dari and Tajik. Persian has ties with Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, and Turkish. You'll commonly hear and see Contemporary Standard Persian, which replaced Classic Persian around the 19th century. It contains fewer Arabic terms than it used to — these words gave way to native translations.
More than 30 million people speak Farsi in Iran, which makes up 50% of the country's population. Persian is also widespread in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, though linguistic differences exist within each country. Unlike Arabic, these dialects are intelligible across different speakers. If you learn one, you'll likely be able to converse with someone who knows another.
The language's alphabet is a variety of the standard Arabic script called Perso-Arabic.
4. HEBREW
Hebrew was once on its way to becoming a dead language — though it still existed in written contexts — but it revived around the 7th-century CE. After this resurgence, Hebrew names rose in popularity.
Most people speak Modern Hebrew, while religious scholars use Samaritan Hebrew. Many people consider the language holy because of its presence in the Bible, and some only use it during religious ceremonies or prayer.
Both Arabic and Hebrew are Semitic languages, though they use different scripts. The Modern Hebrew alphabet contains 22 letters and vowel sounds, unlike the traditional version, which possessed none. Learning the pronunciation can be complicated at first since many Hebrew sounds aren't present in English. However, the pronunciation rules are relatively straightforward and consistent. Hebrew will be especially helpful if you’re planning a trip to Israel.
5. HINDI-URDU
Controversy over Hindi and Urdu has prompted scholars to classify them either as one language or two. Many linguists consider them to be variations of the same dialect. Urdu sounds like Hindi when spoken, but it's written form resembles Arabic and Persian. Hindi, however, is written in the same script as Sanskrit. Almost all 175 million people in Pakistan speak Urdu as a second language, while Hindi is widespread in India.
Both languages originate from a dialect in Delhi, and their grammar is virtually identical. They share up to 80% of their vocabulary, which can make you feel like you're learning the same language twice when you start. The differences, however, manifest as you progress in your studies. Both are part of different cultural traditions, though they share a common thread appearing in poetry and literature.
You might consider Hindi-Urdu simpler to pronounce than other languages, though the alphabet isn't Latin. Many sounds are similar to those in English.
6. KURDISH
Kurdish possesses numerous dialects, two of which are Kurmanji and Sorani. People speak Kurmanji in parts of Syria and Iraq, while Sorani belongs to Iran and Iraq. The term "Kurdish" encompasses several languages within the Indo-European family. Not all of these languages are mutually intelligible, like the numerous dialects in Arabic. You'll need to learn the specific vernacular of the region, depending on where you visit.
You can identify Kurmanji and Sorani through one distinct difference — the former is written in the Latin alphabet, while the latter appears in Perso-Arabic. Kurmanji is the most widely spoken, meaning you might want to prioritize this dialect over others.
Since Kurdish speakers are spread out amongst different countries, it's difficult to say how many people speak Kurmanji. Researchers agree, however, that 60% of Kurds worldwide know the language.
EXPLORE THE MOST USEFUL MIDDLE EASTERN LANGUAGES
Create an unforgettable trip by learning the languages of the Middle East. You'll be able to converse with the natives, explore the authentic culture and immerse yourself in the learning experience. Keep up with your studies, and you'll be on your way to meaningful conversations with everyone you meet.
About the Author
Alyssa Abel is an education and study abroad blogger with a passion for travel. Follow her @alyssaabelblog on Twitter.