The Unique History and Culture of Wad Medani Part 2/4

The Unique History of Wad Medani Part 2/6

Above, stills accompanying the theme song of the series.

Background to This Week’s Text

This week’s 6-minute excerpt from the arD as-sumur’s documentary series on the historic city of Wad Medani explores the influence the city has exercised on Sudan’s struggle for independence and its prominent religious role as home to many Sufi orders. It is a highly accessible source for viewers wishing to become familiar with some of the key figures in the anti-colonial movement and for those interested in Sudanese Sufism, while offering beautiful views of the city itself.

We also study the lyrics of the series’ evocative theme song.

Above, stills from this week’s excerpt.

The high intermediate / upper-intermediate level text is largely in standard journalistic Arabic and includes references to Sudanese political movements and historical figures that anyone interested in Sudan would like to know about. I have included reference links to these in the notes accompanying the transcript.

Can you remember the plural form of “dome” in Arabic?

Possible Approaches

If you are not familiar with Wad Medani’s history, why not watch the excerpt cold and make notes on any points that interest you?

Alternatively, make notes on the views expressed by the speakers pictured below:

One of the speakers above might be viewed as slightly nostalgic. Which one and why?

If you would like specific comprehension questions, then make notes to answer the questions below:

What is the original name for the Wad Medani communist party? What distinguishes Wad Medani from other Sudanese cities, according to the documentary? What famous political figures have an association with the city? Why is the city’s Sufi connection so important, according to those interviewed?

What is the historical importance of the group of people below? How much do you know about them?

Lexical Focus

How would you say “Sufi orders” in Arabic? And their disciples or adherents? What expressions can you remember for “pious / devout / holy”? What’s the plural of “dome” and “giant” (in the sense of significant historical figure)?

You will hear expressions for “renaissance / revival”, “creativity”, “crystallized”, “accumulated”, “issues”, “interrelated”, “fundamental”, “pure / bright white”, “emerge / emanate”, “anti-colonial/ “imperialism / colonialism”, “dissolve”, discriminate”, and “communist”. Which expressions do you expect to hear?

How do you say “lieutenant” in Arabic? How many other military ranks can you remember? How would you say “embrace”, “flourish”, “grow up / become a young man”, and “bustling”?

In the theme song, you will hear expressions for “roam the plains”, “be destroyed”, “discomfort”, “deep-rooted”, “extend / stretch out” and the Sudanese Arabic word for “errand / trip”. Can you predict which expressions will be used?

There is a military word of Turkish imperialist origin used in the text. Can you find it?

How do you refer respectfully to someone who has died?

Series Theme Song (Minutes 1-2.30)

Lyrics and Explanatory Notes

1 here’s the team (the TV documentary team) that (took up) the challenge; bitHada

2 the road that is long / prolonged; Taala, to be long and stretches out / extends; ithadda

3 these mountains that (that will never be) destroyed bitithadda; from hadda, VIII, land of the golden brown people; where’s its beginning and where’s its end?

4 the road / way; sikka, plural sikak of our mushwaar, plural mashaawiir, errand but also purposeful trip is hard

5 (we do not worry / of no concern; hamm, it’s not important to us) the discomfort (aD-Diig) and the weariness; what’s most our concern /what’s most important (note hamm / ahamma) is to be of one hand

6 Tufnaa (from Taafa,(u)) as-suhuul; plural of sahl; we roamed / wandered the plains

7 `ariiqa; deep-rooted, also pure majestic

Watch the Excerpt Here (Minutes 6-11.15):

Transcript with Explanatory Notes

1 maa daama; as long as / while

2 al-gibaab; domes, plural of gubba

3 al-madkhal al-asaasii; the key / fundamental entry point

4 muriidiihaa; adherents / disciples

5 tabalwarat; crystalized

6 al-mu`Taa; given / perhaps here, its gifts

7 al-mutaraakim; cumulative, growing steadily / heaped up

8 an-naHDa; renaissance

9 al-taqaaliid; traditions

10 al-ibdaa`; creativity

11 riyaaDii; sports, note this word can also mean mathematics

12 al-musaa’il; issues, plural of masaala

13 shakkalat; formed / shaped

14 al-mutadaakhila; interlaced, interlocked, interrelated, connected

15 khaariTa; map

16 an-naaSi`a; spotless / pure al-biyaaD; white / shining

17 as-sulTana al-zurqaa’; the Blue Sultanate; see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funj_Sultanate

18 al-Harika an-niDaaliyya; literally, the movement of the (anti-colonial / independence) struggle

19 itkawanat; be formed

20 jamiyya` al-luuwaa’ al-abyaaD; The White Flag League; al-luwaa’; banner, flag, also brigade / major-general; see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Flag_League

21 al-mulaazim; lieutenant

22 al-orTa; batallion / division. This is a Turkish origin word, meaning army; see https://sudanow-magazine.net/page.php?subId=30&Id=320

23 al-inTilaaqa; start / beginning

24 muu’tamir al-khaarijiin; See https://www.britannica.com/place/Sudan/The-growth-of-national-consciousness#ref48958

25 inbathaqat; emerge / emanate

26 al-da`wa; the call

27 al-Hizb al- shiiyuu`ii; the communist party

28 al-jabha al-mu`aadiyya; the anti-imperialist / colonialist front (jabha)

lil-isti`maar; imperialism

29 taraba; was brought up / raised / educated

30 tara`ra ; flourished

31 shabba; grew up / become a young man

32 iHtaDana; embrace; cab also mean to cuddle and to nurse in other contexts

33 see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qahtan_Muhammad_al-Shaabi

34 `umaaliqa; giants, plural of

`imlaaq

35 dhaabat fiihaa al- `anaaSir; and elements, plural of

`unSur (here referring to tribal differences) dissolved (dhaabat)

36 aHbaab; loved ones

37 jawhari; fundamental, ultimate, intrinsic, substantial,

38 yata`anSaruu; literally to elementallize, here to differentiate on race / tribe, discriminate

39 al-wira`; pious, devout, holy

40 ta`uj; bustling with, see below:

The Unique History and Culture of Wad Medani 1/4

The Unique History and Culture of Wad Madani

Below, and title photo, stills from the beautifully filmed series on Sudanese regional life and culture, arD as-sumur.

Background to This Week’s Text

This week’s text is the first of six posts dedicated to the short arD as-sumur documentary on the city of Wad Medani. This visually stunning series explores some of the most beautiful and culturally unique towns, cities and regions of Sudan.

This week’s documentary explores the historical, religious and cultural importance of a much loved city. The upper-intermediate level opening section of the text explores the spirit and origin of the city through the evocative words of its citizens, often in snatches of refrains and poetic descriptions.

If like me, you are unfamiliar with Wad Medani, this documentary is a wonderful introduction to the city and its character. If you have visited or lived in the city and have fond memories of it, what might you expect or hope the film to focus on?

We will be discussing the lyrics of the series’ theme song next week, along with the second installment of the text.

Possible Approaches

I found I missed several key points in the commentary of the first two of the three speakers featured in this extract and pictured below. How about you? Did you catch all the details of the poetic welcome to the city, given by the first speaker? And the essence of the Wad Medani spirit, as summed up by the second speaker? What atmosphere does the first speaker create? And what are the signature traits of the Wad Medani citizen, in the view of the second speaker?

What, according to the third speaker, is the origin of the city and its name?

Next week, we move on to consider the religious and political legacy of the city.

What rhymes and refrains can you identify?

Lexical Focus

If you would like pre-viewing orientation on the expressions you can expect to hear, then try to activate your memory on the following?

What is the plural of “guard”, “bird”, “minaret” and”throat” in Arabic? How would you say “creativity”, “barefoot”, “nectar”, “innermost sentiments / conscience”, “humourous / witty”, “Islamic jurisprudence”, “inheritance”, “to sponsor a pupil”, and “sorrows”?

You will also hear expressions for “passing through a place”, “run parallel to”, “to rest”, “stay permanently in a place”, “to feel compassion for “, “woods”, “wild animals”, “hill”, and”patch of land”.

What Sudanese colloquial expression is used for “street kids / homeless people”? You will hear an expression for “to calm down / smooth the ruffled feathers of an angry person”. What might it be?

Watch the Episode (From Minute 2:30 – 6:00) Here:

Transcript

Transcript with Explanatory Notes

1 arD as-sumur: plural of asmar, samra, golden brown skinned people

2 mu`idd; producer / maker

3 al-ibdaa` Haafiyyaan kaHurraas; (the city where) creativity walks barefoot (Haafiyyaan) like the guards, for verb Haras, (i), Hiraasa min, to watch / guard, Haras; guard, escort, of the old city and

4 taSHuu; awakens to the

5 aSwaat Hanaajir: the voices from the throats, plural of Hanjara, of birds; here birdsong

6 al-`aSaafiir; of birds, plural of

`uSfuur

7 al-mu`aqama: literally, sterilized / disinfected, perhaps here, purified by the sounds / voices, perhaps here the calls of the

8 al-maa aadhin; minarets, plural of mi’dhana,

9 raHiiq almubda`iin; nectar of (its) creative people

10 wijdaanuhaa; sentiment / feelings but also innermost heart and conscience

11 shamaasatuhaa kamaashatahaa; shamaasi / shammaashi; street kid / homeless person. The expression literally means the street kids are like pincers / tongs for picking up hot coals. We are not sure what this expression means. Any guidance much appreciated

12 Turfa; joke, funny saying / amusing / witticism

13 Tiyyib khaaTir; this expression can mean willing / with good grace / to do something gladly. When the same expression is used later in the text, (see 17) it has the idea of “smoothing ruffled feathers” , as in تَهْدِئَةُ رَوْعِهِ, almaany.com

14 faham; understanding

15 biwaddir al-aHzaan; waddar; wideer / wadaar; to lose one’s way, go astray / to lose / waste (biwaddir `umr-o; he’s wasting his life; here, to remove / to lose sadness within us (wijdaan; heart-felt sentiments)

16 the speaker possibly makes reference to two famous sons of the city in a refrain, note the rhyme with

17 al-qaDaa al-fii al-qawaaniin; even the judges will smooth the ruffled feathers (see 13) of its debtors

18 tawafa; to die / pass away

19 on the basis that he undertook his upbringing / education; tarbiya

20 kafaala; from kaffala; to maintain, support or sponsor

21 al-fiqh; Islamic jurisprudence

22 `ilm al-faraa’ iD; Islamic science / school of inheritance / bequests; literally obligations

23 `ilm al-miiraath; study / science of legacies

24 Hanna; (i) (Hinn); to be kind to, Haniin; kind, compassionate; also, here, to miss

25 maariin; passing through

26 taHaazii; Haaza; (i), muHaazaa; to run parallel to

27 yastiriiHuu; to rest

28 naDDafuu; to clean / clear

29 al-ghaabaat; woods / forests

30 Huush; also Huwuush; wild animals

31 rubwa; hill

32 fa-jaa’ fii khaaTrihi; and a thought came to his mind / it occurred to him

33 yastadiim; to stay permanently, also perpetuate in other contexts

34 following the wisdom, Hikma, that (only) God knows

35 li-wasiiTa, in the middle

36 ruq`ia; patch

37 al-aHyaa’; plural of Hayy; town district, quarter, neighbourhood; aHyaa `ashaa’iyya; unplanned, illegal settlements

Voices of Resilience

Voices of Resilience

Above, a still from the Aljazeera Facebook video feature on how a young man’s life has changed in the past three months.

Background to this Week’s Texts

This week, we look at two 1.5-minute, lower-intermediate to intermediate level reports featuring Sudanese civilians whose lives have been disrupted by the ongoing conflict in the country. The texts are highly colloquial Sudanese Arabic, interspersed with more standard, journalistic and occasional religious Arabic.

The first, Aljazeera Facebook video tracks the life changes of a young professional, Nur ad-Diin Mansur. The second, Al-Arabiya Sudan Facebook report sounds out the views of four Sudanese discussing the effects of the war on Eid celebrations.

The texts provide a perfect, bitesize dose of fast, colloquial Sudanese Arabic. They are also an inspiring testimony to the resilience of the Sudanese in difficult times.

Possible Approaches

The Aljazeera video we open with has built-in subtitles, so try to view and listen without reading them if you can. Alternatively, watch the video on mute or read the transcript below and narrate the video aloud as quickly and naturally as you can. Then compare your pronunciation and intonation with the original. If you would like specific comprehension questions to focus on, then consider:

What changes have occurred in Nur ad-Diin’s life recently and how does he feel about them? How does he describe his journey from the capital? What does he most wish to see for the future?

The Al-Arabiya report interviews the four Sudanese pictured below as they prepare for Eid. Make notes to summarize their views on how war has affected Eid observance, the war itself and the problems they face.

The speakers appear clockwise, from top right.

Lexical Focus

How would you say the following in colloquial Sudanese;

“the place I miss most”, “house shoes or slippers”, “clothes, especially new clothes”, “rickshaw driver” and “I want her to have a better life than me”?

Can you remember the words for “exodus / flight”, “documentaries” and “series”, “gunfire”, “terrible / terrifying” “hire”, and “get / move about” the city.

You will hear two words for “destruction / ruin”, an expression for “rite / ritual” and an adjective for “lamentable / regrettable”. Can you predict which terms might be used?

Watch Aljazeera Facebook Video Report 1 Here:

النزوح السوداني

Transcript and Explanatory Notes

The director (mudiir) of a Sudanese production company (sharika intaaj) is working in agriculture (az-ziraa`a) and tuktuk / rickshaw driving (siyaaga) after his exodus (nuzuuHihi) from Khartoum

Perhaps the place I miss most …. Note the superlative construction aktaar makaan anaa mushtaag (missing / nostalgic for) and proposition, liihu

…in the house is the living room (ghurfa-l-ma`iisha) that we sit in most of the time (aghlab wagtaan) either (yaa imaa’) when I and my wife watch (naHdur fii) films and series (musalsalaat)

or (yaa imaa’) when Shama is with us – you know, we eat with her or play with her. Nur ad-Diin Mansuur is 32 years old, a photographer (muSawwir) and maker (Saani`) of documentary (wathaa’iqiyya) films. My daughter’s name is Shama and and literally; I always want to see that her days are better than my days; perhaps here I want her to have a better life than mine. She is now 8 months old.

when I was leaving the city; literally the time of exodus (an-nuzuuH) from Khartoum, I was looking / watching (bi`aayin) out of the bus window – looking at the city and the smoke (plural form; dukhaakhiin, of dukhaan) coming out from it; perhaps here the columns of smoke rising from it, while it was burning / on fire (bitHarig) and the streets themselves looked terrible /

terrifying / horrifying (mur`ib). They were empty (faaDiyya) and we could hear the sound (aSwaat, plural Sawt) of gunfire (iTlaag an-naar)

…the whole way (Tool aT-Tariig). The city of Karima is approximately 450 kms (tab`ud; to be distant / away) from (the Sudanese capital

(al`aaSima) and he chose (ikhtaar) to

return (al- `awda) there because it is the home town of his family and his wife’s. I moved / transferred ( literally my reality; kawnii) / from running / administration (idaara) of a company to driving (asuug, from saaga) a tuktuk

There’s nothing wrong with this work / this is decent work, literally, the work is not forbidden (Haraam) and if (literally, the reality is) you can even find a job in these circumstances (aZ-Zuruuf), it’s a blessing (ni`ma) from God (literally, Lord of Worlds. You know, I brought what I had (literally, amlak; possessed) in the way of money with me and invested (istithmarta) it

and I bought myself

a tuktuk or rickshaw to move / get about Karima and to hire (ajra) / earn money from and other times I go with my brother and we work (nas`a; strive, work at) on the family farm as well

Watch Al-Arabiya Video Report 2 Here:

“الحرب جلبت لنا الخراب”.. كاميرا #العربية تستطلع آراء السوادنيين في أول أيام

Transcript

Transcript with Explanatory Notes

1 al-kharaab; havoc, ruin, destruction

2 tastaTla`a; literally, survey / take a poll of; perhaps here sound out

3 Sawt ar-raSaaS; the sound of gunfire

4 sha`iira; rite / ritual

5 as-sunna; Islamic codes of conduct and traditions modelled on the life and acts of the Prophet

6 yasa`; referring to Sudan; and is wide enough for / can hold all / everyone

7 note this frequently used Qur’anic reference to God, Lord of the Worlds

8 muu’sif; regrettable / sad / lamentable

9 musta`diin; ready / getting ready for

10 kisaayiinaa; plural of kiswa; garments, especially when new

11 ni`aal el-bayt; house shoes / slippers;

plural; ni `laat

12 Note this formulaic expression for “May God provide”

13 note this way of saying “shelling / firing / bombing / hitting” us

14 wagafaat; literally, pauses

15 manhajnaa; literally, our method / process but perhaps here our way

16 wa diidanaa; and our religious observance / habit and diligence; to be updated

17 damaar; devastation

Remembering a Pioneer of Fine Arts, Sittana Babekir Bedri

Remembering a Pioneer of Fine Arts, Sittana Babekir Bedri

Title photo, Sittana Bedri in her youth and a stunning mural painted in tribute to her in 2018 by Assil Diab:

See too https://www.instagram.com/sudalove/

Above, stills from the Blue Nile TV tribute featured in this week’s post.

Background to This Week’s Text

This week’s text is a moving, 8-minute, intermediate level Blue Nile TV tribute to the late, great fine artist and educationalist, Sittana Babekir Bedri, who died in 2018.

The report includes footage of the artist recounting formative childhood experiences, her relationship with her father, examples of her work, discussion of her life abroad, and later recognition of her contribution to Sudanese life.

The text is a rich source of colloquial Sudanese Arabic, standard journalistic Arabic and examples of official, legal and administrative register. The warmth and disarming charm of the artist shines through this report and she remains an inspiration for Sudanese women across the generations.

Learn more about this remarkable artist and teacher next month in https://womensliteracysudan.blog/

Possible Approaches

If you are unfamiliar with Sittana Bedri’s life and work, do not consult the lexical focus section before studying the text and treat it as a cold listening test, noting down four key aspects of her life or work.

If you would like specific comprehension questions to focus on, then why not make notes to answer the questions below?

What media did Sittana prefer to specialize in? What childhood experiences does she recall? What role did her father play in her artistic development? How did she first come across coloured paints and pencils? What does she emphasize about her time living abroad and how did it shape her artistic life?

Why was she honoured and how did she feel about it? How would you describe the presenter’s rapport with the late artist?

Below, the presenter of the tribute to Sittana Bedri.

Lexical Focus

You will hear a standard way presenters welcome and address TV viewers at the beginning of a report and formulaic expressions used upon someone’s death. Can you predict what expressions might be used? You will also hear official terms used upon the conferring of honours.

Expect to hear words related to Sittana Bedri’s artistic experiences, such as “hobby”, “pen and brush”, “charcoal”, “scribble” (Sudanese colloquial), “copper”, “cloth”, “table cloths / bedspreads”, “critic”, and “institutes”.

How would you say “pioneers”, “contributions” “values”, “authenticity”, “appreciation”, and to “honour someone with / award someone a medal”? What adjective might be used to extol one’s country?

The presenter talks about Sittana’s smile, and friendliness / warmth and she mentions how emotional / excited she was to be honoured. What expressions do you predict might be used for these ideas?

How do you say “navy blue” and “light blue” in Sudanese Arabic? What word is used for “maternal uncle” in Sudanese Arabic? How many words for “existence” can you think of and which is used here? What’s a “badge” in Arabic?

Watch the Report Here:

Transcription

Transcription with Explanatory Notes

1 in this space; misaaHA. Notice too the standard journalistic way of addressing the viewers and welcoming them to the programme.

2 pioneer; raa’ida; note plural form; alruuaad

3 this expression, fan al-tashkiil, is usually translated as fine art or plastic arts

4 ishaamaat; contributions

5 notice this way of referring to “the late doctor”…

6 she offered her, literally, her gifts; see below;

7 istiDafnaahaa; we hosted her here / she was our guest

8 note this fixed expression, frequently used when mentioning someone who has died, for “May God have mercy on her soul”

9 and she (always) receives you with a smile; bi-bashaasha

10 and friendliness / goodwill / cordiality; wadd / wudd

11 (as is the custom with) great people `uZumaa’; plural of `aZiim;

12 fine art is a hobby; hiwaaya you can’t resist / fight against; yugaawimuhaa

13 I remember I’d take a piece of charcoal; faHm, and scribble; ashkhabaT, from shakhbaTa on the walls

14 and he became my first critic; an-naaqid al-awal

15 and he would take me to the mawlid; Birth of the Prophet celebrations

16 to see the drawings ….on the tents (khiyam, also khiyaam, plural of khayma)

17 al-khaal; maternal uncle

18 al-mu`aahid; institutes,

plural of ma`had

19 rakkaza `ala; concentrate on

20 literally to battle against (using) the pen and 21) brush; forsha so that people would use whatever

22 material, maada; they find

23 an-naHaas; copper

24 literally put pressure on, press / impress; here, to work the copper

25 you pass go / through; bitmarii biihuu

26 note the use of colloquial “gaayila”; what do you think; see too more examples in Two Songs

27 he would hand out badges to us

28 navy (colour) koHliyya

29 light blue / blue and led us in

30 my time is distributed between focusing on colour,

31 drawing on cloth / material, gumaash

32 toubs, plural of toob, atyaab

33 and table cloths / bedspreads; mafaarish, plural of mafrash

34 al-mujasimaat; three-dimensional pieces / also cut-outs

35 li-manH al-wisaam; bestow upon / award her the honour / decoration / medal / insignia

36 in accordance with the provisions; al-aHkaam, of article (al-maada) 5 of the law of literally; decorations / insignia, plural of wisaam, and medals; al-anwaaT, plural of nawT; note the official register used

37 in recognition; taqdiir; appreciation of her pioneering role in driving the course of girls’ education

38 which she approached with conduct based on / perhpas here, rooted in the values, qiyam, and authenticity / uniqueness, also magnanimity; aSaala

39 of this noble / lofty (al-abii) people

40 literally; recorded / documented previously, referring to Babekir Bedri’s pioneering work in education before her and her continuation of those efforts

41 to honour her efforts and

42 her gifts / what she gave; see 6)

43 note this official phrase; literally, in accordance with the text of the decision issued / promulgated

44 signature; tawqii`

45 corresponding to; al-muwaafiq

46 to be honoured (takriim) as artists

47 note this way of saying “presidents have come and gone”

48 binlaaHaZ; notice

49 existence; kaynuuna (in its own right)

50 I was so emotional / excited / affected; munfa`ila, that I had to try to stop myself crying

51 it was like dreaming (Hilmaan) and you will wake up and find that nothing’s there

52 you deserve it, tastaHiqii

53 Sittana Bedri is referring to her museum which she founded and resourced at her own expense in Ahfad University and explains nobody took an interest in it until the Blue Nile TV Channel reported on it, and especially thanks to the rapport she had with its presenter, Amjad, who visited so regularly , he became known by the students

54 Amjad has put on weight

55 Amjad has become thinner

56 Amjad has got married

57 the president will honour you; yusharrif-ik

58 I was chatting / chatted; note this colloquial verb for chat / talk

59 note this formulaic expression used upon someone’s death; May God have mercy on her soul and grant her forgiveness

Goodbye Julia – Al Arabiya Interview with Mo Kordofani

Goodbye Julia: Al Arabiya Interview with Director, Mo Kordofani

Above, the Al-Arabiya presenters of this week’s video text.

Background to This Week’s Text

This very accessible, intermediate-level 5-minute Al-Arabiya interview provides fascinating insights in to the making of the award-winning film, Goodbye Julia. The director, Mo Kordofani, reveals his inspiration for the film, his creative process and his feelings on the current conflict in Sudan.

In addition to the standard journalistic Arabic used in the report, the interview includes clips from the film in highly colloquial Sudanese.

After studying the text, you can read more on this director’s work in https://womensliteracysudan.blog/2023/06/17/the-vulnerable-soul/

and https://www.arabnews.com/node/2326656/lifestyle

Possible Approaches

If you are not familiar with Goodbye Julia, what would you like to learn about the film in this report? If you are familiar with the subject matter of the film, what would you like to learn about the director? Does the report answer your questions?

Alternatively, you could focus on the colloquial dialogue in the film clips included in the report. Cover the built-in subtitles and test your comprehension. Don’t look at the lexical focus section if you want to try this approach.

If you would like specific comprehension areas to focus on, then make notes to answer the following:

Why is the film’s success at Cannes so significant? What does the director say about his inspiration for the film? How did he feel about screening the film at a time when war had broken out in his homeland? What does he say about the creative process behind the film? What kind of film might he make in the future?

Lexical Focus

If you would like pre-listening orientation on the lexis used, then consider the following:

You will hear expressions related to the cinema, such as “screen / show” a film, “plot”, “classified”, “feature film”, “win a prize / award”, “crew”, “find inspiration in”, “platform”, “shed light on” and “an edition” (of a film festival). What words do you predict might be used for “relevance” and “striking”, for an impression?

You will also hear terms connected with the secession of South Sudan, such as “tragedy”, “conflict”, “referendum”, “transitional period”, “suffering” , “in the midst of war” and “co-existence”.

What Sudanese colloquial verb will be used “to chase / follow”? And for “on the doorstep”, “to be in a good mood”? When do Sudanese use the word saay? How would you say “crying over spilt milk”, “conscience” and “joy mingled with sadness”?

Alternatively, note down your translation of these lines of colloquial dialogue from the film clip shown in the interview and compare them with the actual dialogue. How close were you?

Watch the Interview Here

مباشر من #العربية | قصة حب تروي مأساة وطن جريح…#السودان

Transcript

Transcript with Explanatory Notes

1 goodbye / farewell; wadaa`aan; a story of love and the

2 tragedy of a nation

3 note the collocation, using the verb HaSada, reap / harvest, for award / prize; al-jaa’iza

4 a love story that narrates / relates / recounts; riwaaya; novel

5 note this collocation; literally, has reserved a seat for Sudan; Hajaza maqa`daan; perhaps here, has earned a seat for Sudan at Cannes

6 nuskha; edition; also copy, print in other contexts

7 joy, of course, mingled with; mamzuuja bi (also blended, diluted); sadness

8 aS-Siraa`; the conflict / struggle / strife

9 is categorized / classified; yuSannif

10 note this way of saying “feature film”

11 the impact / effect; taa’thiir, of the secession of South Sudan in 2011

12 and the hope of, note preposition fii

13 shaping / forming (tashkiil) a new national identity (huwiyya)

14 under the umbrella; miZalla

15 co-existence; ta`aaiish and peace

16 his intention; naayii was to kill you,

17 there’s no other possible explanation; tafsiir; also interpretation, exegesis

18 If only he had killed me; note use of yaarayt; for regret

19 note the Sudanese colloquial verb for “following you”, saakii, from sakka (u) to chase

20 note this way of saying “why are you blaming me”, bitluumii fiinii; note the proposition fii

21 and you want to make me feel (bad)

22 a reproach to my conscience; taa’niib; reproach, chiding, scolding, reprimand to my conscience; Damiir

23 perhaps here, on our doorstep; fii khashmi-lbaab; khashum; mouth

24 doesn’t that have any effect on you?

25 whether it affects me or not,

26 I didn’t just kill someone for no reason; note use of saay; just / only or without a reason / baseless;

27 I was protecting my home

28 if it happened again, I’d fire / shoot again

29 raakuuba; hut / sun shelter, plural rawaakiib

30 what’s wrong with you that don’t have any patience; did you catch this phrase? And the next line, which is spoken very quickly?

31 I woke up in a good mood; ana SaaHii (be awake), mazaaj; mood, raaiig; relaxed / calm / at ease; from raag; (u), rooga, ruwaaga, to be(come) calm, quiet

32 why do you want to ruin it; to be updated

33 note this way of saying “joining us now in the studio”…

34 the director and writer; mu’alif, also composer in other contexts

35 does the film predict / foresee / foretell

36 Note the Arabic version of “crying over spilt milk”

37 Sadly, unfortunately

38 tawqiit; the timing

39 note the collocation for “war broke out” / “war started”

40 note the expression used here for “to show / screen” the film

41 in the shadow of

42 from this platform; manaSSa

43 throw / shed light on; nusaliT

44 your directorial vision; ru’wiyya; vision ikhraajiya; directorial

45 al-istiftaa’; referendum

46 mulfita; striking

47 note this expression for “certainly”/ “indeed”

48 yadoob; just now / just then / it was just then; yaadoob-na raja`anaa; we came back just now

49 al-fitra -l-intiqaaliya; the transitional period

50 al-Habka; the plot

51 al-mulaa’ima; relevance

52 istilhamta; I took inspiration from

53 bintanaagash; and we discussed / debated / argued

54 bintashaakil; disagreed / quarreled / fought

55 al-wirish; plural of wursha, workshops

56 Taaqim al-`amal; crew/ staff

57 mosaic / tessellations; fasayfisa’

58 see 44)

59 talaHag; join / attach

60 the most obvious / apparent (Zaahira)

61 loved ones / sweethearts / lovers; al-aHiba, plural of Habiib

62 married couples; al-azwaaj

63 fii `aqlii -l-baaTin; deep inside, in my inner mind

64 aTraH al-gaDiya; to put forward the issue

65 ka-faras; to be updated; as a vehicle for

66 an-naaquus; bell, here warning bell / alarm

67/ 68 perhaps here, do you intend to go on down the same road

69 the current (ar-raahin) situation (al-waDa`)

70 fii khiDam; amid / in the midst of war, see below:

Also:

71 my feelings towards it are not feelings

72 that would allow me to write

73 anyhow, (we hope to) have you as a guest …

74 literally, from the womb (riHm) of suffering (al-ma`aanaa) is

born creativity (al-ibdaa`)

Two Songs

A Plea for Compassion in War

Background to Today’s Texts

This week’s post is dedicated to two poignant and highly evocative short songs (Arabic subtitles built in) currently popular on social media; يا بلد انا كنت قايلك تبت من تعب السفر – قمرية – حليم تاج السر و اواب, sung by Halim Taj as-Sir wa Awaab (Halim wa awaab), and Shadin Gardood’s يا خيانة الحكامة. There is useful background to the latter singer’s life, her recent tragic death and an excerpt from the song we play in full here in Sudan bids farewell to Shadin Gardood; Aljazeera and Al Arabiya tell her story

The song yaa balad ana kunta gaayilak is an adaptation of the much loved version, originally sung by Abuaraki al-Bakhiit, entitled yaa galb and based on a poem, author unknown, which is open to complex and multiple political and social interpretations. You can see Abuaraki performing the song here:

أبوعركى يا قلب أنا كنت قايلك تبت من تعب السفر ومن مخاواة القماري ومن شراب

Both songs call for the dignity and honour of the Sudanese people to be both upheld and held fast to. Shadin Gardood’s song includes expressions, voweling and syntax used in Baggara dialect but widely understood by other Sudanese. They may however prove difficult for learners of Arabic, as they did for me!

Both songs are performed to the heartbreaking backdrop of scenes of Khartoum.

I am indebted to Muna Zaki , Dr Ahmed Jabir, Sudanese artist and author, and educationalist Sid Ahmed Abdallah for all their kindness, time and expert input in the interpretation of these plaintive and evocative lyrics.

Possible Approaches

Why not begin by just enjoying the sheer music of the words and their emotional appeal? Then try to assess how much you can understand without reading the built-in subtitles? What emotions and judgements are expressed? Can you identify any rhymes? Alternatively, use the lyrics sheets below to sing along with the performers, focusing on your pronunciation and maintaining the same rhythm and beat as the original. Why not cover parts of the text, alternate lines or just the rhymes and test your memory of the lexis a couple of days after first viewing?

Below, some of the lines from Shadin Gardood’s elegy. Can you provide a rough translation?

Lexical Focus

If you would like pre-viewing orientation on the language used in the songs, then consider the following:

What saying might be used for expressing the idea that something that was feared has already happened? Hint; the word “axe” appears. You will hear words associated with war, such as “defeated”, “to be victorious”, “to flee” and “to be taken prisoner”. Expressions for “evil / wickedness”, “alarm bell”, “humiliating” and “fate” also appear.

What words might you hear for “repent / forsake”, “blame / reproach”, “offspring / posterity”, “miserable / wretched”, “guts”, “to lower / debase oneself” and “doves”?

What is Sudan’s national symbol in Arabic?

Song 1

Listen to يا بلد انا كنت قايلك تبت من تعب السفر – قمرية – حليم تاج السر و اواب:

Song Lyrics

Song Lyrics with Explanatory Notes

1 Note the Sudanese colloquial expression for “I was thinking that”, / I thought (also my opinion is / was) as in kunta qaayil-ak shaaTir; I thought you were clever; here, oh my homeland, I thought / had thought that you had tubta; forsaken / left behind / also repented of, from taaba (u), tawba; repentance.

2 the weariness of journeying / travelling

3 the company (makhaawaat, derived from akh, brother) of doves; gumaarii, plural of gumrii / gumriyya

4 / 5 drinking rain water. The singer evokes the restless instability of his homeland, constant searching / journeying for stability. These words may also suggest the weariness of Sudanese emigre nostalgic for a troubled homeland.

6 the warning (khaTar; danger) drums, singular, Tabla, and 7) bell, naaguus sounded

8 All are defeated; maghluub, (synonym of mahzuum / maqfuur) and

9 nobody has prevailed / won / been victorious; intaSara

10 and my father, so old / frail; shaayib; literally grey-haired

11 his back (aD-Duhr) has broken; itkasa

12 the line refers to the national symbol of Sudan, the secretary bird, and says it has

13 fallen prisoner, itaa’sar; to be taken prisoner, of dogs -the ignorable / dishonourable

14 I want to flee; ahrub but

15 where’s the escape/ where to seek refuge (mafar; escape) way out; but flee where?

16 (caught between) one evil and another (sharr, also wickedness and cause of misfortune)

17 your harvest is burnt / scorched, thirsty for rain

18 (caught in) the humiliating; muhiin, reality / situation

19 content with / complying with / perhaps here resigned to what fate, al-qadr, has ordained

20 / 21 tomorrow the lights of the city will be illuminated

Song 2

Listen to يا خيانة الحكامة here:

Song Lyrics

Song Lyrics with Explanatory Notes

1 the singer addresses her community in a plea for upholding the values and right conduct of the community; oh brothers ( a variant of akhwaan, often used regionally in Sudan and elsewhere in the Arab world, and prevalent in Baggara Arabic; oh brothers of the Hakaama. See Sudan bids farewell to Shadin Gardood; Aljazeera and Al Arabiya tell her story and https://womensliteracysudan.blog/2021/05/18/her-words-slayed-dragons/ for background to the role of the Hakaama.

2 / 3 literally; do not accept, (imperative), blame; malaama, but here the idea is “be (in your actions) beyond reproach”

4 haay; exclamation, 5) he who debases / belittles his place (standard Arabic dhull, humiliate, demean / abase / be low) / position (through bad deeds)

6 will bring upon his offspring/ posterity (`agab); in Baggara Arabic, this term is often used for offspring but it may also suggest here “the end / outcome”, 7) remorse, nidaama; the singer is reminding them that if they act dishonourably, it is those who come after them who will suffer their shame and be dishonoured in their turn.

8 She asks, “Is a soul so cheap upon your house / abode of oppression?” She is condemning senseless killing. Note in Baggara Arabic, kuu is used for the possessive kum

9 By God, life is wretched; ta`iisa; miserable / wretched; we want peace

10 he came to you, asking for justice, al-a`daala, referring to the demands of 2019 revolution

11 note this set phrase, with honour and dignity; bi`izza wa karaama

12 oh, they stopped, literally cut, his tongue and daHara; wiped out / also roll back, overpower; perhaps here swept away his words

13 oh, the martyr, shahiid, (is in his rightful place) in paradise

14 oh you who burned our guts

15 the singer warns those acting with violence that the world is not eternal (dawaama); that is they will ultimately face judgement for their acts

16 / 17 / 18 See Sudan bids farewell to Shadin Gardood; Aljazeera and Al Arabiya tell her story for commentary on these lines

19 your abode is destruction (kharaab) in nothingness; aS-Saay

20 act justly, brave young man; Sabii, plural Subyaan

21 fear God, (for) a river / sea of blood (flows over people) is measured / can be measured

22 Note this saying, meaning the axe has fallen on the head; used for hopeless situations when what was feared has already come to pass

23 the good name (suma`a) of our descendants is lost

24 / 25 see See Sudan bids farewell to Shadin Gardood; Aljazeera and Al Arabiya tell her story for commentary on this lines

Sudan bids farewell to Shadin Gardood; Aljazeera and Al Arabiya tell her story

Above, still from Aljazeera’s one minute, (inbuilt Arabic captions) review of Shadin’s life and the circumstances surrounding her death. The clip opens with a poignant excerpt from a recording of one of Shaden’s last telephone conversations. It closes with a song she sang shortly before her death. Can you remember when Sudanese use the expression above? There’s an explanation in https://sudanesearabicdocumentariestranscriptionsandtranslations.wordpress.com/2023/05/12/sudanese-civilians-stories-and-a-ramadan-prayer-for-peace-bbc-arabic-and-al-arabiya/

Background to Today’s Text

Today’s 5-minute, intermediate level report encapsulates the feelings of so many Sudanese on hearing of the death of the charismatic singer, musical researcher and peace activist, Shadin Gardood. It outlines the singer’s professional trajectory, discusses some of her social media posts and reports reactions from the public. It also explores conflicting accounts of her death.

Possible Approaches

What’s the context and significance of this quote? Watch the Aljazeera clip to find out.

If you are not familiar with Shadin, the report provides an excellent introduction to her life and work. Why not watch and take notes on aspects of her life you find most interesting? At the end of this section you will find links to articles giving more background to her life.

If you are familiar with her work, what would you expect the report to include?

If you would like specific comprehension questions, then consider the following:

Which account of her death is considered the most accurate? Why was her last FaceBook post so moving? What was the reaction to her death in social media? What aspect of her life are emphasized by the Sudanese correspondent?

When you have studied the Al-Arabiya report, watch the brief Aljazeera clip also embedded below. The clip closes with Shadin at home singing some highly emotive verses. The lyrics are below. Before you listen, can you put the lines in the right order? I provide a rough translation of the lyrics at the end of this post.

BBC Sudanese Singer Shadin Gardood killed

Aljazeera Prominent Sudanese Singer killed in Crossfire

Singer Shaden Gardood and Actress Asia Abdelmajid Victims of Sudan’s Brutal War

Lexical Focus

Expect to hear many expressions connected with war and warfare, for example;

shrapnel, projectiles, gunfire, stray bullet, ravages (of war) clashes, corps, besieged, imprisoned, call for peace, stand up against war, renounce war, looting, and terror.

You will also hear expressions related to Shadin’s death. Can you predict what might be used for the following?

to die / pass away, the late singer, the phrase used on hearing of someone’s death by Muslims, an expression to give the idea that her death was fated.

You will also hear words for;

honour, morals, chivalry, values, courage, altercation, heartbreak, contradictory accounts, to grow up / flourish, become involved in (a movement, for example), afflict / haunt, public / audience, and popularity.

The presenter has a gulf accent and uses two expressions characteristic of this dialect. Can you identify them?

Watch the Al Arabiya Report here:

Transcript

Transcript and Explanatory Notes

1 perhaps here, the artist’s memory /presence pervades / indwells, or the spirt of the late artist has descended upon / is still very much present in; from Khayyama, to encamp, abode, etc: see below;

2 manaSaat; platforms (media / social media)

3 after the announcement of her death / passing; wafaatihaa

4 riwaayaat; accounts/ stories surrounding her death

5 mataDaariba; contradictory / conflicting

6 ash-shaZaayaa; shrapnel

7 note this way of saying “hit by gunfire”; raSaaS; bullets

8 mushaada kalaamiyya; an altercation

9 armed men; musalaHiin

10 raSaasa Taa’isha; a stray bullet

11 note the way of saying “the late artist”; ar-raaHila

12 tara`ara; to flourish, also a synonym of nashaa’at; grow up / raised

13 moved / transferred to Omdurman; intaqalat

14 economics and business administration

15 died / passed away; verb; tuwuffii

16 at dawn; fajr

17 notice how we say “perhaps the saddest thing about this story is…”

18 she was famous for literally; chanting (tardiid)

19 songs of cultural heritage; turaathiya and revolutionary songs; thawriya

20 note this way of saying “calling for peace”

21 and rejecting (raafiDa lii) war

22 rawaaj; popularity, also marketability in other contexts

23 interaction; tafaa`il

24 that came over twitter

25 and the condolences…, literally, asking for God’s mercy on her

26 the last post (manshuur) circulated; yatadaawaluu)

27 bitashku min; complained

28 nahab; looting

29 jaw`; hunger

30 ar-ru`b; terror / horror

31 if we are to die, then we will die with our honour (karaamatnaa)

32 and morals / values (ikhlaaqnaa)

33 and we will meet our Lord taking nothing that doesn’t belong to us. Did you notice the Gulf Arabic mu for maa in muHagganaa?

34 notice this religious allusion to the ka`ba

35 imprisoned

36 looting, see 28)

37 with all the heartbreak; Hasra

38 we watch; bintafaraj

39 yes, we are hungry

40 but we are replete with / full (contrast with hunger) of values; perhaps here, we lack food but we don’t lack moral values

41 we are besieged (muHaaSir) by death from all sides

42 welcome to death with (our) honour and moral values (intact)

43 note this religious invocation for God’s aid in restoring Sudan

44 (which of the accounts is) the most accurate. Did you notice the Gulf Arabic “iish” for which?

45 they are present / to be found on top / on the roof of their home, watching

46 clashes, ishtibaakaat

47 close to them / in their proximity; maqruba

48 and specifically; taHdiidaan

49 headquarters (maqar)

50 broadcasting (idhaa`a)

51 aSilaaH aT-Tibiyy; medical corps

52 engineers corps

53 and other corps

54 qaDaa’ wa qadar; fate; literally judgement and fate

55 maqdhuuf; projectile

56 fell and reached (hit) her

57 the rest of them were uninjured; lam yuSibhum adhaa …. as has been circulating / was circulated, see 26)

58 the idea here is that there’s no indication that she was targeted – a fear voiced by some, due to her pro-revolutionary sympathies

59 just an act of fate; literally pure (maHD; maHuDa, to be pure) judgement (qaDaa’) and qadar; fate

60 reaction; radd-el-fi`l

61 delay; taakhiir

62 referring to her loyal fans; to be updated

63 stand out / be prominent

64 she began as a singer and poet

65 reject war; yanbidh; renounce / reject

66 inkharaTat; to get involved in

67 and gained widespread fame; shuhra

68 iiqaa`aat; rhythms

69 marduum; to be updated

70 Tambuur; a Sudanese rhythm, also tambour drum

71 calling for; yunaadii bi

72 Hakaama; see

https://womensliteracysudan.blog/2021/05/18/her-words-slayed-dragons/

73 the nickname (laqab) / name / title given to her by her

74 public /audiences; jumhuuruhaa

75 al-`urf; custom / tradition / convention

76 glorifying virtuous / worthy (faaDila) values (qiyam)

77 courage; ash-shajaa`

78 chivalry; muru’a

79 did you catch this? A wave of grief

80 intaabat; haunt / afflict

81 her passing / death; raHiilihaa

82 she stood up against the war

83 waylaat; ravages of war

84 during her childhood; ibaan Tufuulatihaa

85 at the start of your introduction (ta`riif)

86 she tasted ( tadhawwaqat) its ravages

87 she didn’t support any side

88 mudaakhala; literally, intervention / presentation

89 tawDiiHaat; clarifications

Aljazeera Mini Summary and Shadin’s Song

1 The war in Sudan has ended the course / trajectory (masiira) of the Sudanese artist, as a result of (`ala ithr; immediately after / following on, also impact, in the wake of), a shell falling (suquuT qadhiifa) on her home in Omdurman. The departed / late singer (ar-raaHila); who was known as Hakaama (see above) Shadin

2 from a cultured / educated (muthaqafa) musical and artistic family (belonging to) the Baggara tribe going back to artistic pioneers (raa’idaat) and Kordofani culture. She presented / brought out / produced many songs of (cultural) heritage (turaathiyya)

3 her artistic experience (tajriba) is characterized by peace and values (qiyam) of justice (`adaala). In 2019 she joined (inDamat) the protests (al-taZaaharaat) that broke out

(indala`at) against the regime (niZaam) of President Bashir

4 In 2021 she announced her opposition (munaahiDa) to the military coup (inqilaab) and she was opposed to the latest conflict( Siraa`) between the army and the RSF

Explanation of the Song Lyrics

1 don’t kill your brother, oh brother

2 literally, don’t make (tasawwii) useless / empty (naay; also raw / uncooked) words

3 libs la-khalag wa- zayy; literally, with (your) clothes (khalaga; word used by the Baggara for clothes) and costume / regional attire; this could also refer to military uniform

4 Harag al-guluub bikaay; (burning) hearts with literally; cauterizing (makwa; iron); perhaps here, searing / branding

5 head empty of religion; raas faaDii min ad-diin

6 bringing / carrying (shaayliin) guns / weapons (silaaH), roaming around (Haayimiin)

7 you kill left and right

8 literally; not conserving / maintaining / safeguarding; Saaiiniin, from Saana,uu, opposite of khaana, to betray, companionship (`ushra)

Two Brothers at War; BBC Arabic tells the story

Two Brothers at War, BBC Arabic tells the story

Above, screen grab from today’s BBC Arabic news report.

Background to Today’s Text

Today’s text is a heartwarming 5-minute BBC Arabic report on the personal impact of the war on one Sudanese family in particular as two brothers find themselves on opposite sides in the conflict. The high intermediate level text is delivered in standard journalistic Arabic interspersed with reading of social media comments as well as personal spoken accounts in conversational Sudanese.

One approach is to take the text as a cold listening test and see how much you can understand / what key points you missed before checking your comprehension against the transcript. If you would prefer pre-listening orientation, look at the Possible Approaches and Lexical Focus sections below.

The text is a rich source of basic terms connected with the conflict. It also provides excellent practice in familiarizing yourself with how the dual case in Arabic sounds in fast speech.

Possible Approaches

If you would like pre-viewing comprehension questions, then follow the following:

What background is provided on the two brothers involved in the conflict? What role is played by Mohammad, pictured below, and what prompted his attempts to contact his brothers? What response did Mohammad’s social media post receive from the public? How does Mohammad feel about his brothers’ involvement in the war and how does he feel about the war itself?

Lexical Focus

Below are some of the key terms you can expect to hear:

“battlefront and battle”, “cast a shadow over”, “conflict” “outbreak of war” and “enemies”. How would you say “to be on opposite sides” of a conflict, and to “give up / lay down arms”? The text uses three different terms for words for “brothers”; what might they be? How would you say “to become a prisoner of someone”, “confused” and “sympathize with”?

You will hear synonyms for “ruin / destruction / devastation”. What might they be? How would you say “issue orders”, “retreat”, “cowardice”, “absurd / futile”, “heartbreaking”, “conviction”, “motto/ watchword” and “concern / obsession”?

Mohammad uses a conversational expression for “years back”. He also uses several religious phrases to invoke protection of those he loves. Can you predict what they might be?

Watch the Report Here:

https://www.facebook.com/BBCnewsArabic/videos/1193131824718418/?extid=NS-UNK-UNK-UNK-IOS_GK0T-GK1C&mibextid=2Rb1fB&ref=sharing

Transcript

Transcript with Explanatory Notes

1 jabhatii-lqitaal; the battlefield / battlefront against each other; (standing on opposite sides)

2 fighting / conflict; iqtitaal (muSalaH; armed)

3a/b; alqaa biZilaalihi; casts its shadow

4 the conflict; aS-Siraa`

5 faHasb bal; note this expression for “only only but also”

6 Taala; here, reaching

7 al-ukhwaa; brothers and relatives (al-aqaarib)

8 (taHawwala) converted in / became enemies (`aDuwayn, note dual)

9 pointing / aiming (yuwajihaan) their weapons (iSlaaHa) at each other

10 yuqaatil fii Sufuuf; is fighting in the ranks (plural of Saf; row / line / rank) of …..

11 yantamii ilaa; belong to

12 Haa’ir; confused / perplexed

13 via social media sites; muwaaqa`

14 yesterday night, razaga allah bii; note this way of saying someone has been blessed; God has bestowed them with a son / daughter;

15 idhaa waqa`a asiiran; note this way of saying” if he falls prisoner to you…”

16 note this frequently used religious phrase; I ask God to save / preserve you both

17 mu`araka; battle

18 (in this battle I am the only) loser; al-khaasir

19 later (laaHiqaan), tama’na; reassure / assure / promise, see below:

20 faraHaa (note dual); to be happy; saying that they were both glad to hear the news

21 itafagaa; agreed (dual) to naming (tasmiyya) him Mohammad

22 (how did these two brothers end up on) opposite; mutaDaada(Tayn; dual sides);

23 fassara; explain, clarify, make clearer

24 this was their profession / job (mihna, dual)

25 note this collocation for “when war broke out”; indala`a al-Harb

26 muntasib bii; and 28) intasaba; belong to / join / become a member of

27 gabli kamm taashir sana; note this informal way of “years back”

28 see 26)

29 awaakhir; late …and graduated

30 as-saquut; the fall of Bashir and this was their job and fought in the forces in their day

31 ta`aaTif; (the readers who) sympathized with / felt for him / his situation

32 (so many similar cases), literally, the silence (Samt) of pain speaks

33 the publication (manshuur)

34 the sun of peace and freedom will shine ….

35 damaar; ruin, destruction, devastation

36 al-kharaab; ruin, havoc, wreckage

37 suffering; ma`aanaa’

38 and will relate / recount this story to him and 39) to be updated

40 May God help you ….kaan allah bi`aunikum

41 tadwiina; post / blog entry

42 heartbreaking; tafTur quluub; after his brother’s appeal; see below, from alMaany and Bab.la;

43 to be updated

44 to be updated

45 yakhshaahu; what most frightens Mohammad is that his brothers might end up face to face (in battle)

46 note the way of saying “face to face”

47 after the issuing (Suduur) of orders (awaamir) from their units (waHadaati)

48 their relationship (`alaaqaatum)

49 haajis; concern / obsession

50 literally; came out of the (same) womb (riHm), meaning they were as one and the same

51 and he tried to convince (iqna`a) / persuade his brother to

52 give up arms, literally leave arms

53 (because he believes / considers) the war not to be a war of the nation (waTaniya) / people and that it is absurd / futile (`abathiyya);

54 ashqaa’; plural of shaqiiq

55 confirmed

56 I call on God to protect you

57 and for God literally; to cover you

58 and I asked him to withdraw (from the war)

59 but he said he was fighting (according to) his conviction (qanaa`a) and

60 `aadla; fair, just

61 mottos, watchwords, banners; shi`aaraat

62 withdrawing / retreating from battle

63 means cowardice (jubn) and fear

64 note this religious supplication; I call on God Almighty

65 to stop this war (iiqaaf)

66 to help us ta`inanaa

Sudanese Civilians’ Stories and a Ramadan Prayer for Peace; BBC Arabic and Al-Arabiya

Sudanese Civilians’ Stories and a Ramadan Prayer for Peace

Background to This Week’s Texts

Today, we return to colloquial Sudanese. We hear the voices of Sudanese civilians who have fled fighting in Khartoum as well as those battling to survive in the capital. We close with a moving formal prayer for peace in Sudan.

The first two BBC Arabic lower-intermediate level reports, just over a minute each, have built-in subtitles. However, these differ substantially from the colloquial language actually used and give additional background explanation to the comments of those interviewed. Try not to read the subtitles as you listen to the reports. After you have tested your comprehension skills, why not analyze the differences between the standard Arabic subtitles and the colloquial language you hear?

The 40-second prayer encapsulates messages central to preventing enmity among the community of believers at a time when the danger of civil war is very real.

Possible Approaches

Below are the Sudanese interviewed by BBC Arabic at the Egyptian border. How positive or negative do you expect their experiences to be? Were you right? What criticisms do they have of the border authorities?

If you prefer, make notes to summarize their experiences and feelings traveling to and upon reaching the border.

Below, some of some interviewed by Mohammad Osman, pictured lower left, talking about the challenges involved in staying in Khartoum. What are their major concerns? Shortly after submitting this report, Mohammad Osman was tragically forced to flee Sudan.

If, like me, you have forgotten or are largely unfamiliar with religious formulaic expressions of Islamic worship, persevere with this moving text. The supplications are repeated several times and the overall tone is one of rejection of enmity.

Lexical Focus

What expressions would you expect to hear in the three reports of for the following ideas:

refugees, feel sorrow, three expressions for forced (verb and participle forms); crossing / crossing points, to be based / settled in a place, passports, exit visa, lack of organization and unpleasant / upsetting? How would you describe a way or road that was clear / free of obstacles?

How would you say:

deprived of water, running back and forth (in search of water), fetch (water), two synonyms for non -existent, totally lacking (water / electricity), suffering, pillars / columns (of smoke), thick / dense, clashes and fasting period?

In the photo below you will see a religious-based expression used in one of the texts below. What does it mean and when is it used?

What colloquial pronunciation of the word “thirsty” might you expect to hear?

In the prayer for Sudan, how might we express the following in formal religious register:

save / preserve (Sudan); quench/ extinguish, prevent blood letting, enmity/ hatred, grudge, discord / strife, internecine conflict?

Above, screen grab from another, Aljazeera FB video report, showing a Khartoum resident holding a shell that fell through the roof of his home.

Text 1 At the Sudanese- Egyptian Border

سودانيون على الحدود المصرية… “نشعر بالأسى من أننا أصبحنا لاجئين”

https://www.facebook.com/BBCnewsArabic/videos/1457159264820590/?extid=NS-UNK-UNK-UNK-IOS_GK0T-GK1C&mibextid=2Rb1fB&ref=sharing

Transcript

Transcript with Explanatory Notes

1 we feel sorrow /sadness / grief (because we have become) refugees (laaji’iin) and next line, unnumbered, and thank goodness, the way was clear (saalik; for routes, clear / passable, not blocked, free of obstacles)

2 note this emphatic way of saying “it was so exhausting”, using ta`b shadiid, and her use of colloquial address, yaa bitii

3 See uses of the filler expression, ghaytu, below. Note use of Sudanese colloquial maraga, for to leave, and marghuumiin; forced

500 Words Sudanese Colloquial Expressions

4 injabara; to be compelled / forced

5 most Sudanese have sought refuge in the states (of Northern Sudan)

6 muqiim; settled, based

7 he means that this is just a crossing point (mi`bar) / transit point for him on his way back to the Emirates

8 note this affectionate way of referring to his homeland, balad Haboob; beloved, echoing the famous lyrics of Mohammad Wardi

9 Did you catch this comment? He says we were not accustomed / used to (the noise of gunfire); maa it`awadnaa

10 (even) if we hear someone playing about (with guns),we get startled; bitkhala` (a) – to startle / frighten, note use of dulwagtii; now

11 perhaps here, and sadness has taken hold of us even more now that we feel ourselves to be

12 refugees

13 note this religious exclamation when experiencing intense feelings of injustice / oppression being meted out to you; May God suffice us ….- in fact there is an unspoken condemnation of the oppressor in this expression

14 a flat / appartment

15 Our Lord has been generous to us in (providing) this land route enabling us to get to Egypt, (as opposed to the current closure of air routes)

16 al-mu `aabir; crossing points

17 gaafla; closed

18 passports (jawaazaat)

19 (exit) visa (taashiira)

20 lack of organization (`adam al-niZaam)

21 mu`zija; annoying / irritating / uncomfortable / upsetting / unpleasant

22 note repetition of this verb for emphasis

Text 2 The Search for Water

مراسل بي بي سي في السودان: “نفد الماء، فذهبت إلى نهر النيل لكي أشرب” على الرغم من أنني ما زلت أسمع أصوات الانفجارات وإطلاق النار في جميع أنحاء المدينة، لم

https://www.facebook.com/BBCnewsArabic/videos/789662945837016/?extid=NS-UNK-UNK-UNK-IOS_GK0T-GK1C&mibextid=2Rb1fB&ref=sharing

Transcript

Transcript with Explanatory Notes

1 running out of water

2 the sounds of explosions; aSwaat al-infajaaraat and gunfire; iTlaag al-naar

3 note this colloquial way of giving the idea of running about all over the place / back and forth (in their search for water)

4 literally; deprivation; Hirmaan; deprived of water

5 and some are compelled / forced to; iDDTara

6 jalab; fetch / bring

7 the west bank (aD-Diffa al-gharbiyya)

8 a number of families, note the synonyms used

9 ma`aduuma; nil, inexistent

10 muna`dima; nil; inexistent

11 ma`aanaa; suffering

12 in this fast(ing period); aS-Siyaam

13 ishtibaakaat; clashes

14 axes, hubs (muHaawir)

15 columns (`amida, plural of

`amuud

of smoke (dukhaan) climbing / rising (tataSaa`id)

16 densely / thickly bishakl kathiif

17 `ashTaaniin; notice the Sudanese colloquial inversion of the consonants T and sh in this pronunciation of “thirsty”

Text 3 A Ramadan Prayer for Peace

“شيخ الأمين” ودعاء من قيام ليلة 27 رمضان بـ”إخماد الفتن”

https://www.facebook.com/alarabiyasu/videos/1054171802212605/?extid=NS-UNK-UNK-UNK-IOS_GK0T-GK1C&mibextid=2Rb1fB&ref=sharing

Transcript

Transcript with Explanatory Notes

1 see below, akhmada; to quench

al-fitin; discord / strife, also sedition; this word has numerous meanings and religious – political resonances; however below, some secular uses;

2 God, save, preserve ….

3 see 1)

4 iHqan; prevent (for bloodshed), spare the blood / life of

5 Make our land secure

6 Make our land safe

7 raise up Sudan

8 cleanse our hearts of

9 Hasad; envy / animosity / grudges; given the situation, the Sheikh is probably urging here the removal of enmity and grudges that foment civil war

10 Hiqd; this word also means rancor, animosity, ill will, malice and hatred

11 ghill; feeling of hatred or anger / venom towards someone

12 ..to those who believe; again the Sheikh is emphasizing the need for Muslims not to engage in internecine strife

Prisons and Medical Services; the Impact of War on Khartoum – Aljazeera and Al-Arabiya Report

Above, screengrabs from the Aljazeera report on security breaches in Sudanese prisons, and below, opening scene from Al Arabiya’s brief headlines report on the health crisis in Khartoum.

Background to This Week’s Texts

The two texts below are an excellent resource for testing your intermediate to upper- intermediate grasp of rapid, dense, headline-based snapshot reports on security and health issues relevant to the current crisis in Khartoum.

Both texts are standard journalistic Arabic and have built-in, accurate subtitles. Try to treat them as radio texts, so cover the screen while you listen. Alternatively, use the transcriptions below as pre-listening pronunciation tests. Can you deliver the two reports with fluent, correct pronunciation and vowelling in the style of a newsreader? Another option could be to treat the texts as dictations. Check your versions against the transcripts provided afterwards.

Possible Approaches

The first text (1.5 minutes) is a lightning overview of recent events in Khartoum’s prisons. Do you have any background knowledge on this issue? If so, what do you expect to hear? If you don’t, make notes on the key developments covered.

The second text (40 seconds) is a rapid summary of health challenges facing medical staff and patients in Khartoum. It consists of five statements summarizing health issues in Khartoum arising from continued hostilities in the capital. Write down your guesses in Arabic; what will those five statements cover?

Alternatively, what do you think these numbers might refer to; 24, 50, 61%, 16 (used twice) and 8?

Lexical Focus

For pre-viewing orientation, consider the following:

Text 1 – Aljazeera The Prisons Crisis

What expressions do you predict will be used for “clashes”, “escalating”, “prison”, “prisoners”, “be released”, “evacuation”, “sites”, “video clips”, “former regime”, “contradict (statements / claims)”, “deny / denial”; “news outlets”, “security situation”, “exchange accusations / mutually accuse one another of”, “be dressed / wearing /”, “to be behind a situation”, “attack” and “coincide with/ be simultaneous”?

Text 2 Al Arabiya The Health Crisis

What terms might be used for the following:

“warning”, “catastrophe”, “medical scare / supervision”, “risks / dangers”, “to give birth”, “prevention”, “spread of epidemics”, “laboratory”, “facilities” ,”infections”, “tampering / manipulation of medical samples”, “seizure / takeover”, and “medical samples”?

Watch Report 1 Here:

fb.watch/ksNunzilKj/

Transcript with Explanatory Notes

1 literally, in the shadow (perhaps here; / context / against the backdrop) (Zill) of escalating (mutaSaa ìda) clashes (istibaakaat) between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces, thousands of prisoners (note one of two possible plurals used in this text, sujanaa’, in a number of central prisons, have found themselves free (note the form for “free”); note also muTlaq as-siraaH could be used

See too, from Bab.la;

2 local (maHaliyya) Sudanese sites (muwaaqi`a) have published / released (nasharat) video

clips (muqaaTi`a) of prisoners at the moment of their escape (firaar) from Kober Prison in northern Khartoum. The witness goes on to say that the prisoners, note another plural form, masaajin – all of them were evacuated (tamma ikhlaa’; note he is careful to use the word for evacuation of a place, ikhlaa’, rather than escape)

3 The prison includes / contains (yaDumm) a number of the leaders; (qaada) of the former regime (a-niZaam as-saabiq), at its head, Omar Bashir, removed from office (ma`zuul) and his deputy / vice president … In the beginning news sources (al-anbaa’) were contradictory (verb; taDaarabat) in the matter of the inmates exiting prison and leaders of the former regime

4 because of the danger (associated with) the security (al-amniia) situation (al-awDaa)in the district (Hayy) of Kober and neighbouring (mujaawara) areas (munaaTiq).

However, different sources (maSaadir) have denied media (wasaa’il al- `ilaam) (reports) of Bashir’s leaving prison or any of, literally, symbols (rumuuz) of his regime, and confirmed / stressed that he has been kept (tamma taHaffuZ, note preposition) in a safe / secure (aamin) place.

The two sides (Tarfaa) in the conflict (nizaa`) have exchanged (tabaadala) accusations (al-itihaamaat)

5 literally, standing behind / being behind the release (iTlaaq siraaH) of the prisoners …with news outlets saying (warada; to be said / mentioned) that those who attacked haajamuu) the prison were dressed in (yartadii) in the clothes (zayy), here uniform of the RSF, who responded with a denial / denying (nafii) this claim and accusing the army of being behind this matter. During the past few days, thousands have left a number of prisons

6 such as …….because of the lack of provision (tawaffur) of food and water and these events coincide (bil-tazaamun) with continuing operations to evacuate (ijlaa’) ………

7 and (various countries, among them ……………) have announced their evacuation or intention (niyya) to evacuate those under their care (their citizens) for approaching 9 days consecutively

Watch Report 2 Here

fb.watch/ksQ1JpK97Y/

Transcript with explanatory Notes

24 thousand women will give birth without medical / health supervision / care and 50 thousand children are facing real (medical) risk / dangers; are at grave medical risk

61% of health facilities manshaat) are closed and only 16% of medical amenities (muraafiq) are still practising / at work

Specialized centres for prevention of (tafashii; spread of) epidemics (plural of wabaa’ ) / disease control centres / have stopped working and there is the possibility of (waquu`; occurance) infections (iSaabaat) as a result of drinking unclean / contaminated water.

There have been 16 attacks on centres (medical organization) reported and the killing / death of 8 personnel

The seizure / requisition / takeover, note preposition, of (Khartoum’s) medical (disease / research) laboratory has raised fears of biological dangers / risks and the tampering / manipulation of samples kept / stored there