From: e.d.wardini@easteur-orient.uio.no (Elie Dib Wardini) (Elie Dib Wardini)
Subject: Re: English ? (Was Re: soc.culture.lebanon.dialect?)
Organization: UiO
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 11:10:48 GMT

In article <1992Oct6.221939.9032@PA.dec.com> krt@ddxrsg.mlo.dec.com (Khaled
Tabbara) writes:
>
>
>The problem with AlphaLeb is that if the writer has a different accent
>than the reader then it makes it tougher on the reader. This is not the
>case when you are listening to someone with a different accent. Writing
>with an accent may make it more difficult for others to understand you.
>
>AlphaLeb is cute, but does not really solve any problem as far as I can
>tell.
>
>I don't really think it is a threat to the Arabic language or an attempt
>to create a Lebanese language. I think most sensible people would agree
>that what the Lebanese speak is Arabic (with a Lebanese dialect/accent)
>plus some uniquely local words mixed in. 

Khaled, I like your moderation. But et me make it completely clear, and it is
important to note in BIG letters that BASSEM DISAGREES WITH ME ON THIS POINT!

I want us to write Lebanese, and that Lebanese become a language on equal
footing with any other language. True Lebanese is an Arabic dialect, so is
Maltese. YEt we call Maltese MAltese and not Arabic.

Moreover, for this purpose I want to use the Latin alphabet. Not because I
dislike tha Arabic alphabet, but not having any emotional attachement to it, I
see that it will be easier to use the Latin alphabet.

AGAIN I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT BASSEM DOES NOT AGREE WITH ME ON THIS POINT!

of course, not all agree with me. So some will not want to use the LEbanese
Arabic dialect at all for written purposes. Others would prefere using that
Arabic alphabet.

Personallu I do not see any contradiction in any of the approaches. THe medium
that best suits the poeple will be used.

Note for example that Norway (with a population of 4 million) has two official
languages. Book NOrwegian and New Norwegian. Of course there is discussion
about it, and of course New Norwegian is a reaction against Danish control over
Norway. Yet there is not civil war in NOrway, and Danes and Norwegians get
along quite well (even if Denmark is as falt as a pan-cake and that the Danes
can't cross-country ski! :)  )

In fact the mere acceptance of the Danes and the Swedes that the Norwegians
want to be themselves, helped much more in advancing their cooperation. The
Swedish King, at te begining of this century when Norway was united with Sweden
under the Swedish King, said: there should not be war between our peoples. He
thus averted war, which the NOrwegians were intent on having if they did not
get seperated from the Swedish King. Today, these three countries, Norway,
Denmark and Sweden have some of the best cooperation treaties that exist in the
world.

This is because it is based on mutual respect.

Therefore, please do not believe what some say, I do not want to "isolate
myself" from the Arabs. I want the Arabs to respect me, and I have to respect
them. THerfore, I will never ask that "Lebanese" replace "Classical" Arabic for
those who do not wish it. Yet grant me the freedom to choose.

THerfore whether political, linguistic or whath have you, we should be open to
accept each other.

THen we wil be able to live as brothers! and together.

>
>--
>Khaled Tabbara                    



elie wardini
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon