The Sound System of Modern Standard Arabic: A Handbook for Teachers & Learners Reviews

This 78-page manual details the sounds of each vowel and consonant, diphthongs, double consonants, consonant clusters, syllable structure, word stress, rhythm and intonation of the Arabic language. This is a tall order for a small book, too tall in fact, but the trick is listening to a native speaker pronounce the examples given. Even without the benefit of a native, the book's real value lies in the attention it gives to each letter. Although the best way to learn is to listen, this manual does a decent job explaining some of the more common pronunciation pitfalls. You can always use it in conjunction with sound samples from the internet.

If you need practice with the writing system, there are several books out there. The one on the right is an old DLI textbook. It isn't the best book ever, but then again, you don't need a lot from a script book. Arabic writing is complex, but once you get it, you will never forget it. Honestly, I don't recommend wasting your money on a writing book unless you want to learn calligraphy or something. There are lots of free Arabic tools online you can use to learn how to write and read.