Zompist Bboard Again

Waking this thread, because I am looking for a comprehensive grammar of the Arabic language, preferably with references to its different variants. Those that I found, expect me to master the writing system first, but I just want to check some paradigms. Do you have tips?

Raholeun wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2024 7:57 am Waking this thread, because I am looking for a comprehensive grammar of the Arabic language, preferably with references to its different variants. Those that I found, expect me to master the writing system first, but I just want to check some paradigms. Do you have tips?

Wikipedia has this, though I don't know how good it is. At least, it gives all the forms and paradigms both in Arabic script and in romanization.

This pdf is pretty good, because it's succinct and hits all the points you want for comparative grammar. You don't really need Arabic script knowledge, because they give you all the vowel marks.
This one is a little longer and more rambling, but it's better for the details. Again, vowel marks are included so no real script knowledge required beyond the obvious.

WeepingElf wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2024 10:50 am Wikipedia has this, though I don't know how good it is. At least, it gives all the forms and paradigms both in Arabic script and in romanization.

That is indeed what I am looking for, and then some. The linked article isn't half bad, and I am assuming it is pretty much correct, but it is limited in scope (as a Wiki entry should be).

Glass Half Baked wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2024 8:57 pm This pdf is pretty good, because it's succinct and hits all the points you want for comparative grammar. You don't really need Arabic script knowledge, because they give you all the vowel marks.
This one is a little longer and more rambling, but it's better for the details. Again, vowel marks are included so no real script knowledge required beyond the obvious.

Unfortunately, both of these do in fact presuppose that one learns the writing system. Which I think is odd. Why is it perfectly natural to write, let's say a grammar of Chinese, Acehnese or Mongolian, without demanding knowledge of Hanzi, Jawi or the Mongolian script, but not so for Arabic? Thusfar, I have found The Phonology and Morphology of Arabic by Watson which comes close, but is proverbially not a cigar.

It's 28 letters.
I believe in you.

Glass Half Baked wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 5:19 am It's 28 letters.

It’s still an annoyance if one just wants to look up some forms.

The big problems with Arabic script are A) it's cursive so you have to learn how all the letters link together and B) when written in-line with Latin script it is typically squished to the point of being completely illegible. E.g. I have a much harder time with Arabic script than with Hebrew script myself for these reasons.