Gulf Arabic: The Dialects of Riyadh and Eastern Saudi Arabia - Grammar, Dialogues, and Lexicon

The primary purpose of this book, which is based on numerous hours of recorded data collected on Riyadh and Eastern Saudi Arabia dialects, is to provide the intermediate learner of Saudi Arabic, who has some background in MSA, with a sample of a wide variety of authentic dialectal material together with grammatical and lexical aids. The book contains English translations of all of the selections which makes it suitable for self-study.

The book is divided into three parts. Part One is devoted to a brief grammar that outlines the essential linguistic features and dialectal peculiarities of Riyadh and Eastern Saudi Arabia dialects. It discusses the phonological, morphological, and syntactical characteristic features of each of these dialects.

Part Two consists of 45 sample selections (with vocabulary), each of which is made from a transcription of an audio recording of a natural conversation between family members or close friends, provided in a modified version of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), and in a fully voweled Arabic script. These authentic recordings present real life situations and reflect typical ways in which native speakers communicate with one another. The subject matter covers a great variety of topics on food, traditions, religious holidays, economy, raising children, the effect of TV on children, schools, weddings, feasts, toys, video games, fishing, the World Cup, cars, dialectal differences, and many more.

Part Three is a glossary containing about 2,000 items.