Arabic and the Ethnic Languages of Egypt
History and Cultural Background Revealed in People's Speech
Jun 27, 2009
Language is one of the most basic elements of human communication, but it can often be difficult for people to understand each other given the wide variety of languages in the world, and even in individual countries. Although official languages help ease communication problems between different groups in a region, many other tongues continue to exist and thrive. In Egypt, for example, languages as varied as Greek and the desert language of Siwi exist and thrive alongside the official Arabic language and its dialects, enriching the culture of the country.
The Arabic Language in Egypt
As in much of the Middle East and northern Africa, Arabic is the language most universally spoken and understood in Egypt, although even that language varies considerably from region to region. According to the Summer Institute of Linguistic’s (SIL) Ethnologue website, the spoken Arabic of Cairo is the most widely understood variety in the Arab world, but even in Egypt, the language varies considerably. Like English, which can be as unique as the Cockney rhyming slang of London or the broad accents of the American south and the clipped dialects of India, Arabic is not a uniform language. While Modern Standard Arabic is the language of most books and newspapers and Classical Arabic is used in religious texts, each country has its own spoken variety of the language which developed over the years of the country’s history. In Egypt, trade with other countries greatly influenced the development of Arabic in the region, while each region has its own varieties.
SIL describes at least five varieties of Arabic in Egypt, including Modern Standard, Sa’idi, and Egyptian Spoken Arabic, also known as Egyptian Colloquial Arabic. The Arabic of Cairo is a mixture of the Modern Standard variety spoken in other parts of the Middle East and the dialects of Middle Egypt and the Delta. Interaction with other cultures has also influenced the language, and foreign words, including the ubiquitous “O.K.,” are scattered throughout people’s speech. The tourist industry has also made knowledge of languages such as German and Italian quite common among tour guides, if not among the general population, according to official travel information. However, knowledge of Arabic can still be very helpful for dealing with shopkeepers, taxi drivers, and other local people.
African Tongues, Sign Language, and Greek in Egypt
Several local languages are also part of Egypt’s linguistic map. Although Coptic, a language based on the ancient pharaonic tongue, is rarely used outside the Orthodox church, it is an important part of Egyptian history. Egyptian Sign Language serves the deaf population, while local languages such as Domari and Kenuzi-Dongala are used in some parts of the country. Although the armies of Alexander the Great are long gone, Greek is still a fairly common language in Egypt, especially near the Mediterranean coast and Alexandria. Cairo is also home to various African languages such as Swahili and Amharic brought in by refugees from other countries staying in Egypt in hopes of reaching the west.
Languages help tell the story of any country, from its history and geography to its people and cultures. In Egypt, many different influences have resulted in a linguistic richness that makes the challenge of communication fascinating.
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