Translation Troubles

!!!!!اهلا وسهلا و مرحبا بكم

For Arabic Soup's first blog post I thought it would be appropriate to present a video highlighting a common condition for students of Arabic, being lost in translation. The video below is from the comedy group N2O. You can see more of their videos here http://www.youtube.com/user/N2OComedy?feature=watch . 

I have taken some of the key vocabulary and phrases and given translations and short explanations. 

Enjoy!!

For those of you unfamiliar with Levantine or Jordanian Arabic this video may be a little tough. Especially since it is dealing with humor which is usually one of the more difficult aspects of a foreign language to grasp. However, even beginning and intermediate level students can benefit from hearing Arabic the way it is actually spoken and by picking up a few new phrases. 

صفات اللهجة الشامية - Characteristics of Levantine Arabic

 ,to laugh  بضحك , to go ب- مثل بروح,

In Levantine Arabic ب before a present tense verb represents an action that is done regularly. As in I eat Ramen noodles (everyday) or I go to the gym (every friday). It does not specify how often the action takes place but just that it happens regularly. There is another marker عم  that represents an action taking place right now. 

0:54 شاطر –  Clever (In Levantine Arabic)

1:00 عرض علي-  “To Offer “; This is the first time I’ve heard this word used in this particular way. In MSA it means to present somethine (I.E. to make seen)

1:16  صار له عشرة سنين هون  - - “He has been here 10 years”; In MSA صار means to become -One of اخوات  - كان, however in Levantine صار has many meanings. When used with ل it means “to have spent x amount of time. EX. قديش صار لك هون – How long have you been here?

1:18 زي في بيض في طمه - - “Like he has eggs in his mouth.”

زي- مثل  Levantine

طم- فم  Levantine

1:48 احتل – to occupy (i.e. militarily)

1:50 – بشتكو  - complaining

1:55 – 2:15

 عزم  - to host (i.e. to treat s.o. to)

 معزوم – to be treated to (اسم المعفعول)

 مرفوض – Literally- refused (M. “unacceptable)

  فظع – Literally- Horrible, (In Jordan people may yell فظع  when they are going to fight s.o; i.e. When you hear this word it may be time to find a new hangout, or get out your camera. )

  على عيونكLiterally On your eyes (M. “I got you”)

3:02 –بكون يشبه زرافة  - looks like a giraffe

شبه  - To Resemble

3:08 – عملنا ألم و وجع رأس  - Cause pain and headaches

عمل – (Also) To cause (Literally – “Make for us”) Levantine

3:38 – هاذ برت ركّز فيه – “Pay attention to this part”

4:48 –لابس نفس البوط   - “Always wears the same shoes”

بوط  - Shoes. Levantine

5:10- ما في داعي  - “there is no need to”

داعي   -Literally a caller; In Levantine- a need

Note: I’ve only ever heard this used as ما في داعي and never as عندي داعي

5:11- يضربو كفين L. Hit him with two hands ( M. Beat him up)

5:17 – دوار- Publice Circle (in Amman)

5:20 – الله يستر- May god Protect

5:30 حضر – To watch i.e a film, soccer match, ballet (Jordanian)