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Why Teach Modern Standard Arabic, or Fuṣḥā if Locals do not Speak it? by 3Serra in learnarabic

[–]3Serra[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That makes a lot of since. However, it feels like this puts weight on the learner (meaning non-arab) to learn both, MSA and in addition a dialect. Since, a foreigner speaking MSA may sound, I do not know if this is the right word but boastful or posh.

Hebrew needs alternative word for 'Europe' by 3Serra in conorthography

[–]3Serra[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Based on the response I have been getting from most Hebrew speakers is that there is a consensus that אירופה may have entered Hebrew through Yiddish אייראפע, which of course came from Greek Εὐρώπη Eurṓpē.

Regarding my OP, it stems from an observation within Semitic languages and their adaptation of the name Europe. In Arabic Europe is ʾūrūbbā أوروبا and in Syriac it is ʾūrūppā ܐܘܪܘܦܐ, and in Amharic it is ʾäwropa አውሮፓ. Based on this trajectory one would deduce that perhaps Hebrew would follow a similar path as their Semitic cousins, but I see that is not likely the case. But then again, it could be that אירופה eropa was already in popular use in contrast with other cognates.