The study of Tunisian Arabic (and Arabic dialects in general) is made very difficult, due to the fact that it is not regarded, even by most Tunisians, as a proper language, but as a corruption and misuse of classical or Qur'an Arabic. No or very few proper studies or investigations of this interesting language have been published, and this account is largely based on the personal experiences of a native Tunisian.

Tunisian Arabic is a dialect spoken by all Tunisians, who mostly consider themselves Arabs. Almost all speakers of Tunisian also speak classical or standard Arabic. The Berbers of the island of Jerba and the southern part of Tunisia speak Tunisian Arabic as a second language along with a Berber language called Shelha . The number of native speakers of Shelha is unknown, but is certainly very small. It is feared that this language will soon disappear completely.

Tunisian Arabic is basically a Maghrebi dialect spoken all over Tunisia, as well as in the eastern part of Algeria and the western part of Libya. Its grammar and syntax are not very different from Classical or Middle Eastern Arabic; however, its pronunciation and vocabulary are quite different. It is thus virtually incomprehensible to Middle Easterners. It is, however, generally easily understood by Algerians and Moroccans. Maltese, while considered a different language, is actually very similar to Tunisian.

Contents

1 Vocabulary 2 Pronunciation 3 Grammar 4 Literature in Tunisian Arabic

Vocabulary

The most obvious difference between Tunisian and standard Arabic is the extensive use of words borrowed from Italian, Spanish and French. This is also true of Algerian and Morrocan. For example: Electricity is kahraba in standard Arabic. It becomes triciti in Tunisian, from the French électricité. Kitchen is matbakh in standard Arabic. It becomes kujina in Tunisian, from the Italian word cucina. Shoe is hidhaa in standard Arabic. It becomes sabbat in Tunisian, from the Spanish word zapato.

This is not to be confused with the actual use of French words or sentences in everyday speech by Tunisians. For example, many Tunisians, when asking "How are you doing?" will use the French "ça va?" instead of the Tunisian "Shnowa hwalek?" or the standard Arabic "Kayfa haluka?"

Moreover, certain words are of Berber origin; for example: Figs (a type of fruit) is teen in standard Arabic, but karmous in Tunisian. Cock or rooster (a male chicken) is deek in standard Arabic, but sardook in Tunisian.

Pronunciation

There are several differences in pronunciation between standard Arabic and Tunisian. Vowels are frequently omitted, especially at the beginning of a word. This is probably the influence of Berber and African languages in general. For example: Kataba (to write) in standard Arabic becomes kteb. Macha (to walk) in standard Arabic becomes mcha. Imra'a (woman) in standard Arabic becomes mra.

In Tunisian the "giim", the "jiim" and the "qaf" are separate coexisting sounds, whereas in standard Arabic the "giim" doesn't exist, and in certain Middle Eastern dialects the "giim" replaces the "jiim", as in Egyptian Arabic, or replaces the "qaf", as in some Badawi (Bedouin) or Gulf dialects.

Grammar

There are very few differences in grammar between Tunisian and standard Arabic. Whereas in Modern English there is only one plural form, in standard Arabic pronouns have a dual form (for addressing two people) as well as a plural form (for addressing more than three people). Pronouns and nouns are also declined according to the gender of the person being addressed. This, however, this has been simplified in Tunisian. In standard Arabic, when adressing a single male you say anta, when adressing a single female you say anti and you conjugate accordingly. In Tunisian this has started to disappear, anta and anti both being replaced by inti. In some parts of the country however, especially the west and the south, people still use separate pronouns when addressing a male or a female; in fact these people make fun of the northerners for not making this distinction. The distinction between pronouns for pairs and pronouns for 3 or more individuals has disappeared completely, as well as the distinction between the male third person plural and the female third person plural.

Literature in Tunisian Arabic

There are very few works of literature written in Tunsian Arabic. A large body of folk tales and folk poems existed in the past. This was mainly an oral tradition told by wandering storytellers and bards at marketplaces and festivals, but it has almost disappeared due to the widespread introduction of television and mass media in general. Notable examples of this folk literature are "El Jaziya El Hilaliya" and "Hkayet Ommi Sisi w'Dheeb". Most authors who write novels or short stories prefer to write in standard Arabic or in French. In some cases, the dialogue in a novel will be in Tunisian Arabic, but the main narrative will be in standard Arabic. Plays, on the other hand, are almost always written in Tunisian Arabic, except when they are placed in a historical setting. The lyrics to folk and popular music are usually in Tunisian Arabic. Newspapers and magazines are printed in standard Arabic. Television newscasts and documentaries are broadcast in standard Arabic, while soap operas, sitcoms and movies are usually delivered in Tunisian.