Theo Todman's Book Collection (Book-Paper Abstracts)

Author’s Introduction

1. The need for a simple and easy guide to assist the adult English-speaking student who seeks to unravel the Complexities of Arabic and its grammar, had long been felt. This work is an attempt to answer this need.
2. I assumed that the student is absolutely a beginner, and I go along with him on the road very slowly in the early stages until he gradually builds up some basic knowledge for proceeding at a faster rate. The method adopted here is as follows:
   1. The lesson begins by giving a sample for the uses of the topic to be discussed and taught, in a clear and tabulated form.
   2. This is followed by "Notes" in which observations are derived from the examples in the table.
   3. At the end of the Notes, a summary of the information gained in the lesson is given to reinforce the student's understanding.
   4. The lesson is concluded by an exercise to help in digesting the rules.
      
3. Some inherently difficult topics are treated in the book, such as the behaviour of the weak endings of the verb, the verbal patterns, the infinitive forms and the condition of the noun following a numerical word. The student may regard the pages dealing with these topics as documents for reference rather than material to be trusted to memory. The best method for retaining grammatical rules, however, is by their application and observation in handling a text.
4. This book is basically a work on Grammar, not an Arabic Reader. I have deliberately reduced the amount of vocabulary to avoid boredom that may discourage the student who seeks to learn the rules of grammar from a simple and clear text.
5. I am indebted to my predecessors who wrote on the subject of Arabic grammar. I have deviated from their method, however, not only in adopting a simple and clear manner of exposition, but also in using Arabic terms or their unambiguous equivalents. Conventional English terms are left out when they are ambiguous or when their use may lead to confusion.
6. In the translation of Arabic texts, attention was given to the original style rather than the English idiom. I have therefore tried to approach the Arabic expression even at the cost of occasional non-compliance with standard English in order that the English learner, who will have no difficulty in following the argument, may gain true impressions of how the ideas are to be conveyed in the language he is learning.
7. I hope this book will be of some good use; and shall appreciate receiving any observations the reader might wish to make about this work.
   → M. A. Rauf, Washington DC, 1977