The Arabic Script

The Arabic script is very decorative. It is no wonder that it has been used extensively in Middle Eastern art, and the calligraphic curves are an art-form in itself.

 

 

Arabic is written from right to left (isn’t this perfect for left-handers like me who get smudge prints from writing the other way round in English?!).

 

The Arabic alphabet consists of 28 letters. The ABC (or first three letters) of the Arabic alphabet are:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are no distinctive upper or lower cases. However, the shape of a letter changes according to its placement in a word:

 

 

 

Many Muslims the world over learn to read Arabic at a young age so that they can read the holy Quran. However, many have this skill without actually understanding the language (me included!).

The Arabic script has been adapted by a number of languages, with additional alphabets and varied pronounciations. These include Urdu, Persian, Ottoman, Sindhi, Malay and Pasto.

To end this blog post, I thought I'd leave you with something to smile about...

 

 

- Big Sis x