What is Kalimāt?
1) Basic Vocabulary Database
2) Media Arabic database
3) Database with classroom expressions
4) Database for the textbook assignments
5) Database for grammar terms
6) The database for triradical verbs
7) Verb tables
8) Morphology exercises

What is Kalimāt?

Kalimāt is a collection of databases that helps students of Arabic and middle eastern studies acquire Arabic basic vocabulary and morphology. It comprises the vocabulary used in multiple course resources used at the Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies at the University of Zürich as well as words that have proven to be indispensable for Arabic instruction.

At the moment, there is a base vocabulary consisting of 5337 lemmata, with more being added continuously. This will be complemented by data sets for media Arabic (3142 entries), for common classroom words (442 entries), another one for the assignments in the textbook (132 entries), one for grammatical terms (424 entries), and lastly, a set with triradical verbs (433 entries).

Verb tables enable the user to look up model verbs of any category in Arabic script or in transcribed form as well as vocalized or unvocalized. The section morphology-exercises is connected to the UZH e-learning platform, where numerous exercises on building participles and infinitives as well as verb conjugation can be found.

In the main database for basic vocabulary, every word is accompanied by information on grammar, example sentences and a picture. The words are sorted into grammatical as well as thematic categories and can be looked up according to these. In addition to this, sound recordings of all the words and example sentences were made by native speakers so that students can listen to the correct pronunciation. Because this database was developed primarily for Arabic learners at the Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies at the University of Zürich, some search criteria are tailored specifically for language teaching at this institution. These criteria will however be further explained in the comments to the individual functions.

1) Basic vocabulary Database

How do I search the basic vocabulary database?

The basic vocabulary database contains the vocabulary provided in multiple learning materials in use at the Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies. It can be searched for Arabic or English words. Alternatively, you can select grammatical or thematic criteria to look up vocabulary matching your selection. Found words appear in a list below the query form. Upon clicking on a row in the list of results, the Arabic word and its English translation appear at the upper right hand corner, and you can listen to it using the adjoining audio player.

By clicking on "Additional Information," you can access example sentences with audio, an illustration as well as information on grammar and use.

For revision purposes, the example sentences that illustrate vocabulary from the textbook contain exclusively vocabulary from preceding lessons as well as grammar that has already been covered. This leads to significant limitations. If you wish to listen to more complex example sentences for these words, they can also be accessed by clicking on "Show additional sentences."

How do I search for a word in the basic vocabulary database?

Select "Search by text." Enter the word you are looking for in English or unvocalized Arabic into the search bar. As you are typing, a list with suggestions appears from which you can directly select the requested word.

Alternatively, you can hit "Enter" to confirm your query, any search results will be listed below.

How do I look up a category of words in the basic vocabulary database?

Select "Search by categories" (This is pre-selected when you first load the page). As required, define relevant grammatical, thematic or didactic features in the corresponding search box, select the language in which the results should be listed, and hit "Search".

The individual search boxes are active only if at least one entry is selected. Multiple selections within one search box can be made by clicking while holding down the Ctrl-key. In the same way, an entry can be de-selected.

Data sets with multiple words are consistently categorized according to the first word.

Comments on the individual search boxes in the basic vocabulary database

Subject: Here you can define subject areas to which the words should pertain. For example, you can look up words from a topic like politics, the human body or food. You can look up words from multiple subjects by making your selection while holding down the Ctrl-key.

Frequency: Vocabulary is divided into five levels according to frequency of use::

• 4: an essential word that must definitely be memorized.
• 3: a very important word that should be studied.
• 2: an important word that can be memorized optionally.
• 1: a word that isn't very frequent and can be looked up as required.
• 0: a rare word that can be looked up as required.

By holding down the Ctrl-key, you can select multiple frequencies.

Lesson: Here, words can be looked up according to lessons in the textbook by Eckehard Schulz in use at the Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies at the University of Zürich (Eckehard Schulz, Modernes Hocharabisch: Lehrbuch und e-Edition mit einer Einführung in Hauptdialekte, Leipzig: Edition Hamouda, 2011). The last row "*" identifies vocabulary not present in this textbook that have been included in the database anyways on grounds of their importance. By keeping the Ctrl-key pressed, multiple Lessons can be selected.

Knowledge: The words marked as "active" are important for actively communicating. On the other hand, it is sufficient to just understand words marked as "passive."

Part of speech: Words can be looked up according to the categories of English grammar: verb, noun, adjective, adverb, interjection, conjunction, determiner, preposition, pronoun. Proper names and phrases are not assigned to these categories but rather allocated their own category. Assignments are made according to the English meaning of the word. This system can't be made to fit all of the word entries, but pragmatic decisions had to be made for didactic purposes. Multiple categories can be selected by keeping the Ctrl-key pressed.

Morphological category: Words can be looked up according to their morphological patterns using the following categories: verb, nomen verbi, nomen agentis, nomen patientis, elative, intensive adjectives, collective nouns, nomen coloris et defectus, nomen instrumenti, nomen loci et temporis, nomen speciei, nomen unitatis and nomen vicis. Multiple morphological categories can be selected by keeping the Ctrl-key pressed. Words with a nisba (ـِيٌّ) are assigned according to their origin word. For example, مدرسي is assigned the same morphological category as مدرسة, i.e. nomen loci.

Morphological pattern: Here, you can select one or (by keeping the Ctrl-key pressed) multiple morphological patterns. Words with a nisba (ـِيٌّ) are sorted like the origin word. This list does not purport to be complete.

First radical: By supplying the first radical, you can, for example, access all words that are derived from a verb with a weak first radical (to do this, select و, then select ي while keeping the Ctrl-key pressed). By combining this criterion with relevant criteria from the search boxes named "morphological category," "form," "part of speech," relevant grammatical categories can be looked up, such as first-weak verbs, infinitives of first-weak verbs, or participles of first-weak verbs of a certain form.

Second radical: By providing the second radical, you can in particular look up all words derived from a second-weak verb (to do this, select و, then select ي while keeping the Ctrl-key pressed). By combining this criterion with relevant criteria from the search boxes named "morphological category," "form," "part of speech," relevant grammatical categories can be looked up, such as second-weak verbs, infinitives of second-weak verbs, or participles of second-weak verbs of a certain form.

Third radical: By providing the third radical, you can in particular look up all words derived from a third-weak verb (to do this, select و, then select ي while keeping the Ctrl-key pressed). By combining this criterion with relevant criteria from the search boxes named "morphological category," "form," "part of speech," relevant grammatical categories can be looked up, such as third-weak verbs, infinitives of third-weak verbs, or participles of third-weak verbs of a certain form.

Fourth radical: Here, derivatives of words with four radicals can be looked up. If all radicals are selected (this is best done by first selecting the first entry and then selecting the last entry while holding down the shift key, or by holding down the down key while also holding down shift), all words derived from a root with four radicals can be looked up.

Form: Here, forms I through X of triradical verbs can be looked up. Form I فَعَلَ; Form II فَعَّلَ; Form III فاعَلَ; Form IV أَفْعَلَ; Form V تَفَعَّلَ; Form VI تَفاعَلَ; Form VII اِنْفَعَلَ; Form VIII اِفْتَعَلَ; Form IX اِفْعَلَّ; Form Xاِسْتَفْعَلَ . Multiple forms can be selected by using the Ctrl-key.

2) Media Arabic database

How can I search the media Arabic database?

The media Arabic database can be searched for English or Arabic words. Alternatively, thematic criteria can be used to find relevant words. A list with found words appears below the query form. Upon clicking on a row in the list of hits, the Arabic word and its English translation appears in the upper right hand corner. Adjoining this, an audio player allows you to listen to the word. By clicking on "Show additional information," you can access example sentences with sound recordings, an illustration and information on word use.

How do I search for a word in the media Arabic database?

Select "Search by text." Enter the word you wish to search for into the search bar either in English or in unvocalized Arabic. As you are typing, a list with suggestions appears from which you can directly select the requested word.

Alternatively, you can hit "Enter" to confirm your query, any search results will be listed below.

How do I look up a category of words in the media Arabic database?

Select "Search by categories" (This is pre-selected when you first load the page). As required, define relevant thematic or didactic features in the corresponding search box, select the language in which the results should be listed, and hit "Search".

The individual search boxes are active only if at least one entry is selected. Multiple selections within one search box can be made by clicking while holding down the Ctrl-key. In the same way, an already selected entry can be de-selected.

Comments on the individual search boxes in the media Arabic database

Subject: Here you can define subject areas to which the words should pertain. For example, you can look up words from a topic like official meetings, the human body or food. You can look up words from multiple subjects by making your selection while holding down the Ctrl-key.

Frequency: Vocabulary is divided into five levels according to frequency of use::

• 4: an essential word that must definitely be memorized.
• 3: a very important word that should be studied.
• 2: an important word that can be memorized optionally.
• 1: a word that isn't very frequent and can be looked up as required.
• 0: a rare word that can be looked up as required.

By holding down the Ctrl-key, you can select multiple frequencies.

Knowledge: Words marked as "active" are useful for active language use. Words marked "passive" tend to appear in printed texts and must thus only be understood passively.

Lesson: Here, you can look up words from the textbook by Alaa Elgibali and Nevenka Korica used at the Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies (Alaa Elgibali und Nevenka Korica. Media Arabic: A coursebook for reading Arabic news. Kairo: American University in Cairo Press, 22014). The last row "*" identifies vocabulary not present in this textbook that have been included in the database anyways on grounds of their importance.

3) Database with classroom expressions

How do I search the database with classroom expressions?

The database with classroom expressions contains phrases and expressions used in Arabic teaching. It can be searched by Arabic or English words. Alternatively, thematic criteria can be used to find relevant phrases. A list with found phrases appears below the query form. Upon clicking on a row in the list of hits, the Arabic phrase and its English translation appears in the upper right hand corner. Adjoining this, an audio player allows you to listen to the phrase.

Select "Search by text." Enter the word you wish to search for into the search bar either in English or in unvocalized Arabic. As you are typing, a list with suggestions appears from which you can directly select the requested phrase.

Alternatively, you can hit "Enter" to confirm your query, any search results will be listed below.

You can also search for categories of phrases by selecting "Search by categories" (This is pre-selected when you first load the page). As required, define relevant thematic or didactic features for words in the corresponding search box, select the language in which the results should be listed, and hit "Search".

Comments on the individual search boxes

Viewpoint: Here, you can select phrases used by the teacher, the student, or both.

Person: Here, you can select phrases in the 2nd singular feminine, 2nd singular masculine, 2nd plural masculine, or the first person if required.

4) Database for the textbook assignments

What is contained in the database for the textbook assignments

The database for the textbook assignments contains an English translation for the questions posed in the textbook by Eckehard Schulz used at the Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies at the University of Zürich (Eckehard Schulz, Modernes Hocharabisch: Lehrbuch und e-Edition mit einer Einführung in Hauptdialekte, Leipzig: Edition Hamouda, 2011), where they are provided in Arabic only.

How do I search the database for the textbook assignments for a specific question?

Select "Search by text." You can search for an English or Arabic word. Alternatively, you can select "Search by category" (This is pre-selected when you first load the page) and access assignments from a specific lesson by selecting the corresponding number. A list with found phrases appears below the query form. Upon clicking on a row in the list of hits, the Arabic phrase and its English translation appears in the upper right hand corner. Adjoining this, an audio player allows you to listen to the phrase.

5) Database for grammar terms

What is contained within then database for grammar terms?

The database for grammar terms contains important English / Latin terms for Arabic grammar. It can be searched for English or Arabic words. This database is primarily useful for students taking courses in Arabic speaking countries faced with Arabic terminology for the first time.

How do I search the database for grammar terms?

Select "Search by text." Enter the word you wish to search for into the search bar either in English or in unvocalized Arabic. As you are typing, a list with suggestions appears from which you can directly select the requested phrase.

Alternatively, you can hit "Enter" to confirm your query, any search results will be listed below.

After selecting "Search by category" (This is pre-selected when you first load the page), you can load all grammar terms contained within a specific lesson from the textbook by Eckehard Schulz used at the Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies (Eckehard Schulz, Modernes Hocharabisch: Lehrbuch und e-Edition mit einer Einführung in Hauptdialekte, Leipzig: Edition Hamouda, 2011). The row "*" identifies vocabulary not present in this textbook that have been included in the database anyways on grounds of their importance.

6) The database for triradical verbs

How do I search the database for triradical verbs?

The database for triradical verbs can be searched for Arabic or English words. Alternatively, grammatical criteria can be used to look up relevant verbs. A list with relevant verbs appears below the query form. Upon clicking on a row in the list of hits, the Arabic word and its English translation appears in the upper right hand corner. Adjoining this, an audio player allows you to listen to the word.

How do I search for a specific verb in the database for triradical verbs?

Select "Search by text." Enter the word you wish to search for into the search bar either in English or in unvocalized Arabic. As you are typing, a list with suggestions appears from which you can directly select the requested word.

Alternatively, you can hit "Enter" to confirm your query, any search results will be listed below.

How do I search for a category of verbs in the database for triradical verbs?

Select "Search by categories" (This is pre-selected when you first load the page). As required, define relevant thematic or didactic features in the corresponding search box, select the language in which the results should be listed, and hit "Search".

The individual search boxes are active only if at least one entry is selected. Multiple selections within one search box can be made by clicking while holding down the Ctrl-key. In the same way, an already selected entry can be de-selected.

Comments on the individual search boxes in the database for triradical verbs

Frequency: Vocabulary is divided into five levels according to frequency of use::

• 4: an essential word that must definitely be memorized.
• 3: a very important word that should be studied.
• 2: an important word that can be memorized optionally.
• 1: a word that isn't very frequent and can be looked up as required.
• 0: a rare word that can be looked up as required.

By holding down the Ctrl-key, you can select multiple frequencies.

Lesson: Here, words can be looked up according to lessons in the textbook by Eckehard Schulz in use at the Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies at the University of Zürich (Eckehard Schulz, Modernes Hocharabisch: Lehrbuch und e-Edition mit einer Einführung in Hauptdialekte, Leipzig: Edition Hamouda, 2011). The last row "*" identifies vocabulary not present in this textbook that have been included in the database anyways on grounds of their importance. By keeping the Ctrl-key pressed, multiple Lessons can be selected.

Knowledge: Words marked as "active" are relevant for translation into Arabic. Words marked "passive" need only be understood.

Perfect vowel: Here, verbs can be looked up according to the perfect vowels a, u and i.

Imperfect vowel: Here, verbs can be looked up according to the perfect vowels a, u and i.

First Radical: By supplying the first radical, you can, for example, access all words that are derived from a verb with a weak first radical (to do this, select و, then select ي while keeping the Ctrl-key pressed).

Second Radical: By providing the second radical, you can, in particular, look up all words derived from a second-weak verb (to do this, select و, then select ي while keeping the Ctrl-key pressed).

Third Radical: By providing the third radical, you can, in particular, look up all words derived from a third-weak verb (to do this, select و, then select ي while keeping the Ctrl-key pressed).

Form: Here, you can look up verbs that have a certain form. Form I فَعَلَ; Form II فَعَّلَ; Form III فاعَلَ; Form IV أَفْعَلَ; Form V تَفَعَّلَ; Form VI تَفاعَلَ; Form VII اِنْفَعَلَ; Form VIII اِفْتَعَلَ; Form IX اِفْعَلَّ; Form Xاِسْتَفْعَلَ . Multiple forms can be selected by using the Ctrl-key.

7) Verb tables

What is contained within the verb tables?

The verb tables contain inflection paradigms to illustrate conjugations of all tri- and quadriradical verbs as well as the declensions of participles and infinitives derived from such verbs.

After selecting a model verb, the conjugation paradigm can be accessed either in unvocalized or vocalized fashion as well as transcribed according to the DMG-guidelines. Finite forms can be accessed in the active or passive. All columns are fitted with an audio option so that you can listen to the conjugation. The conjunctive forms are recorded with the addition of the particle lan, the apocopatus forms are accompanied by lam. In addition to this, infinitives and participles of each verb can be accessed in determinate and indeterminate state as well as in the status constructus, each of these are further available in all grammatical cases.

Comments on the verb categories

Amongst the model verbs, triradical and quadriradical verbs are to be treated separately.

Triradical verbs are divided into the following categories:

Strong verbs: These are verbs whose root contains three different consonants (R1, R2, R3 ≠ wāw, yāʾ). Verbs containing a hamza are part of this group. For special cases such as hamza assimilation in the eight form, a separate model verb is provided.

Geminated verbs: These are verbs with identical second and third radicals (R2 = R3).

Weak verbs: These are verbs where one radical is a wāw or a yāʾ (R1, R2, R3 = wāw, yāʾ)

Double-weak verbs: Strictly speaking, double-weak verbs belong either to the category R1 and R3 = wāw or yāʾ or to the category R2 and R3 = wāw or yāʾ. Verbs with a hamza and a weak radical are termed double-weak as well.

Quadriradical verbs are divided in to the following categories:

Strong verbs: These are verbs with four different consonants (R1, R2, R3, R4 ≠ wāw, yāʾ).

Reduplicated verbs: These are verbs whose first and second radicals are identical with their third and fourth radicals (R1 = R3, R2 = R4)

Weak verbs: These are verbs where one radical is a wāw or a yāʾ (R1, R2, R3 or R4 = wāw or yāʾ).

8) Morphology exercises

What are the morphology exercises?

The morphology exercises are exercises for verb conjugation and for the derivation of participles and infinitives that are connected to the "Learning Management System" of the University of Zürich OLAT (Online Learning And Training). They do not require access authorization and are freely available.

How can I work with the morphology exercises?

You can choose between four systems that differ based on their didactic approach to morphology.

• The system used at UZH.
• The system used by the textbook by Eckehard Schulz, Modernes Hocharabisch: Lehrbuch und e-Edition mit einer Einführung in Hauptdialekte, Leipzig: Edition Hamouda, 2011.
• The system used by the textbook by Günther Krahl, Wolfgang Reuschel and Eckehard Schulz, Lehrbuch des modernen Arabisch, Leipzig: AKV Edition Hamouda, 2011.
• Universal exercises not differentiated by categories that are meant for advanced students who have studied all of Arabic morphology and wish to revise.

After selecting the didactic approach, you will be redirected to an OLAT-course. Within a particular course, you can choose between analysis exercises (Bestimmungsübungen) and production exercises (Bildungsübungen).

How do I work with analysis exercises?

Select the category or lesson of which you wish to study the morphological structures and start the test. You will then be shown five forms that you are to analyze morphologically. Analysis goes according to the following pattern:

• Type of word (Verb, participle, infinitive),
• Radicals (R1, R2, R3, R4),
• Form (I-X),
• Number (Singular, dual, plural) and
• gender (masculine, feminine).

Furthermore, verbs should be analyzed for:

• person (1st, 2nd, 3rd Person)aspect and mood (Perfect, imperfect, conjunctive, apocopatus, imperative) as well as
• voice (active, passive).

Infinitives and participles should also be analyzed for status (determinate, indeterminate, status constructus) and case (nominative, accusative, genitive).

If a certain form is ambiguous, as for example the 3rd P. Pl. conjunctive and apocopatus, multiple entry forms are presented according to the number of possible solutions. To not have to enter all the answers a second time, you can click on "Kopiere obige Analyse" (copy above analysis); all criteria will then be copied and you need but to adjust the variations.

If you have finished the test with the five forms, you can click on "Test beenden" (Finish test) to display the correct answers and compare them to yours.

You can repeat the test as many times as you wish; five new forms will be generated each time.

How do I work with the production exercises?

Select the category or lesson of which you wish to study the morphological structures. Then, start the test for which you are to produce five forms according to the provided morphological criteria and enter them in Arabic script.

Morphological criteria for verbs are displayed in the following pattern:

• Form (I-X),
• radicals (R1, R2, R3, R4),
• perfect- and imperfect vowels,
• person (1st, 2nd, 3rd person)
• number (singular, dual, plural),
• gender (masculine, feminine),
• aspect and mood (perfect, imperfect, conjunctive, apocopatus, imperative) as well as
• voice (active, passive).
• Morphological criteria for infinitives and verbs are displayed in the following pattern:
• Form (I-X),
• radicals (R1, R2, R3, R4),
• perfect- and imperfect vowels,
• status (determinate, indeterminate, status constructus),
• case (nominative, accusative and genitive)
• number (singular, dual, plural), and
• gender (masculine, feminine).

The Arabic answers can be entered as follows

• fully vocalized including sukūn on wāw and yāʾ.
• fully vocalized but without sukūn on wāw and yāʾ.
• fully vocalized, but without sukūn on wāw and yāʾ and without ḍamma, kasra and fatḥa before their corresponding long vowels, i.e. ū, ī and ā.

If you have finished the test with the five forms, you can click on "Test beenden" (Finish test) to display the correct answers and compare them to yours.

You can repeat the test as many times as you wish; five new forms will be generated each time.