Which language is preferable for speaking with Palestinians: Hebrew or English?
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Obviously, the best language to use to speak to Palestinians in Palestine is their own language, Arabic. If Arabic is not an option, which would generally be preferable: Hebrew or English? I'm primarily asking about areas under general Palestinian control, especially Area A.
On the one hand, Hebrew and Arabic are both Semitic languages and have major parallels, meaning that the average Arabic speaker may struggle less to learn Hebrew than an unrelated language such as English. On the other hand, Hebrew is the primary national language of a political entity with a very complex and often uneasy relationship with Palestine, so a language like English could be seen as more politically neutral (as actually is the case in other areas of the world such as southern India).
I'm especially interested in hearing the viewpoints of Palestinians or people who have traveled extensively in Palestine.
languages cultural-awareness palestine
asked Aug 1 at 11:38
Robert Columbia
3,76632245
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up vote
11
down vote
favorite
Obviously, the best language to use to speak to Palestinians in Palestine is their own language, Arabic. If Arabic is not an option, which would generally be preferable: Hebrew or English? I'm primarily asking about areas under general Palestinian control, especially Area A.
On the one hand, Hebrew and Arabic are both Semitic languages and have major parallels, meaning that the average Arabic speaker may struggle less to learn Hebrew than an unrelated language such as English. On the other hand, Hebrew is the primary national language of a political entity with a very complex and often uneasy relationship with Palestine, so a language like English could be seen as more politically neutral (as actually is the case in other areas of the world such as southern India).
I'm especially interested in hearing the viewpoints of Palestinians or people who have traveled extensively in Palestine.
languages cultural-awareness palestine
asked Aug 1 at 11:38
Robert Columbia
3,76632245
3
Could you learn the Arabic for 'Do you speak English?' and only if they answer No try again but for Hebrew?
– mdewey
Aug 1 at 14:54
1
@mdewey yes. What I'm interested in, though, is whether there's a preferred one to start out with.
– Robert Columbia
Aug 1 at 16:58
add a comment |Â
up vote
11
down vote
favorite
up vote
11
down vote
favorite
Obviously, the best language to use to speak to Palestinians in Palestine is their own language, Arabic. If Arabic is not an option, which would generally be preferable: Hebrew or English? I'm primarily asking about areas under general Palestinian control, especially Area A.
On the one hand, Hebrew and Arabic are both Semitic languages and have major parallels, meaning that the average Arabic speaker may struggle less to learn Hebrew than an unrelated language such as English. On the other hand, Hebrew is the primary national language of a political entity with a very complex and often uneasy relationship with Palestine, so a language like English could be seen as more politically neutral (as actually is the case in other areas of the world such as southern India).
I'm especially interested in hearing the viewpoints of Palestinians or people who have traveled extensively in Palestine.
languages cultural-awareness palestine
asked Aug 1 at 11:38
Robert Columbia
3,76632245
Obviously, the best language to use to speak to Palestinians in Palestine is their own language, Arabic. If Arabic is not an option, which would generally be preferable: Hebrew or English? I'm primarily asking about areas under general Palestinian control, especially Area A.
On the one hand, Hebrew and Arabic are both Semitic languages and have major parallels, meaning that the average Arabic speaker may struggle less to learn Hebrew than an unrelated language such as English. On the other hand, Hebrew is the primary national language of a political entity with a very complex and often uneasy relationship with Palestine, so a language like English could be seen as more politically neutral (as actually is the case in other areas of the world such as southern India).
I'm especially interested in hearing the viewpoints of Palestinians or people who have traveled extensively in Palestine.
languages cultural-awareness palestine
asked Aug 1 at 11:38
Robert Columbia
3,76632245
edited Aug 1 at 11:55
asked Aug 1 at 11:38
Robert Columbia
3,76632245
asked Aug 1 at 11:38
Robert Columbia
3,76632245
asked Aug 1 at 11:38
Robert Columbia
3,76632245
3,76632245
3
Could you learn the Arabic for 'Do you speak English?' and only if they answer No try again but for Hebrew?
– mdewey
Aug 1 at 14:54
1
@mdewey yes. What I'm interested in, though, is whether there's a preferred one to start out with.
– Robert Columbia
Aug 1 at 16:58
add a comment |Â
3
Could you learn the Arabic for 'Do you speak English?' and only if they answer No try again but for Hebrew?
– mdewey
Aug 1 at 14:54
1
@mdewey yes. What I'm interested in, though, is whether there's a preferred one to start out with.
– Robert Columbia
Aug 1 at 16:58
3
3
Could you learn the Arabic for 'Do you speak English?' and only if they answer No try again but for Hebrew?
– mdewey
Aug 1 at 14:54
Could you learn the Arabic for 'Do you speak English?' and only if they answer No try again but for Hebrew?
– mdewey
Aug 1 at 14:54
1
1
@mdewey yes. What I'm interested in, though, is whether there's a preferred one to start out with.
– Robert Columbia
Aug 1 at 16:58
@mdewey yes. What I'm interested in, though, is whether there's a preferred one to start out with.
– Robert Columbia
Aug 1 at 16:58
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
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votes
up vote
7
down vote
Use English, period.
Not that using Hebrew is the problem, but why use the language of the people whom Palestinian see as the people who took their land? use the language that will make them feel respected, their own mother language.
In addition to that, unlike "1948 Arabs" who live in Israel and they are mostly bilingual, the general Palestinian population do not necessarily speak Hebrew. They study it in school, even in Gaza, they can manage (usually to be able to communicate with the Israeli soldiers). Many who have worked in Israel in previous times when it was allowed, or imprisoned there do speak it fluently, but not all.
Palestinians are friendly with foreigners, many (especially in the west bank) do speak English, it's after all a touristic area (area A).
Regarding the similarities between Arabic and Hebrew, there are a lot of similar words but you will need to hear them slowly to understand, and both use the same concept of word roots. However, current Hebrew lost many of its Semitic features (grammar and sounds), Arabic is kinda more Semitic than Hebrew as Hebrew is heavily influenced by Europeans languages.
Here are some words that will help you:
- Marhaba or Salam: Hi
- Tetkallam Engleezi?: Do you speak English?
I am an Arab but not Palestinian, I know a lot of Palestinians and we have had long chats about this in a few occasions.
answered Aug 11 at 5:29
Nean Der Thal
64.9k21242344
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
7
down vote
Use English, period.
Not that using Hebrew is the problem, but why use the language of the people whom Palestinian see as the people who took their land? use the language that will make them feel respected, their own mother language.
In addition to that, unlike "1948 Arabs" who live in Israel and they are mostly bilingual, the general Palestinian population do not necessarily speak Hebrew. They study it in school, even in Gaza, they can manage (usually to be able to communicate with the Israeli soldiers). Many who have worked in Israel in previous times when it was allowed, or imprisoned there do speak it fluently, but not all.
Palestinians are friendly with foreigners, many (especially in the west bank) do speak English, it's after all a touristic area (area A).
Regarding the similarities between Arabic and Hebrew, there are a lot of similar words but you will need to hear them slowly to understand, and both use the same concept of word roots. However, current Hebrew lost many of its Semitic features (grammar and sounds), Arabic is kinda more Semitic than Hebrew as Hebrew is heavily influenced by Europeans languages.
Here are some words that will help you:
- Marhaba or Salam: Hi
- Tetkallam Engleezi?: Do you speak English?
I am an Arab but not Palestinian, I know a lot of Palestinians and we have had long chats about this in a few occasions.
answered Aug 11 at 5:29
Nean Der Thal
64.9k21242344
add a comment |Â
up vote
7
down vote
Use English, period.
Not that using Hebrew is the problem, but why use the language of the people whom Palestinian see as the people who took their land? use the language that will make them feel respected, their own mother language.
In addition to that, unlike "1948 Arabs" who live in Israel and they are mostly bilingual, the general Palestinian population do not necessarily speak Hebrew. They study it in school, even in Gaza, they can manage (usually to be able to communicate with the Israeli soldiers). Many who have worked in Israel in previous times when it was allowed, or imprisoned there do speak it fluently, but not all.
Palestinians are friendly with foreigners, many (especially in the west bank) do speak English, it's after all a touristic area (area A).
Regarding the similarities between Arabic and Hebrew, there are a lot of similar words but you will need to hear them slowly to understand, and both use the same concept of word roots. However, current Hebrew lost many of its Semitic features (grammar and sounds), Arabic is kinda more Semitic than Hebrew as Hebrew is heavily influenced by Europeans languages.
Here are some words that will help you:
- Marhaba or Salam: Hi
- Tetkallam Engleezi?: Do you speak English?
I am an Arab but not Palestinian, I know a lot of Palestinians and we have had long chats about this in a few occasions.
answered Aug 11 at 5:29
Nean Der Thal
64.9k21242344
add a comment |Â
up vote
7
down vote
up vote
7
down vote
Use English, period.
Not that using Hebrew is the problem, but why use the language of the people whom Palestinian see as the people who took their land? use the language that will make them feel respected, their own mother language.
In addition to that, unlike "1948 Arabs" who live in Israel and they are mostly bilingual, the general Palestinian population do not necessarily speak Hebrew. They study it in school, even in Gaza, they can manage (usually to be able to communicate with the Israeli soldiers). Many who have worked in Israel in previous times when it was allowed, or imprisoned there do speak it fluently, but not all.
Palestinians are friendly with foreigners, many (especially in the west bank) do speak English, it's after all a touristic area (area A).
Regarding the similarities between Arabic and Hebrew, there are a lot of similar words but you will need to hear them slowly to understand, and both use the same concept of word roots. However, current Hebrew lost many of its Semitic features (grammar and sounds), Arabic is kinda more Semitic than Hebrew as Hebrew is heavily influenced by Europeans languages.
Here are some words that will help you:
- Marhaba or Salam: Hi
- Tetkallam Engleezi?: Do you speak English?
I am an Arab but not Palestinian, I know a lot of Palestinians and we have had long chats about this in a few occasions.
answered Aug 11 at 5:29
Nean Der Thal
64.9k21242344
Use English, period.
Not that using Hebrew is the problem, but why use the language of the people whom Palestinian see as the people who took their land? use the language that will make them feel respected, their own mother language.
In addition to that, unlike "1948 Arabs" who live in Israel and they are mostly bilingual, the general Palestinian population do not necessarily speak Hebrew. They study it in school, even in Gaza, they can manage (usually to be able to communicate with the Israeli soldiers). Many who have worked in Israel in previous times when it was allowed, or imprisoned there do speak it fluently, but not all.
Palestinians are friendly with foreigners, many (especially in the west bank) do speak English, it's after all a touristic area (area A).
Regarding the similarities between Arabic and Hebrew, there are a lot of similar words but you will need to hear them slowly to understand, and both use the same concept of word roots. However, current Hebrew lost many of its Semitic features (grammar and sounds), Arabic is kinda more Semitic than Hebrew as Hebrew is heavily influenced by Europeans languages.
Here are some words that will help you:
- Marhaba or Salam: Hi
- Tetkallam Engleezi?: Do you speak English?
I am an Arab but not Palestinian, I know a lot of Palestinians and we have had long chats about this in a few occasions.
answered Aug 11 at 5:29
Nean Der Thal
64.9k21242344
edited Aug 11 at 5:35
answered Aug 11 at 5:29
Nean Der Thal
64.9k21242344
answered Aug 11 at 5:29
Nean Der Thal
64.9k21242344
answered Aug 11 at 5:29
Nean Der Thal
64.9k21242344
64.9k21242344
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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3
Could you learn the Arabic for 'Do you speak English?' and only if they answer No try again but for Hebrew?
– mdewey
Aug 1 at 14:54
1
@mdewey yes. What I'm interested in, though, is whether there's a preferred one to start out with.
– Robert Columbia
Aug 1 at 16:58