Language/Moroccan-arabic/Grammar/Reported-Speech

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Moroccan Arabic → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Indirect Speech → Reported Speech

Introduction

In this lesson, we will explore the topic of indirect speech, also known as reported speech, in Moroccan Arabic. Indirect speech is an essential aspect of language learning, as it allows us to convey what others have said or thought. By using reported speech, we can share information, express thoughts, and tell stories in a more dynamic and engaging way. Throughout this lesson, we will delve into the rules and structures of indirect speech in Moroccan Arabic, providing numerous examples and practice exercises to enhance your understanding.

What is Indirect Speech?

Indirect speech, also referred to as reported speech, is a way of relaying what someone has said or thought without using their exact words. In Moroccan Arabic, indirect speech is commonly used in daily conversations, storytelling, and written texts. It allows us to report statements, questions, commands, and other types of utterances made by others.

In indirect speech, the reported words are usually introduced by verbs such as "قال" (qāl) meaning "said", "قالت" (qālat) meaning "said" (feminine), "سأل" (saʾal) meaning "asked", and "ظن" (ẓan) meaning "thought". These verbs are followed by a direct or indirect object pronoun, and then the reported statement.

Structure of Indirect Speech

The structure of indirect speech in Moroccan Arabic involves several key elements. These include the reporting verb, the reporting clause, and the reported speech itself.

1. Reporting Verb: In indirect speech, the reporting verb introduces the reported words. Common reporting verbs used in Moroccan Arabic include "قال" (qāl), "قالت" (qālat), "سأل" (saʾal), and "ظن" (ẓan).

2. Reporting Clause: The reporting clause connects the reporting verb with the reported speech. It typically consists of the reporting verb followed by a direct or indirect object pronoun, which agrees in gender and number with the subject of the reported speech.

3. Reported Speech: The reported speech contains the actual words spoken or thought by someone. It can include statements, questions, commands, or other types of utterances. The reported speech is often introduced by a complementizer, such as "أن" (ʾan) meaning "that", or "إذا" (idhā) meaning "if".

Let's examine each of these elements in more detail, with examples to illustrate their usage.

Reporting Verbs

In Moroccan Arabic, there are several common reporting verbs that are used to introduce reported speech. These verbs include:

• "قال" (qāl) - said (masculine)
• "قالت" (qālat) - said (feminine)
• "سأل" (saʾal) - asked
• "ظن" (ẓan) - thought

These reporting verbs are conjugated according to the subject of the reported speech. Here are some examples:

Moroccan Arabic	Pronunciation	English
قال لي الطبيب	qāl lī aṭ-ṭabīb	The doctor said to me
قالت لهم المعلمة	qālat lahum al-muʿallimah	The teacher said to them
سألتني سؤالاً	saʾaltnī suʾālan	He asked me a question
ظنت أنه سيأتي	ẓanat ʾannahu sayati	She thought he would come

Reporting Clause

The reporting clause is a crucial element in indirect speech, as it connects the reporting verb with the reported speech. It typically consists of the reporting verb followed by a direct or indirect object pronoun, which agrees in gender and number with the subject of the reported speech.

Here are some examples of reporting clauses in Moroccan Arabic:

• قال لي (qāl lī) - He said to me
• قالت لها (qālat lahā) - She said to her
• سألتني (saʾaltnī) - He asked me
• ظنت أنه (ẓanat ʾannahu) - She thought he

Reported Speech

The reported speech contains the actual words spoken or thought by someone. It can include statements, questions, commands, or other types of utterances. The reported speech is often introduced by a complementizer, such as "أن" (ʾan) meaning "that", or "إذا" (idhā) meaning "if".

Here are some examples of reported speech in Moroccan Arabic:

• وقال: "أنا ذاهب إلى المدرسة" (wa-qāl: "anā ḏāhib ʾilā al-madrasah") - And he said, "I am going to school."
• قالت له: "هل أنت جائع؟" (qālat lahā: "hal ʾanta jāʾiʿ?") - She said to him, "Are you hungry?"
• قال لي: "اكتب هذا الرسالة" (qāl lī: "iktab haḏā ar-risālah") - He said to me, "Write this letter."

Cultural Insights

In Moroccan Arabic, indirect speech reflects the cultural values and communication patterns of the Moroccan people. Moroccans value politeness and respect in their interactions, and this is often reflected in the use of indirect speech. Indirect speech allows speakers to convey their thoughts or report the words of others in a more tactful and diplomatic manner.

Additionally, storytelling is an important part of Moroccan culture, and indirect speech plays a significant role in narrative discourse. Traditional Moroccan stories and folktales are often told using indirect speech, allowing the storyteller to convey the thoughts and words of different characters in a vivid and engaging way.

Practice Exercises

Now it's time to put your knowledge into practice! Here are some exercises to help you reinforce what you have learned about indirect speech in Moroccan Arabic.

Exercise 1: Convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech Convert the following sentences from direct speech to indirect speech. Remember to use the appropriate reporting verb, reporting clause, and complementizer.

1. He said, "I will come tomorrow." 2. She asked, "Where are you going?" 3. They said, "We want to go to the beach." 4. He thought, "She is a talented musician."

Exercise 2: Report Speech in Different Contexts Imagine you are a journalist reporting on a conversation between two people. Write a news article using indirect speech to report what was said. Be sure to include the reporting verb, reporting clause, and the reported speech.

Exercise 3: Create a Dialogue Create a dialogue between two characters using indirect speech. The dialogue should include statements, questions, and commands. Use the appropriate reporting verbs and reporting clauses to convey the speech.

Solutions

Exercise 1: Convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech 1. He said that he would come tomorrow. 2. She asked where you were going. 3. They said that they wanted to go to the beach. 4. He thought that she was a talented musician.

Exercise 2: Report Speech in Different Contexts [Your own creative response]

Exercise 3: Create a Dialogue [Your own creative response]

Conclusion

In this lesson, we explored the topic of indirect speech, or reported speech, in Moroccan Arabic. We learned about the structure of indirect speech, including the reporting verb, reporting clause, and reported speech. Through numerous examples and practice exercises, we practiced converting direct speech to indirect speech and creating dialogues using indirect speech.

Remember to continue practicing and using indirect speech in your conversations, as it will greatly enhance your ability to convey information and express thoughts in Moroccan Arabic. Keep in mind the cultural insights we discussed, as indirect speech reflects the politeness and storytelling traditions of Moroccan culture.

Congratulations on completing this lesson! You are now one step closer to mastering Moroccan Arabic and becoming a confident speaker. Keep up the great work!

Table of Contents - Moroccan Arabic Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introduction

• Alphabet and Writing
• Pronunciation

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Greetings and Basic Phrases

• Introducing Yourself and Others
• Asking for Directions
• Numbers and Counting

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Nouns and Pronouns

• Gender and Plurals
• Demonstratives
• Possessive Pronouns

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Food and Drink

• Ordering Food in a Restaurant
• Describing Food
• Beverages and Ordering Drinks

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Verbs

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

House and Home

• Rooms and Furniture
• Household Chores
• Renting an Apartment

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Adjectives

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

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Traditions and Customs

• Weddings and Celebrations
• Greetings and Etiquette

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Prepositions

• Directional Prepositions
• Temporal Prepositions

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Transportation

• Taking a Taxi
• Public Transportation

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Imperative Mood

• Affirmative Imperative
• Negative Imperative

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Shopping and Bargaining

• Shopping for Clothes
• At the Market
• Bargaining and Haggling

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Historical Sites and Landmarks

• The Medina
• Kasbahs

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Relative Clauses

• Direct and Indirect Object Clauses
• Relative Pronouns

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Health and Emergencies

• At the Hospital
• Emergencies and First Aid

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Passive Voice

• Formation of Passive Constructions
• Uses of the Passive

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Leisure and Entertainment

• Music and Dance
• Sports and Activities

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Holidays and Festivals

• Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha
• Ramadan

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Conditional Mood

• Formation of the Conditional
• Uses of the Conditional

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Regional Dialects

• Darija and Other Dialects
• Language Use and Social Context

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Indirect Speech

• Reported Speech
• Indirect Questions

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Weather and Climate

• Describing the Weather
• Seasons and Climate

Other Lessons

• The verb "to sleep"
• Nouns
• How to Use Have
• Negative Imperative
• The Accusative Case in Moroccan Arabic
• Questions
• The Nominative Case in Moroccan Arabic
• Uses of the Passive
• Demonstratives
• Prepositions

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