Lesson 20- Altering the Verb Stem

In English, we use prefixes and suffixes to adjust the concept.

-scribe ("write")

sub- "under"

a- "to"

de- "from"

sub-scribe (under-write-  to receive writings sent down to you from a publisher)

a-scribe  (to-write-  to add characteristics to someone's reputation, metaphorically "by writing them")

de-scribe (from-write-  to write down characteristics of a person from your knowledge of them)

In Arabic, however, prefixes and suffixes are not used.  Instead, the Root Verb Stem is altered in very regular, predictable ways.

For example,

I.     k-t-b means "writing" but 

II.   k-t-t-b means "causing someone to write" "dictate"

III.  k-aa-t-b means "writing with someone" "corresponding"

IV.  [...]

V.  ta-k-t-t-b means "causing each other to write" or "being caused to write"

VI.   ta-k-aa-t-b means "causing each other to write to each other" "writing back and forth"

there are 10 different "patterns" of verbs, and we will eventually learn them all.

For now, let's review the stem "ta-k-l-l-m", which is Root alteration V.  This means "(words) are being caused to be said" = "speaking."

One important way to think about forms II and V is that they both have the middle consonant DOUBLED.  Doubling the middle root letter in Arabic is often called the "intensive" because it often implies doing something intensely.

I.  q-t-l   killing, to kill

II.  q-t-t-l  to massacre, to slaughter

V.   ta-q-t-t-l  being massacred, being slaughtered/massacring each other, slaughtering each other  

However, a doubled middle root letter just as often has a "Causitive" meaning such as "causing someone to kill" "having someone killed" or "having something written."

Remember to add two ta-'s with the "anta/anti (inta/inti)" and "hiya" form when working with verbs in alteration V.

ana a-takallam
anta ta-takallam
anti ta-takallam-iina
huwa ya-takallam
hiya  ta-takallam  (yatakallamiina)