Source of Realia
Image: © Homer Sykes/Corbis
Photographer: Homer Sykes
Date Photographed: July 1, 2007

Post outline

• Arabic Shop 1 – Red Sea Food Store
• Arabic Shop 2 – Valley of Jordan
• Shop 3 – Bismillah

Arabic Shop 1 – Red Sea Food Store

What items/products does the Red Sea food store sell?

There are two spelling/vocabulary mistakes in one of the items listed in the sign – Can you spot the mistake?

I have alerted the Sudanese shop owner who, surprisingly, was not aware of the spelling mistake!

I would encourage anyone learning Arabic in Edinburgh to visit these shops, and practise their Arabic speaking skills with the shop owners/keepers since many are native Arabs.

There is a huge variety of food items/realia that are linguistically and culturally rich in content. You also have the opportunity to interact and communicate in spoken Arabic dialect with the shop keepers. Just be confident when you talk in Arabic, even if your spoken skills are at a beginners’ level.

Generally speaking, Arabs do appreciate the effort taken to communicate in their native tongue.

Other Shops with Arabic realia in Edinburgh are:

Arabic Shop 2 – Valley of Jordan

Valley of Jordan : Directions

Shop 3 – Bismillah

Although the writing is in Arabic, this is actually in Urdu. Notice that this is simply a transcription of (Halal Food Shop) and not the actual translation.

Source of the Realia

• Central Edinburgh City

This signboard can easily be translated into :

MacStore : محل / متجر ماك

Apple Center : مركز أبل

Source of Realia

www.noelgreen.com

The following Signboards Realia illustrates the widespread dominance of American International companies in the Arab world.

“McDonaldization” of the Arab World

The best times and the most delicious food

More American companies

McDonalad’s Signboard in Casablanca (igougo.com)

McDonalds Shop in Cairo, Egypt

McFalafel!

McArabia (dressed in Arabic flatbread)

Welcome to McDonalds!

McDonalds – McDrive!

Notice how the v letter is written in Arabic ( Faa’ with three dots)

Coca Cola – كوكاكولا

Coca-Cola as a political and corporate symbol in the Arab World

“The Coca-Cola drink has a high degree of identification with the United States itself, being considered by some an “American Brand” or to a small extent as an item representing America.

The identification with the spread of American culture has led to the pun “Coca-Colanization”.

There are some consumer boycotts of Coca-Cola in Arab countries due to Coke’s early investment in Israel during the Arab League boycott of Israel (this contrasts sharply to Pepsi which stayed out of Israel).”

Mecca Cola and Pepsi has been successful in the Middle East as an alternative.

Coca-Cola : a registered Trade-mark

Always refreshing

I took this photo in Marrakesh مراكش when I was in Morocco last year (2007).

The name of the Cafe is “Café France”

Classical Arabic 1940’s Coca-Cola commercial

Recent Arabic Coca-Cola Commercials – اعلانات كوكاكولا

Mecca Cola

The flagship product of the Mecca Cola World Company, it is marketed as an alternative to U.S. brands such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola to pro-Muslim consumers. The product’s name contains the traditional Latin-alphabet transliteration of مكة المكرمة (“Mecca”), the holiest city of Islam located in Saudi Arabia.

Pepsi – بيبسي

Arabic commercial of Pepsi

Pizza Hut – بيتزا هات

Burger King – برجر كنج

KFC – Kentucky Fried Chicken

Classical KFC Arabic Commercial

دعاية كنتاكي: هل تريد أن تكنتك؟ – Would you like to “Kintak”!

Find oute more

BBC Arabic Podcast_American Investments in the Arab World - Virtual Arabic Realia