DESCRIPTION
Your Mother-in-Law Loves You is a bilingual collection of
more than 600 proverbs and expressions from Syria. It is a useful tool
for students of Syrian-Arabic, Modern Arabic as well as those
interested in the rich culture of the country. When visiting someone
unexpectedly, hamatik ba-tohebik
or “your mother-in-law loves you” becomes an invitation to join them in
their meal.
For about ten years, Rebecca Joubin, assistant professor of Arab
studies at Davidson College, has travelled to and conducted research in
Syria. Noticing the use of proverbs and expressions as a signature of
Syrian culture and identity, she began writing down the phrases she
heard in casual conversation and in the local media.The expressions are
presented here in Syrian-Arabic, in modern standard Arabic and, for
those not familiar with the language, in English translation. And when
necessary, they are explained. Her bilingual collection of more than
600 proverbs is ideal for all students of Arabic as well as those
interested in the rich culture of Syria. The sayings have been divided
by topic such as the body, food, animals, colors, homeland, work and
experience. In this collection we see the many unique values and
attributes of Syrian culture. We observe kindness, hospitality,
generosity, forgiveness, and humility. More importantly, in addition to
observing the singularities of Syrian culture, we learn about the
universalities of human nature.
AUTHOR
REBECCA JOUBIN is Malcolm O.
Partin assistant
professor and chair of Arab studies at Davidson College. She received
her doctorate from Columbia University and before joining Davidson, she
conducted research in Syria for close to a decade. Some of this
research is included in her most recent manuscript: The Politics of
Love: Sexuality, Gender, and Marriage in Syrian Television Drama. She
has translated Moniru Ravanipur’s novel, Afsaneh, and her articles in
English and Arabic have been published in the International Journal of Middle Eastern
Studies, Middle East Journal, Arab Studies Journal, MERIP, al-Kifa al-Arabi, and al-Mada.
ILLUSTRATOR
ETAB HREIB is a critically acclaimed Syrian watercolorist
from Der-Ez-Zor. Her work has been exhibited in Algeria, Egypt, Syria,
Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, China, Bulgaria, France,
Spain, Germany, and the United States. She has been awarded the
al-Mahros Award in Tunisia, a Golden Award from the Ministry of Culture
in China, and a prize for best Arab artist from the Ministry of Culture
in Algeria. In addition to working full time as an artist, she has
taught at Damascus University, has given painting courses for diabetic
children, has taught ceramics to blind children, and has worked as a
designer for Syrian theater, film, and television drama. She has also
served as a jury member for the Adonis Prize for Best TV series.
|