This book was designed to enable someone with no previous knowledge of Arabic to learn to speak Sudanese Colloquial Arabic, also known as Khartoum Arabic. The approach used is eclectic, using a combination of dialogues, drills, grammatical explanation, role plays and ideas for conversation, to help the various kinds of learner, since not everyone acquires a language in the same way. There are also vocabulary lists for each lesson, and a glossary of all words used.
People who have previously used the course have either hired a private tutor to take them through the lessons and provide them with practice, or have attended a class where they could interact with other learners. However, fluency can only be attained by using what one learns, so the course
aims to encourage friendship with Sudanese people and immersion in the culture, which are richly rewarding experiences.
Despite the length of time since this book's first publication there is still nothing else like it available for the beginner in Arabic.
Andrew M. Persson has an M.A. from Oxford University in Oriental Languages and an M.A. in Sudanese & African Languages from the University of Khartoum.
Janet R. Persson has an M.A. in Linguistic Science from the University of Reading. She is joint author with Rianne Tamis of Sudanese Arabic--English, English--Sudanese Arabic: A Concise Dictionary.
The Perssons were involved for many years in linguistic research and language development with SIL International in Sudan and what is now South Sudan, including working in Sudanese Colloquial Arabic.