Saadia Gaon

[Paul Younan]

Linguistically speaking, do you have a general knowledge of Arabic and Hebrew.

Shlama Akhi bar-Khela,

Both of my parents were born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, where the official language is Arabic. My sisters were born and raised in Beirut before my parents emigrated here to the states, and then I and my brother were born in Chicago. They all read and speak Arabic fluently.

Unfortunately, they only taught us boys Aramaic. We learned English in school at age 5. ( When any of them wanted to talk in secret, they used Arabic and the two of us were lost. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/sad.gif" alt="" title="Sad" /><!-- s --> )

I only know Hebrew in relation to its similiarities with Aramaic, and my studies of the OT. I do not speak either language, nor am I an expert in either one of them. (although I am more familiar with Arabic because it was sometimes spoken at home)