A Roving Eye: Head to Toe in Egyptian Arabic Expressions

No matter where we come from, we all have our unique local expressions and proverbs that raise confused eyebrows when translated literally. These phrases usually carry humor and wisdom at their core, but are only fully understood in their native language. A Roving Eye explores some of these phrases and sayings from one of the world's most expressive tongues, Egyptian Arabic, the most widely spoken form of Arabic. Including some one hundred popular phrases and proverbs, all linked to parts of the body and features of the face, A Roving Eye uses striking black-and-white photography to bring these expressions to life. The result is a book that will delight both learners and native speakers of Arabic, as well as lovers of Egypt who have little knowledge of the language. Each phrase or saying features a photograph, the original expression in Arabic, its transliteration, and its equivalents in English (both literal and proverbial). The whole book makes a perfect gift or a fun read for family and friends.

Author: Mona Ateek, Mona Kamel Hassan, Trevor Naylor
Publisher: American University in Cairo Press
Published: 03/01/2015
Pages: 96
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 6.90h x 6.10w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9789774166792

About the Author
Mona Ateek has an MA in teaching English as a foreign language and has been teaching in the English Language Institute of the American University in Cairo (AUC) since 1987. Mona Kamel Hassan is a senior Arabic language instructor in the Department of Arabic Language Instruction (ALI) at the AUC, and head of Arabic language courses there. Trevor Naylor is the author of Living Normally: Where Life Comes Before Style. He lives normally in Cairo. Marian Sarofim has been teaching English at the AUC since 1972, and is the recipient of the AUC's 2012 Teaching Excellence Award. Doriana MacMullen is a Bulgarian photographer who lives and works in Cairo. Her love of the Egypt and its people is reflected here in what has been her most exciting photography challenge yet.