Lebanese or Lebanese Arabic is a variety of Levantine Arabic, indigenous to and spoken primarily in Lebanon, with significant linguistic influences borrowed from other Middle Eastern and European languages, and is in some ways unique from other varieties of Arabic. Due to natural multiculturalism and multilingualism within Lebanon, it is not uncommon for Lebanese people to usually mix French, English, and other languages into their daily spoken Arabic, a phenomenon similarly exhibited within Maghreb Arab countries as well.

Differences from Standard Arabic[link]

Lebanese Arabic (also sometimes referred to as the "Lebanese language") shares many features with other so-called modern varieties of Arabic. Lebanese, like many other spoken Levantine varieties, exhibits a very different syllable structure from Modern Standard Arabic. While Standard Arabic can have only one consonant at the beginning of a syllable, after which a vowel must follow, Lebanese commonly has two consonants in the onset.

• Syntax: simpler, without any mood and case markings.
• Number: verbal agreement regarding number and gender is required for all subjects, whether already mentioned or not.
• Gender: plural inanimate nouns are treated as feminine.
• Vocabulary: significant borrowings from other languages, most prominently Phoenician, Aramaic-Syriac, Ottoman Turkish, Greek, and French, as well as, less significantly, Armenian, English, Italian, and Persian.

Examples[link]

• The following example demonstrates two differences between Standard Arabic (Literary Arabic) and Spoken Lebanese: Coffee (قهوة), Literary Arabic: /ˈqahwa/; Lebanese: [ˈʔahwe]. The voiceless uvular plosive /q/ corresponds to a glottal stop [ʔ], and the final vowel ([æ~a~ɐ]) commonly written with tāʾ marbūtah (ة) is raised to [e].
• As a general rule of thumb, the Voiceless uvular plosive /q/ is dropped from the words in which it appears, and is replaced instead with glottal stop [ʔ], e.g., /daqiːqa/ "minute" becomes [dʔiːʔa]. Dropping of /q/ is a feature shared with most dialects of Egyptian Arabic.
• The exception for this general rule is the Druze of Lebanon who, like the Druze of Syria and Israel, have retained the pronunciation of /q/ in the centre of direct neighbours who have substituted the /q/ for the [ʔ] (example: "Heart" is /qalb/ in Literary Arabic, becomes [ˈʔaleb] or [ʔalb], which is similar in Syrian, Palestinian and Egyptian. The use of /q/ by Druze is particularly prominent in the mountains and less so in urban areas.
• Unlike most other varieties of Arabic, Lebanese has retained the classical diphthongs [aɪ] and [aʊ] (/aj/ & /aw/), which were monophthongised into [eː] and [oː] elsewhere. This has changed over time, and, today, in everyday conversation, [eː] has replaced the /aj/ and sometimes medial /aː/, also [e] replaced final /i/. The [oː] has replaced the /aw/; [o] replaced the short /u/. In singing, the /aj/, /aw/ and medial /aː/ are maintained for artistic values.

Regional Lebanese Arabic dialects[link]

Although there is a common Lebanese dialect mutually understood by most Lebanese, there are regional distinct variations in various parts of the country with at times unique pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.

Widely used regional dialects include:

• Beiruti dialects, further distributed according to various quarters, the notable ones being Achrafieh dialect, Basta dialect, Ras Beirut dialect, etc.
• Northern dialects, further distributed regionally, the most notable ones being Tripoli dialect, Zgharta dialect, Bsharri dialect, Koura dialect, Akkar dialect
• Southern dialects
• Beqaa dialects, further divided into various dialects, the notable ones being Zahlé dialect, Baalbek-Hermel dialect
• Mount Lebanon dialects, further divided into various regional dialects like the Keserwan dialect, the Druze dialect, etc.

Spelling reform[link]

Lebanese is rarely written, except in novels where a dialect is implied or in some types of poetry that do not use classical Arabic at all. Lebanese is also utilized in many Lebanese songs, theatrical pieces, local television and radio productions, and very prominently in zajal.

The Lebanese language has been popularized throughout the Arab World, in particular through Lebanese pan-Arab singers including Fairuz, Sabah, Wadih El Safi, Nancy Ajram, and many others.

Formal publications in Lebanon, such as newspapers, are typically written in Modern Standard Arabic, French, or English.

While Arabic script is usually employed, informal usage such as online chat may mix and match Latin letter transliterations. The Lebanese poet Saïd Akl proposed the use of the Latin alphabet but did not gain wide acceptance. Whereas some works, such as Romeo and Juliet and Plato's Dialogues have been transliterated using such systems, they have not^{[citation needed]} gained widespread acceptance. Yet, now, most Arabic web users, when short of an Arabic keyboard, transliterate the Lebanese words in the Latin alphabet in a pattern similar to the Said Akl alphabet, the only difference being the use of numbers to point at the Arabic letters not found in the Latin alphabet.

In 2010, The Lebanese Language Institute has released a Lebanese keyboard layout and made it easier to write Lebanese in a Latin script, using unicode-compatible symbols to substitute for missing sounds.^{[citation needed]} For example: Marḣaba, kiifak? : Hello, how are you? Ana ismi Ḱaliil. Inta chu ismak? : My name is Khalil, what is your name?

References[link]

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (July 2009)

• Spoken Lebanese. Maksoud N. Feghali, Appalachian State University. Parkway Publishers, 1999 (ISBN 978-1-887905-14-5)
• Michel T. Feghali, Syntaxe des parlers arabes actuels du Liban, Geuthner, Paris, 1928.
• Elie Kallas, 'Atabi Lebnaaniyyi. Un livello soglia per l'apprendimento del neoarabo libanese, Cafoscarina, Venice, 1995.
• Angela Daiana Langone, Btesem ente lebneni. Commedia in dialetto libanese di Yahya Jaber, Università degli Studi La Sapienza, Rome, 2004.
• Jérome Lentin, "Classification et typologie des dialectes du Bilad al-Sham", in Matériaux Arabes et Sudarabiques n. 6, 1994, 11-43.
• Plonka Arkadiusz, L’idée de langue libanaise d’après Sa‘īd ‘Aql, Paris, Geuthner, 2004, ISBN 978-2-7053-3739-1
• Plonka Arkadiusz, "Le nationalisme linguistique au Liban autour de Sa‘īd ‘Aql et l’idée de langue libanaise dans la revue «Lebnaan» en nouvel alphabet", Arabica, 53 (4), 2006, 423-471.

External links[link]

• Lebanese Language Institute
• Lebanese alphabet
• Manual with grammar of South Lebanese Arabic for the Dutch UNIFIL detachment
• Manual with grammar of South Lebanese Arabic Spoken samples part 1
• Manual with grammar of South Lebanese Arabic Spoken samples part 2

Haifa Wehbe هيفاء وهبي
Haifa Wehbe during a F1 Powerboat World Championship's concert in Abu Dhabi.
Background information
Born	1974 (age 37–38) Mahrouna, Lebanon
Genres	Arabic pop, World
Occupations	Singer, model, Designer, Actress
Years active	1990s- (model) 2002–present (Singer) 2007–present (Actress)
Website	http://www.haifawehbe.com

Haifa Wehbe (Arabic: هيفاء وهبي) (born 1974^[1][2][3][4] in Mahrouna, Lebanon), is a Lebanese model, actress, and singer born to a Lebanese father and Egyptian mother who rose to fame in the Arab world as runner up for Miss Lebanon and later through the release of her debut album Houwa El-Zaman (Arabic: هو الزمن) in 2002. She is known through her music for her sex appeal, provocative mannerisms and image. She has so far released four studio albums and made her acting debut in 2008 Pepsi-produced film Sea of Stars. Wehbe is one of the most well-known female singers in the Arab World and is considered one of the most successful Lebanese singers. In 2006, she was on People Magazine's 50 most beautiful people list.^[5]

Early life[link]

Wehbe was born in Mahrouna, a small Shia farming town in Lebanon, to a Lebanese father, Nadim antar, and Egyptian mother, but shortly after her family had moved to Beirut where she grew up listening to jazz and R&B and began to work as a full-time model at a young age.^[6] Wehbe won the title of Miss South Lebanon at the age of sixteen.^[7] Wehbe was a runner-up at the Miss Lebanon competition.^[8]

Wehbe also made a name for herself when she starred in a music video clip for the famous Arabic crooner, George Wassouf. By 1996, she had appeared on over one hundred magazine covers.

Career[link]

Performing in Cairo

[edit] Houwa El-Zaman (2002–2003)

In 2002, Wehbe released her first album, titled Houwa El-Zaman (Arabic: هو الزمن, English: "It Is The Time"), which became a commercial success, in part thanks to the popularity of her first single "Agoul Ahwak" (Arabic: أقول أهواك, English: "I Say I Love You").

[edit] Baddi Eish and television career (2004–2007)

Wehbe released her second studio album Baddi Eesh (Arabic: بدي عيش, English: "I Want to Live") in early 2005 and lived up to expectations due to the success of its lead single "Ya Hayat Albi." Released after the assassination of Lebanese politician Rafik Hariri, the title single of the album is about "freedom, considered to be among the most basic of human rights".^[9] Her follow-up single became her biggest hit to date, "Ana Haifa" (Arabic: أنا هيفاء, English: "I Am Haifa"), which became her novelty song. In 2006 she released a follow up single "Bus al-Wawa" (Arabic: بوس الواوا, English: "Kiss the booboo"), the song was later used in a Pepsi advertisement. The song was also voted Song of the Year in 2006 by Radio Scope and Sawt Al Musika.^[10]

In July 2005, Wehbe, along with 14 other celebrities from the Arab world, appeared on the live pan-Arab reality series Al-Wadi (Arabic: الوادي, English: The Farm‎), based on the French reality show La Ferme Célébrités. Wehbe's role featured songs from her then new album.

Wehbe was the first Arab artist appear on the Italian television channel Rai Uno at Piazza Navona in Rome, performing in front of celebrities and fashion designers. Haifa Wehbe has also performed with artists from outside the Arab world. On June 10, 2006, Wehbe became the first artist in the Arab world to perform with rapper 50 Cent when she performed the opening act for his first concert in Lebanon, at BIEL in Beirut.

In summer 2006 she was a spokesperson for Pepsi, and worked on Pepsi ads with football star Thierry Henry which were aired on Lebanese television during the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

[edit] Film career beginnings and Habibi Ana (2008–2009)

Wehbe starred in the Pepsi-produced film Sea of Stars released in early 2008, along with Carole Samaha, Ahmad el Sherif, Wael Kfoury, Brigitte Yaghi, and Ruwaida al-Mahrooqi^[11]

On July 4, 2008, Wehbe released her third studio album Habibi Ana (Arabic: حبيبي أنا, English: "My Love") which contains 15 songs including the lead single "Mosh Adra Astana". In the Middle East album sales struggled due to Haifa's lack of promotion as she was concentrating more on her acting and film career.

In 2009 Wehbe starred in Dokkan Shehata, a high-grossing Egyptian drama film. The film was produced by Khaled Youssef. It was released in June 2009 and immediately became a huge success in the Middle East whilst gaining tremendous publicity.

[edit] Baby Haifa (2010–present)

After a lengthy delay, Wehbe released a children's album titled Baby Haifa in March 2010 under Rotana Records.^[12]

Wehbe was scheduled to work on the Egyptian movie Leilet El-Baby Doll, but canceled due to her overbooked schedule. The singer will be starring in another movie with producer Muhammad Al Sabki scheduled for sometime in 2011.

In April 2010, Wehbe was featured on French DJ David Vendetta's album Vendetta on the song Yama Layali.^[13] Wehbe is working on her fifth studio album, “Bukra Bafarjeek”. In September 2011 Al Bawaba reported that Wehbe was threatening to leave her label Rotana "for neglecting her and not paying any attention to her work".^[14] Haifa is now working on releasing the album soon and her music video for "Bukra Bafarjeek".

Other works[link]

Wehbe occasionally works as a television host and has also designed her own selection of diamond jewellery.

Personal life[link]

Wehbe is a Lebanese Muslim, and she has three sisters. Wehbe's brother died at the age of 24 during the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon.^[15][16][17] Wehbe's daughter has been living with her father since her parents divorce. In 2008 Wehbe's daughter was married in a private ceremony. As of 2010, Zeinab Zaza and her father are living in Kuwait.

In 2005, Wehbe announced her engagement to a Saudi businessman Tariq Al-Jaffali. After only a few weeks, she and her fiancé decided to split for personal reasons and family issues.

On June 25, 2007, Wehbe survived an accident while filming a music video for the song "Hasa Ma Bena" in Lebanon. In the video, a single engine airplane was to chase Wehbe as she drove a car. However, the airplane inadvertently hit the car, taking off the front windshield of the convertible she was driving.^[18] Despite the severity of the accident, Wehbe suffered only minor cuts and bruises.

Wehbe married Egyptian businessman Ahmad Abu Husheima on April 24, 2009 in Beirut.^[12] Among the guests at the wedding party were singer Anastacia,^[19] Googoosh, Kim Kardashian, Samar Ibrahim, Nawal Al Zoghbi, Najwa Karam, Ragheb Alama, Ahlam, and Sherine.^[12]

Criticism and controversy[link]

Elissa rivalry[link]

Haifa is known for her enmity and rivalry with Lebanese singer Elissa. In 2009 Haifa compared the two singers to 'cars' by saying that Elissa is an 'old car' while she is a 'new' one. This statement was highly publicised and talked about in the media and press, causing anger between fans.^[20] Elissa refused to reply and just stated carelessly: "When someone compares me to a car, is there anything left for me to say?". This enmity stopped when Nishan had Elissa live on his show and called Haifa. Both Elissa and Haifa were surprised, but assured people that there are no problems or issues between the two singers.^[21]

Further controversy started when Haifa claimed that Elissa's perfume, "Elle D'Elissa", was supposed to be hers, but Elissa didn't reply and said that the perfume is hers and only hers yet again, Haifa and Elissa announced the love and peace between them. During the Murex d'Or 2010, after Haifa had finished her performance and accepted her award, she said that Lebanon is a country of love and that all Lebanese people love and respect each other. And to prove to people that what she was saying was true, she said "There's no problem with Elissa, and this is the proof to all people," she shook hands with Elissa and congratulated her on her success.^[21]

Allegations of racism[link]

In 2009, lyrics in one of Wehbe song's Baba Fein (from her unreleased 2010 kids album) seemed to refer to Nubians as "monkeys". Exact translation: "Where is my teddy bear and the Nubian monkey?".^[22][23] Black Egyptians accused the artist of racism and singing a song that fueled racism and discrimination against them.^[24] In 2010 a lawsuit filed against Wehbe was dropped.

Another incident occurred after the 2009 Egypt–Algeria World Cup dispute, adding to the diplomatic tension between the two countries. Wehbe went on to make statements that she would not be performing in Algeria anytime soon, because Algerians "...wouldn't understand her music". Algerian officials and many Algerians responded to Wehbe's statements stating she would not be welcome in Algeria anyway.^[25] Algeria's cultural minister stated that Wehbe would be banned from performing in Algeria for insulting Algeria and the Algerian people regardless of whether she apologizes.^[26]

Wehbe went on to explain her initial comments to Lebanese host Tony Khalife, saying that she didn't mean to offend Algerians or Algeria as a country but was condemning the actions of a few Algerians during the match. She then added saying: "I couldn’t help it but cry when I saw the blood of an Egyptian woman on the stadium!".^[27]

Political views[link]

During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, she left her home, in Verdun, Beirut and moved to Egypt for the duration of the conflict.^[9] In a concert in the Lebanese town of Jounieh, Wehbe congratulated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah for his stand against Israel during the war.^[16]

In a further interview with Reuters, Wehbe stated that Israel attacked Lebanese civilians intentionally while Hezbollah attacked only military targets:

I believe the whole world knows who started this war and who aggressed on whose land. There isn't a war that starts from nothing and he who begins is the unjust one.^[28]

Wehbe also refused to perform at any concert during the 34 days of the war including fundraisers, saying that there were more ways than one to show support for Lebanon.^[16]

Wehbe has also urged fans to support Japanese victims of the Tsunami.^[29]

2007 Lebanon elections and concert in Beirut[link]

Wehbe wore a shirt with the face of President Michel Suleiman during her performance at the election celebrations in downtown Beirut.

Lebanese newspapers said scores went onstage when Haifa appeared, despite attempts by police to prevent them from reaching the pop star.^[30] She also sang the Fairuz classic "Ya Hawa Beirut" ("Oh my love Beirut"), which is nostalgic song written during the Lebanese Civil War that reminisces on the "Glorious Days" of Lebanon prior to 1975.

Image[link]

Wehbe was ranked 49th in the 2006 Edition of the Top 99 Most Desirable Women by the website AskMen.com.^[31] Wehbe was also ranked number 6 in the AskMen.com's 10 Hottest Arab Women article.

Some in the more conservative Arab countries deem her revealing outfits scandalous. One Bahraini member of parliament called her a sexual singer who spoke with her body, not her voice. Wehbe said she was aware of the efforts to ban her from performing at the concert but had chosen to ignore their attempts to silence her.

"I am a performer and not a politician," Haifa said. "I know my fans want me I am there for them. I am not concerned with the other issues."^[32]

In April 2008, the Islamist-dominated parliament of Bahrain passed a motion urging the government to ban Haifa Wehbe's show in the country.^[33] As a result of the motion, Wehbe performed in Bahrain with more modest dress, wearing a long green gown with a low V-neckline during the performance.^[33]

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

• Houwa El-Zaman (2002)
• Baddi Eesh (2005)
• Habibi Ana (2008)
• Malikat Jamal Al Kawn (2012)

Other albums[link]

• Baby Haifa (2010)

Soundtracks[link]

• 2008: Sea of Stars

Singles[link]

• "Agoul ahwak"
• "Wa7di"
• "Ma Sar"
• "Ya 7ayat albi"
• "Bedi 3ich"
• "Ragab"
• "Ana Haifa"
• "Fakerni" (radio only single)
• "Ma Khadtesh Bali" (radio only single)
• "Leik el wawa"
• "Naughty" (radio single only)
• Tigi El Zay
• "Mosh Adras Astana"
• "Ma t2oulch el 7ad"
• "Hasa Ma Bena"
• "Yaben el Halal"
• "Sanara"
• "Baba Fein/Lama El Shams Trawa7
• "Enta Tany"
• "80 Million Ehsas"
• "Yama Layali"
• "Boukra Bafarjik"
• "Ya Majnoun"

Concert Tours[link]

2011

• January 29- Amsterdam, Netherlands (TBA)

2010

• November 18- Al Massa Hotel, Cairo
• November 17- Movempic Hotel, Beirut, Lebanon
• July 31 – Movempic Hotel, Beirut, Lebanon
• July 24 – Chouf, Lebanon
• July 22 – Batroun, Lebanon
• July 16–19 – Casablanca, Morocco
• July 4 – PRIVATE CONCERT, Monaco
• July 2 – Zahle Festival, Zahle, Lebanon
• May 8 – Phoenicia Hotel, Beirut
• March 13 – Houston, Texas

Filmography[link]

Films[link]

• Sea of Stars (produced by Pepsi) – released July, 2008
• Dokkan Shihata – June 2009

Television[link]

• Al Wadi (2005) – reality television show based on the French reality show La Ferme Célébrités.

Awards[link]

• 2002: The "Golden Lion" Award in Egypt.^[10]
• 2004: Best Young Female Arab singer in Egypt.^[34]
• 2005: The Oscar for "ninashnash" for her song Baddi Eesh from her second album.^[10]
• 2005: The "Murex d'Or" award with the title "Best Artist of the Year".^[10]
• 2006: The "Murex d'Or" award with the title "Best Artist of the Year".^[10]
• 2009: The "Murex d'Or" award with title "Most Popular Lebanese Singer"^[35]
• 2010: The "Murex d'Or" award with the title "Best singer actress"
• 2010: The "ART" Award for her role in her first Egyptian Film "Dokkan Shehata"
• 2011: World's Most Desirable Woman List No. 49 Rank^[36]
• 2011: Most beautiful Arabian model cum actress list Ranked #2^[36]
• 2011: Murex d'Or best song award, for "Yama Layaly."^[37]

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Arab youth revel in pop revolution by Sebastian Usher, May 21, 2007, BBC

External links[link]

• Most Desirable Arabian:Haifa Wehbe
• Haifa Wehbe.com: Official website
• Haifa Fans: Official FanClub
• Haifa Wehbe Music Videos
• Haifa's Official Fanpage