HSC Arabic Extension flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

الفكرة الرئيسية

The central idea of a text: the claim that the remaining sentences explain, support, or qualify. Identifying it first prevents paragraph-by-paragraph summary in analysis tasks.

أدوات الربط

Cohesive connectors such as لأن، بينما، على الرغم من، نتيجةً لذلك. Naming them in analysis shows how the writer links cause, contrast, and consequence across sentences.

تشبيه

A simile: an explicit comparison marked by كـ or مثل, as in كالأسد. In analysis, state both the comparison and the quality it foregrounds for the reader.

استعارة

A metaphor: an implicit comparison where one thing is described as another without a comparative particle. Its effect is to transfer associations from the vehicle to the topic.

كناية

Metonymy or allusion: saying something indirectly so the intended meaning is inferred, such as mentioning hands to imply generosity. It invites reader inference rather than stating plainly.

نبرة النص

The tone of a text, described with terms such as ساخر، رثائي، محايد، متحمس. Every tone claim needs a quoted phrase as evidence, not just an adjective.

الجمهور المستهدف

The intended audience. Vocabulary level, register, and cultural references reveal whether a text addresses specialists, youth, general readers, or a diaspora community.

السرد والقصة

Narrative mode: first-person narration, dialogue, and time markers signal a short story rather than a report. Character motive, not event sequence, is usually the analytical focus.

الإضافة

The possessive construct: first term takes no definite article and no tanwin, second term is genitive. Example: كتابُ الطالبِ means the student's book.

حروف الجر

Prepositions such as في، من، إلى، على، عن. The noun following them takes the genitive: في المدرسةِ, إلى السوقِ, من البيتِ.

الفعل والفاعل

A verb placed before its subject remains singular: جاء الطلابُ. A verb after its subject agrees in gender and number: الطلابُ جاءوا.

مقدمة المقال

The essay introduction: states the thesis and previews the line of argument. It should occupy roughly one eighth of the total word count, not more.

خاتمة

The conclusion: restates the position in fresh wording and closes the argument. It introduces no new evidence, since that would reopen the discussion.

اللغة الفصحى

Modern Standard Arabic: the formal written variety used in essays, news, and literature. Extended HSC writing tasks require it, including correct case endings and formal connectors.

أسلوب الحجاج

Argumentative style: claim, evidence, analysis, link. Each body paragraph advances one idea supported by a textual detail and an explanation of its effect.

علامات الترقيم

Arabic punctuation: the comma ،, semicolon ؛, question mark ؟, and quotation marks » «. Consistent use signals control of formal written register.

التلخيص

Summarising: condensing content while keeping the main idea and key supporting points. In essays it supports a claim; it does not replace analysis of technique.

الضمائر المتصلة

Attached pronouns such as ـه، ـها، ـهم. Tracking what each pronoun refers to prevents ambiguity and demonstrates cohesion analysis in Arabic texts.

بنية النص

Text structure: how paragraphs are ordered, for example problem–solution, cause–effect, or chronological narrative. Structure choices reveal the writer's persuasive strategy.

صلة الرحم

Kinship ties: the obligation to maintain family relationships. English commentary should explain it by social function, since a literal gloss alone is insufficient.

العائلة الممتدة

The extended family: relatives beyond the nuclear household who share obligations and support. Explain the concept functionally when writing for English readers.

كرم الضيافة

Hospitality: the cultural value of generous welcome to guests. Texts often invoke it to characterise individuals or critique social change.

الازدواجية اللغوية

Diglossia: the coexistence of formal فصحى and regional عامية for different functions. English analysis should distinguish the domains in which each variety appears.

الترجمة الوظيفية

Functional translation: rendering an Arabic term by its role in context rather than word-for-word. It keeps English analysis readable while preserving cultural meaning.

الاقتباس المترجم

A translated quotation: a brief English rendering plus the Arabic phrase, followed by analysis. This supports claims without letting translation dominate the response.

لغة التقييم

Evaluative verbs such as suggests, implies, reinforces for inference, versus states and asserts for explicit claims. Calibrating them keeps English analysis accurate.

الجذر الثلاثي

The three-consonant root underlying most Arabic words. From ك-ت-ب come كتاب، كاتب، مكتبة، مكتوب, which lets you infer the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary.

الأوزان

Verb and noun patterns. Form II فعّل often intensifies or makes transitive, while Form X استفعل often means seeking, as in استعلم, to seek information.

جمع التكسير

The broken plural, formed by internal vowel change rather than suffixation: كتاب/كتب, مدرسة/مدارس. Each must be learned with its singular.

الكنية

A kunya: a respectful name form using أبو or أم plus a child's name, as in أبو خالد. It signals familiarity, status, and social relationship in biographical texts.

النكبة

The Nakba: the 1948 displacement of Palestinians, a recurring historical allusion in modern Arabic literature. Recognise the reference and its emotional weight in context.

الجاهلية

The pre-Islamic era, literally the age of ignorance. Writers invoke it rhetorically in historical and religious discussion, so note the allusion's evaluative force.