Bargaining#
Objective: By the end of the chapter, you will be able to: • bargain for basic items, such as clothing • describe the colors of items • use masculine, feminine, and plural adjectives correctly • describe differences between objects using the comparative and superlative Bargaining General Bargaining Information In Morocco, bargaining is a part of life. It can sometimes be tiring for people not used to it, but with some cultural and language skills, it can become much easier. Some information about bargaining can also make the process simpler. First of all, you need to know what items should be bargained for, and what items normally have fixed prices, even for Moroccans. This is not always easy to determine, since the place where you buy some things may determine whether the price is fixed or not. For example, some items that are sold at fixed prices in a нanut (e.g. laundry soap, vegetables, eggs) may be bargained for in the souk or from a street vendor. Ask your host family or watch other Moroccans in order to find out. Here are some general guidelines for whether prices are fixed or not: Usually Bargained For any article of clothing any household or kitchen utensil, appliance, or furniture rent for a house or apartment taxi fares on unscheduled runs anything bought in a souk (e.g. grains in bulk, animals, rugs, etc.) anything bought from a street vendor who has no regular shop petit taxi fares if the meter does not work anything used or second-hand domestic help and services (maid, plumber, electrician, etc. Determine the price before the work is done.) Seldom Bargained For things which are literally bought every day: mint, parsley, bread, coriander refill on a butagas cigarettes and alcohol meals or beverages in restaurants bus fares between scheduled stops taxi fares on regular runs price-controlled staple foods: sugar, oil, tea, flour, milk, butter, etc. anything bought in a pharmacy meat and vegetables, if the price per kilo is posted school supplies It is also good to be aware of some of the standard tactics that are used between the buyer and the seller in Morocco. If you watch Moroccans, you will see many of these. The Buyer’s Tactics not showing too much enthusiasm for buying walking away when the seller has named the “lowest” price pointing out defects in the merchandise quoting a lower price for an identical item in another shop claiming not to have enough money to meet the seller’s “lowest” price complimenting or flattering the seller (on his shop, merchandise, children, friendliness) The Seller’s Tactics not showing too much enthusiasm for selling turning away when the buyer has named the “highest” price noting the superior quality in the merchandise insisting that goods in other shops are not of the same quality claiming that in selling at the buyer’s “highest” price he would be taking a loss complimenting or flattering the buyer (on his or her language ability, friendliness, expertise in bargaining)72 • Moroccan Arabic The Buyer’s Tactics acting insulted by the seller’s price arguing that the difference between the seller’s price and the price offered is insignificant; i.e. the seller should come down to the offered price pulling out one’s money as if the offered price has been agreed upon The Seller’s Tactics acting insulted by the buyer’s offer arguing that the difference between the buyer’s price and his price is insignificant and the buyer should come up wrapping up the purchase as if the asking price has been agreed upon When you are looking to buy an item that you know you will have to bargain for, there are a few things that you should probably try to avoid. These include: showing too much interest in, or too great a need for, a particular item carrying large sums of money, carrying expensive, previously-bought items, looking like a tourist having no idea what an item is really worth, or what is a fair price for that type of item being in a hurry buying with a guide (he gets a percentage of what you pay) Always be prepared to pay a price you have named. Do not get too far into bargaining for something if you do not intend to buy it. If you are not clear on the currency in which you are bargaining (i.e. ryals), proceed slowly. In the end, don’t let a bargaining scenario ruin your day. Most of us go unbothered by the sometimes huge markups on big-ticket items in America, yet we can be easily frustrated by a Moroccan merchant who makes an extra dollar or two off of us. Remember that one’s peace of mind is worth something, too. Bargaining Expressions It’s too expensive!ghali bzzaf!!افبزّ غالي Lower the price.nqS shwiya..ةشوي ّ نقص Give a good price.Sawb m3aya f t-taman.I won’t add even a ryal.ma-n-zid 7tta ryal.I’ll add nothing.ma-n-zid walu..والو نزيد ما It’s too much for me.bzzaf 3liya..علي َ افبزّ A good price.shi taman mzyan..مزيان نمَ َت شي A reasonable price.shi taman mnasb..مناسب نمَ َت شي What’s the last price?akhir taman, sh7al?شحال؟ ،نمَ َت رأخ How much will I get it for?bsh7al t-khllih (ha)?(ها)؟ تخلّيه بشحال That’s what I have (money)!had sh-shi l-li 3ndi!!عندي اللي الشي دهَ That’s my last price!hada huwa akhir taman dyali!!ديالي نمَ َت رأخ وَ هُ داهَ .نمَ َالت ف معايا صاوب .لاير حتّى نزيد ماPeace Corps / Morocco • 73 Clothing Clothing Vocabulary Clothes l-нwayj الحوايج طمةسيف11. fistaستةف 2. jeanدجين12. jakiTaجاكيطة 3. srwalسروال13. pijamaپيجامة كم ّ نص قَميجة14. kbbuTوطكب ّ 5. qamijaقَميجة15. smTaسمطة 6. grafaTaفَطةرا گ16. t-shirtشورت تي 7. jiliجيلي17. shorTشورط 8. kustimكوستيم18. shalشال 9. trikuتريكو19. slipسليپ ڤي كول تريكو20. Sayaصاية 1. sifiTma 4. qamija nS kmm 10. triku cuL v74 • Moroccan Arabic 11. sbrdilaسبرديلة فوالر / زيف12. butyuبوتيو 3. jllabaجالّبة13. SbbaTاتصب ّ 4. gnduraگندورة14. Sndalaلةصند َ 5. libaليبا15. msh-shayaايةشّ م سوتيانات16. khatmخاتم 7. ligatليگات17. 7alaqatلَقاتحَ 8. kaskiTaسكيطاكَ18. 3qiqعقيق 9. Tagiyaةطاگي ّ19. snslaسنسلة 10. tqashrتقاشر20. mDlلمض Is there anything else?wesh kayna shi 7aja khora?رى؟خُ حاجة شي كاينة واش Give me size … please.3Tini n-nmra … 3afak.Try this one on.qiys hada / hadi.Do you want another color?wesh bghiti shi lun akhor? 1. kswa 2. zif / fular 6. sutyanat كسوة Clothing Expressions .فاكعّ … النمرة عطيني .ديهَ / داهَ سقيّ ر؟أخ ُ لون شي بغيتي واشPeace Corps / Morocco • 75 I prefer this color.kan-fDDl had l-lun..اللون دهَ نفضلكَ It goes well with you.ja / jat m3ak..كمع َ جات / جا Colors colors l-lwan Masculine Singular اللوان Feminine Singular Plural whitebyDبيضbiDaبيضةbiDinبيضين bluezrqزرقzrqaزرقةzrqinزرقين blackk7lكحلk7laكحلةk7linكحلين red7mrحمر7mraحمرة7mrinحمرين yellowSfrصفرSfraصفرةSfrinصفرين greenkhDrخضرkhDraخضرةkhDrinخضرين brownqhwiقهويqhwiyaةقهوي ّqhwiyinينقهوي ّ orangelimuniليمونيlimuniyaةليموني ّlimuniyinينليموني ّ pinkwrdiورديwrdiyaةوردي ّwrdiyinينوردي ّ 7jriحجري7jriyaةيّحجر7jriyinينيّحجر mdadiمداديmdadiyaةمدادي ّmdadiyinينمدادي ّ greyrmadiرماديrmadiyaةرمادي ّrmadiyinينرمادي ّ goldendhbiدهبيdhbiyaةدهبي ّdhbiyinيندهبي ّ darkmghluqمغلوقmghluqaمغلوقةmghluqinمغلوقين lightmftu7مفتوحmftu7aمفتوحةmftu7inمفتوحين brightnaS3ناصعnaS3aناصعةnaS3inناصعين fadedbahtباهتbahtaباهتةbahtinباهتين purple As you can see in the table above, feminine forms of colors are made by adding an “a” sound to the masculine form, and plurals are made by adding “in” to the masculine form. Dialogue Michael: s-salamu 3alaykum. mul l-нwayj: wa 3alaykum s-salam. Michael: bghit jllaba 3afak! mul l-7wayj: mujud a sidi, ashmn nmra? Michael: ma-n-3rf. .مكُ لَيعَ الم َ :مايكل ُ الس .المالس َ مكُ لَيعَ وَ :الحوايج مول !فاكعَ جالّبة بغيت :مايكل نمرة؟ أشمن ،سيدي أ موجود :الحوايج مول .نعرف ما :مايكل76 • Moroccan Arabic !كمع َ جات آه .ديهَ سيّق :الحوايج مول mul l-7wayj: qiys hadi. Ah jat m3ak! اللون؟ دهَ ف غير كاينة :مايكل Michael: kayna ghir f had l-lun? mul l-7wayj: kayna f l-byD, S-Sfr u l-k7l. .الكحل و الصفر ،البيض ف كاينة :الحوايج مول .فاكعَ البيض نشوف را أ :مايكل Michael: ara n-shuf l-byD 3afak. mul l-7wayj: hak a sidi. .سيدي أ هاك :الحوايج مول Michael: bsh7al had sh-shi? الشي؟ دهَ بشحال :مايكل mul l-7wayj: hadi a sidi b 8000 ryal. .لاير 8000 ب سيدي أ ديهَ :الحوايج مول Michael: ghaliya bzzaf, ghadi .لاير 3000 غير نعطيك غادي ،افبزّ ةغالي :مايكل ّ n-3Tik ghir 3000 ryal. mul l-7wayj: lla, nqSti bzzaf. khudha .6000 ب خودها .افبزّ نقصتي ،ال :الحوايج مول b 6000. Michael: lla bzzaf. .السالمة ب .افبزّ ال :مايكل bslama. mul l-7wayj: aji, aji, 3Tini ghir 5000 ryal. Michael: ghadi n-3Tik 3500 ryal. bghiti mzyan ma- bghiti-sh lla y-s-hhl. mul l-7wayj: ara a sidi 3500 ryal. shi bas ma-kayn. .لاير 5000 غير عطيني ،أجي ،أجي :جالحواي مول ما مزيان بغيتي .لاير 3500 نعطيك غادي :مايكل .يسهل اهلل بغيتيش .كاين ما باس شي .لاير 3500 سيدي أ را أ :الحوايج مول Exercise: Read the text and answer the questions. Saida 3ndha bzzaf d t-tSbin l-yum: s-srwal r-rmadi u l-qamija l-biDa dyal rajlha. jean u t-shirt dyal wldha. l-kswa l-7mra u j-jakiTa z-zrqa dyal bntha. S-Saya l-khDra u z-zif l-byD dyal Saida. welakin, dyal mn t-tqashr l-ku7l? 1. dyal mn s-srwal r-rmadi? 2. dyal mn t-shirt? shnu l-lun dyalu? القَميجة و الرمادي السروال :اليوم التصبين د افبزّ عندها سعيدة الحمرة الكسوة .ولدها ديال شورت تي و دجين .راجلها ديال البيضة ديال البيض الزيف و الخضرة الصاية .بنتها ديال الزرقة الجاكيطا و حل؟والك التقاشر من ديال ،نلَكوَ .سعيدة الرمادي؟ السروال من ديال .1 ديالو؟ اللون شنو شورت؟ تي من ديال .2 3. wesh l-kswa l-7mra dyal Saida?سعيدة؟ ديال الحمرة الكسوة واش .3 4. wesh S-Saya zrqa dyal Saida?زرقة؟ سعيدة ديال الصاية واش .4 5. shnu l-lun dyal t-tqashr? التقاشر؟ ديال اللون شنو .5Peace Corps / Morocco • 77 Adjectives Adjectives come after the nouns they modify and must agree in gender and number. For example, if a noun is feminine and singular then the adjective that follows must be feminine and singular as well. Feminine and plural forms of adjectives are derived from the masculine base form. The feminine form is made by adding an a ()ة to the end of the masculine form. The plural form, like with nouns, is not always predictable. The two most common patterns are: adding in ()ين to the masculine form, or replacing the long vowel i ()ي in the middle of an adjective with the long vowel a ()ا. An example of each plural form: Masculine SingularPlural happyfr7anfr7anin bigkbirkbar we add in to form the plural we change i to a to form the plural Adjectives in this first group (forming the plural with in) also have a feminine plural form that is used when all the members of a group are feminine. If their is a mixture of masculine and feminine people or objects, the masculine plural (often just called “plural”) is used. The feminine plural is formed by adding at to the masculine singular base form. Common Adjectives English good pretty / hand- some / good bad / ugly happy sad / angry clean dirty harried late soft harsh fresh Masculine Singular mzyan مزيان zwin زوين khayb خايب fr7an فرحان mqllq مقلّق nqi نقي mwusskh خموس ّ mzrub مزروب m3TTl معطّل rTb رطب 7rsh حرش Tri طري Feminine Singular mzyana مزيانة zwina زوينة khayba ةخايب fr7ana ةفرحان mqllqa ةمقلّق nqiya ةنقي ّ mwusskha ةخموس ّ mzruba ةمزروب m3TTla ةمعطّل rTba ةرطب 7rsha ةحرش Triya ةيّطر Masculine Plural mzyanin مزيانين zwinin زوينين khaybin ينخايب fr7anin ينفرحان mqllqin ينمقلّق nqiyin يننقي ّ mwusskhin ينخموس ّ mzrubin ينمزروب m3TTlin ينمعطّل rTbin ينرطب 7rshin ينحرش Triyin ينيّطر Feminine Plural mzyanat مزيانات zwinat زوينات khaybat اتخايب fr7anat اتفرحان mqllqat اتمقلّق nqiyat اتنقي ّ mwusskhat اتخموس ّ mzrubat اتمزروب M3TTlat تمعطّال rTbat اترطب 7rshat اتحرش Triyat اتيّطر78 • Moroccan Arabic English present absent sweet salty bland / tasteless spicy open closed fried / grilled hungry thirsty busy lazy tired reasonable / serious enough expensive wide / large married old (something) big (something) old (someone) Masculine Singular 7aDr حاضر ghayb ايبغ 7lu حلو mal7 مالح mssus وسمس ّ 7arr حار ّ m7lul محلول msdud مسدود mqli مقلي ji3an جيعان 3Tshan عطشان mshghul مشغول m3gaz معگاز 3iyan انعي ّ m3qul معقول kafi كافي ghali غالي was3 واسع mzuwj جمزو ّ qdim قديم kbir كبير Feminine Singular 7aDra ةحاضر ghayba ةغايب 7luwa ةحلو ّ mal7a ةمالح mssusa ةوسمس ّ 7arra ةحار ّ m7lula ةمحلول msduda ةمسدود mqliya ةمقلي ّ ji3ana ةجيعان 3Tshana ةعطشان mshghula ةمشغول m3gaza ةمعگاز 3iyana ةانعي ّ m3qula ةمعقول kafiya ةكافي ghaliya ةغالي was3a ةواسع mzuwja ةجمزو ّ qdima ةقديم kbira ةكبير Masculine Plural 7aDrin ينحاضر ghaybin ينغايب 7luwin ينحلو ّ mal7in ينمالح mssusin ينوسمس ّ 7arrin ينحار ّ m7lulin ينمحلول msdudin ينمسدود mqliyin ينمقلي ّ ji3anin ينجيعان 3Tshanin ينعطشان mshghulin ينمشغول m3gazin ينمعگاز 3iyanin ينانعي ّ m3qulin ينمعقول kafiyin ينكافي ghaliyin ينغالي was3in ينواسع mzuwjin ينجمزو ّ qdam ماقد Kbar راكب Feminine Plural 7aDrat اتحاضر ghaybat اتغايب 7luwat اتحلو ّ mal7at اتمالح mssusat اتوسمس ّ 7arrat اتحار ّ m7lulat تمحلوال msdudat اتمسدود mqliyat اتمقلي ّ ji3anat اتجيعان 3Tshanat اتعطشان mshghulat تمشغوال m3gazat اتمعگاز 3iyanat اتانعي ّ m3qulat تمعقوال kafiyat اتكافي ghaliyat اتغالي was3at اتواسع mzuwjat اتجمزو ّPeace Corps / Morocco • 79 English small (something) young (someone) new far near tall / long short strong / correct weak simple / easy cheap poor sick Masculine Singular Sghir صغير jdid جديد b3id بعيد qrib قريب Twil طويل qSir قصير S7i7 صحيح D3if ضعيف bSiT بصيط rkhiS رخيص mskin مسكين mriD مريض Feminine Singular Sghira ةصغير jdida ةجديد b3ida ةبعيد qriba ةقريب Twila ةطويل qSira ةقصير S7i7a ةصحيح D3ifa ةضعيف bSiTa ةبصيط rkhiSa ةرخيص mskina ةمسكين mriDa ةمريض Masculine Plural Exercise: Describe the following pictures using adjectives. Feminine Plural Sghar راصغ jdad داجد bعad دابع qrab بقر ا Twal لاوط qSar راقص S7a7 حاصح D3af فاضع bSatT طابص rkhaS صارخ msakin مساكن mraD ضمر ا80 • Moroccan Arabic Comparative and Superlative Adjectives Comparative Adjectives We use comparative adjectives when we are comparing two objects based upon some quality or characteristic. For example, in English we can say: I am taller than John. “Taller than” is the comparative form of the adjective “tall.” Here are the comparative forms for some Arabic adjectives: Adjectives Comparatives goodmzyanمزيانbetter7sn (mn))(من حسن niceDrifضريفnicerDrf (mn))(من ضرف tall / longTwilطويلtaller / longerTwl (mn))(من طول shortqSirقصيرshorterqSr (mn))(من قصر big / oldkbirكبيرbigger / olderkbr (mn))(من كبر small / youngSghirصغيرsmaller / youngerSghr (mn))(من صغر heavytqilتقيلheaviertql (mn))(من تقل lightkhfifخفيفlighterkhff (mn))(من خف ّ old (thing)qdimقديمolder (thing)qdm (mn))(من قدم fewqlilقليلfewerqll (mn))(من لّ ق cheaprkhiSرخيصcheaperrkhS (mn))ن(م رخص expensiveghaliغاليmore expensiveghla (mn)غلى sweet7luحلوsweeter7la (mn)حلى As you can see above, for many adjectives (but not all) the comparative is formed by removing the long vowel i from the word. Here are some examples: Sa3dia is younger than Malika.Sa3dia Sghr mn Malika. The train is better than the bus.t-tran 7sn mn l-kar. .ليكةمَ من صغر سعدية .الكار من حسن التران Comparing Like Objects In order to express that two things/people/etc. are the same, we can use either of two expressions: the same / alikeb7al b7alبحال بحال the same / alikekif kifكيف كيف Some examples: Which is better: a blue shirt or a green one?ama 7sn: qamijja zrqa wlla khDra? They are the same.b7al b7al. خضرة؟ ّوال زرقة ةميج ّ َق :حسن أما As the example shows, the word ama ()أما is used for comparisons when we mean “which.” .بحال بحالPeace Corps / Morocco • 81 Superlative Adjectives The superlative adjective in Moroccan Arabic can be formed in two ways. First, by using the definite article with the adjective and inserting the personal pronoun: .دجتَهمُ عمر Omar is bright.Omar mujtahid.Omar is the brightest student in the class.Omar huwa l-mujtahid f l-qism.Susan is a pretty girl.Susan bnt zwina..زوينة بنت سوزان Susan is the prettiest.Susan hiya z-zwina..الزوينة يَ ه سوزان .سمالق ف دجتَهالم ُ وَ هُ عمر Second, by prefixing “a” (أ) to the comparative adjective: Casablanca is the largest city in Morocco. Toubkal is the highest mountain in Morocco. D-Dar l-biDa akbr mdina f l-mghrib. tubqal a3la jbl f l-mghrib. .بالمغر ف مدينة أكبر البيضا الدار Exercise: Compare each pair using comparative adjectives. T-Tumubil dyal Mary T-Tumubil dyal Mike Driss Hassan D-Dar dyal Mohamed sh-shklaT D-Dar dyal Judy l-khubz .بالمغر ف جبل أعلى توبقال82 • Moroccan Arabic Exercise: Answer the following questions based upon the drawing. d-dlla7 l-banan l-3nb 1. ama ghla l-3nb wlla l-banan?نان؟الب َ ّوال العنب غلى أما .1 2. ama rkhS d-dlla7 wlla l-3nb?العنب؟ ّوال الدالّح رخص أما .2 3. ama 7sn d-dlla7 wlla l-banan?نان؟الب َ ّوال حّالدال حسن أما .3 4. ama 7la l-3nb wlla d-dlla7?الدالّح؟ ّوال العنب حلى أما .4 5. wesh l-3nb huwa aghla fakiha?هة؟فاك أغلى وَ هُ العنب واش .5 6. shnu hiya l-fakiha r-rkhiSa? الرخيصة؟ هةالفاك يَ ه شنو .6 Moroccan Wisdom: من يخافكَ ،احلنش وعض ّ اللي .احلبل l-li 3DDu l-7nsh, kay-khaf mn l-7bl. The one bitten by a snake is afraid of ropes. English equivalent: Once bitten, twice shy.