Dogs and Babylonian Numerology.



I suppose you still remember the lesson of my last class where I taught you some basic Iraqi dialect.

I now see that some serious rehearsal took place since that last lesson - Everything you need to know about Shoes - and resulted in some empirical knowledge in the application of shoes.

Let us recap from Lesson 1:

PAPPAZ = STOOGE, PUPPET, CLOWN, JESTER...

BOOMA = VERY STUPID/DUMB

ENTA KUNDARA = You're a Shoe. Or,

IBN Al-KUNDARA = Son of a Shoe. Or,

SHLON KUNDARA = What a Shoe!

WIJHAK WIJH AL-KUNDARA = Your face is like a shoe.

BIL KUNDARA = a threatening remark involving the potential use of a shoe.


But I thought to myself, should I ever retire from my "educational" role, would my conscience be satisfied ? The answer is NO.

I feel I failed to teach you more essentials from the Iraqi vocabulary and I fear that your empirical applied knowledge of shoes would not have the full desired impact.

Hence prepare yourselves for another lesson in Iraqi colloquial. This time the subject matter is the noun DOG and the use of the DOG noun in complex sentences.

So let us start with basics, shall we ?

You may jot down the following transliterations, as they will come in very handy when operating with shoes.

Lesson 2

BASICS

KALB = DOG

YA KALB = YOU DOG

ENTA KALB = YOU ARE A DOG (affirmative)

Now let's go for a slightly more advanced usage of the word dog, involving first of kin.

LEVEL 1.

IBN AL KALB = SON OF A DOG.

YA IBN AL KALB = YOU SON OF A DOG.

ENTA IBN KALB = YOU ARE A SON OF A DOG. (extra affirmative)

For the feminine - use BINT instead of Ibn and ENTEE instead of Enta (will come in handy when Hillary Clinton and Madeleine Allbright will join the Obooma, again)

Now for the insertion of the word Dog in a more elaborate syntax.

Previous sentences involved first of kin, now I want you to bear with me and learn the second level, which is slightly more complex.

LEVEL 2.

A variation on level 1, but more linguistically powerful would be:

YA KALB, IBN AL KALB, IBN AL SET'ASH KALB = YOU DOG, SON OF A DOG, SON OF SIXTEEN DOGS. (set'ash = sixteen).

The interesting thing about the above sentence is the numerological function of 16.
Why 16 and not 17, 19 or 20 ? A clear reference to the 16th next of kin, down the father's lineage. One may call that - a generational insult.

As you will notice, the numerological equation involving the usage of DOG(S) will get slightly more difficult as we proceed along...

YA KALB IBN AL KALB, IBN AL SEETEEN KALB = YOU DOG, SON OF A DOG, SON OF 60 DOGS.

Again, the interesting number 6 pops up but this time, the insult involves 60 generations...of dogs.

However there are limits to the usage of number 6 and the sentences usually stops at 66. Even though the following is not as widely used at the previous two, but it is still in current practice. Therefore feel free to bring it back in full vogue.

YA KALB IBN AL KALB IBN AL SET'A WA SEETEN KALB = YOU DOG, SON OF A DOG, SON OF 66 DOGS.

As you have rightly observed, in this context, the genealogy goes back to the 66th ancestor - all dogs.


Of course, in this short linguistic course, you may need to draw on some esoteric, numerological notions revolving around the number 6 and its derivatives, namely 16, 60 and 66.

If you fail to come up with any plausible explanation for this, you can always call on Bernard Lewis, the in-house historian for the Zionists - Israel and America.

I heard that he has recycled himself into numerology as of late, now that his historical and political expertise were sought and put into practice by the White House and resulted in the occupation of Babylon - Iraq.

In any event, please continue rehearsing, lesson no.1 on Shoes and lesson no.2 on Dogs.

And you can always offer your IRAQI flavored "farewell kisses" now that you saw them in practice. Don't forget - practice makes perfect.

Bonne Continuation...

Your Linguistics's Professor,

Layla Anwar.


Painting : Iraqi artist, Adel Dawood.

Comments

Unknown said…
You are hilarious. ;)
Dear Layla,

Even in our foul language we have our Iraqi stamp. Our foul language is very bulky, huge, big words, that in their tone represent manhood and masculinity, braveery, agrressiveness, and savageness unlike the gay language of Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Jordan.

"kiss imak 3a2ayri, yefda7 3ardak, ebn el sharmoota." unlike us Iraqis:

"Kos Omak 3ala 3eri, eftha7 3arthak, ebn el Ga7mba."

Its even the way we name our food, "BACHA, DOLMA, KARA3EEN, TISHREEB, KABAB."

they have "kibi niyi, sha2fet la7am, sheesh tawoo9, shawerma, labneh."

both sexes of Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Jordan are fuckable, becuase the boys are cute too, very gayish, very melting.

and there is somethign i dont understand in their lifes, generaly Lebies, Syries, Palies and Jordies love to have pride in their women's body in parties, the shorter the better pride, thongs, strings on the beach too.

they got no sense of jelousy not on their women not on their nations, we should feed them some.

Regards

Lion cub
Good lesson! I found it very interesting and fun. I'll have to practice... The 6 may be because 666 traditionally has been the number of the devil... Hugs, M.
Anonymous said…
Hi Layla, thanks for this post and for providing me with a hearty laugh! I have lots of new words to add to my Arabic vocabulary now!

Glad you started this on a very elementary level!! As for the 'farewell kisses', all following ones must have the desired impact - SMASH!!! A wise investment for target practise and to refine aim may be a dart board!! And, hopefully, the next one to be kissed by a shoe will be the one who felt 'birth pangs' in the Middle East - despite never having had a child!

In solidarity.

P.S.: Just seen this:

Reporter handed to judiciary

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/World/Story/STIStory_315049.html
Anonymous said…
Celebrating Shoes - From Iraq with Love:

Layla, no words, just hoots of laughter! Thank you!

In solidarity and lots of Amore!
Layla Anwar said…
Hiya Curt,

Glad was able to make you laugh...but don't forget to practice.
Layla Anwar said…
Ya Hussain,

Wow, you are a bit harsh tonight.
And me who thought I was the only one who use foul language !!!
Take care Lion cub.
Layla Anwar said…
Merche,

Yes one possible explanation. But we still need to run it by the senile zionist historian/numerologist Bernard Lewis...lol.
Layla Anwar said…
Hey Lil' Deer,

I had fun writing it...too.
Too bad Condi was not with Bush, I would have even sacrificed my high heels Italian shoes...
Hmmm maybe not...just an old regular shoe.
Kali Manitou said…
I have to admit that I'm new at the 'shoe throwing' game.
But thanx to the internet, there is plenty of opportunity to learn, practice and have fun while doing it.
http://www.kroma.no/2008/bushgame/
It just passed one MiLLiON hits....
After you practice enough, you can send a shoe or two to bush in REAL LiFE!
For details:
http://www.shoesforbush.com/
Bush is in real distress in order not to have the legacy he deserves, but the the 'shoe incident' might be exactly defining moment for his "legacy".
And maybe it's the best that can be done for Muntather Al-Zaidi. The second the spotlight is not on him/'shoe incident' they will make him disappear in their filthy dungeons.
Have a heart, send a shoe!
Layla Anwar said…
Hey urungu,

Been playing that shoe bush game...it's real fun. I will let other members of the family join me in shoe hurling...they've been dying to, since 1990.
Kali Manitou said…
I am dreaming of a moment in time
that takes its seat in eternal mime
when an aide brings the news to bush
his legacy has become a tasteless mush
thousands of shoes are mailed to him
powerless soon, his consciousness is dim
still he knows history gave him his dues
in the form of masterfully thrown shoes
Anonymous said…
Layla, you're the best. Thanks for this hysterical post, you have some personality and it shows through your writings.

Best regards,
Chrissy
Anonymous said…
KMWR--Delightful! Very entertaining! And EDUCATIONAL, as well. A great way to learn Arabic, like Sesame Street Arabic--FOR ME!! One question: The noun Dog is used pejoratively. But, how do you simply say the neutral "IT" not you/he/she is a dog. The sentence, IT is a dog. Or can you say, for example, "the show was a dog,i.e.,IT was a dog."
Anonymous said…
I never had a better time "in class", never ROFLMAOed so loudly, and definitely never had a naughtier, funnier and more endearing teacher than you :-)

Strong harsh virile irreverent Iraqi foul language after so much puppet falsetto flattering...aaaaaaaaah, what a breath of pure FREE air.
Anonymous said…
Dear Layla,
The number 6 is totally associated with our history in Iraq, as our ancestors in Sumer and Babylon, some 6000 years ago, invented the nr. 60 for, among other things, the measurement of time(60 seconds / 60 minutes) and circle(360 degrees = 6 x 60...).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexagesimal

http://www.hp.uab.edu/image_archive/ue/uea.html

Regards
Anonymous said…
"Yes one possible explanation. But we still need to run it by the senile zionist "

Whew...I thought you meant me...

Anyway what does the insult 'An'al abook La aboo al jabek' mean? is An'al referring to na'aal meaning slipper?

I use this curse constantly as a term of endearment with my children.

IJ
Anonymous said…
My mom's favorite:

Kalb - ibn sit'aash alf kalb

IJ
Layla Anwar said…
urungu,

When are you going to publish your poetry book ?
Layla Anwar said…
Hey Chrissy NY,

Thank you for your kind words...
I hope you are practicing lesson 1 and 2.
Layla Anwar said…
KMWR,

Hope you are making strides in your basic Arabic...
Sorry to disappoint you, you as an American, there is NO GENDER NEUTRAL in the Arab language...there is a HADHA/ masc.HADHEE fem. which refers to animals -- which is the equivalent of IT, but it is still not gender neutral and what follows is always is either male or female...

For example hadha Kalb (masc) or hadhee Kalba...

Of course I forgot to include the feminine of Kalb which is Kalba...Please don't hold it against my linguistic competences...
Layla Anwar said…
Come to think of it -I like this non existent gender neutral. Down with Unisex and vive la différence.
Layla Anwar said…
E,

LOL, are you practicing already ? ;-)
Glad, you are enjoying the breath of fresh air...
Layla Anwar said…
Anonymous,

Many thanks for teaching me this piece of information. I was ignorant of.
Now 6, 16,66 and 16'000 as IJ pointed out make sense...
Regards.
Layla Anwar said…
IJ,

I totally forgot about the 16'000 -set'ash alf...Thanks for reminding me...my that goes a long way back in the history of genealogy.

As for a'nal...that comes from na'ala - i.e to curse...

An'al abook -- means I curse your father...

That is probably where na'al as in slipper comes from.
Anonymous said…
As you may know also here in the west (and I speak for Italy) we use the sentence "son of a dog" as an insult.
But we don't really understand it, because we took everything from the arabs, but we blindly deny it.
Your post is really interesting to me as I'm really involved into Babilonian (and Sumerian, Akkadic and so on) culture (I'm graduating in Near East Archeology).
That thing about numerology really turned my mind on...but I don't think I'll ask that Lewis for explanation, I'm more like going and read some books on my own.
Thanks for this awesome post.
Tessa.
Unknown said…
I appreciated your lessons in Iraqi dialect very much.
And I see your lap dog Al-Hussain Arshad Yassin is still dribbling all over himself.
Layla Anwar said…
Hello Tessa and thank you for visiting my blog and your comment.
Regarding the "numerology" a fellow Iraqi, (please see above) found where the reference 6 comes from.
Layla Anwar said…
Lyn,

Oh the bitch is back !
Ya Kalba bint setash alf kalb,
If there is one dog, daughter of a million dogs around here, it is crap like yourself...
Dirty faced jealous slut!
Anonymous said…
Schukran! Ana attakulum bi al Arabi munthu saana wahiida. Al lura Arabi jamila.
Anonymous said…
Booma = Owl
Unknown said…
Hello all...is it also common usage to say that someone is dog sh*t, and if so how so? Also, are curses in Iraqi Arabic stackable like they are in say, Black English? For example things like: you are the sweat on a zionist dog's ass :)

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