In the present world, learning a new language has multiple benefits. It helps to learn about a new culture and improves your job prospects. Learning a traditional language like Arabic has more benefits to offer. It is one of the most spoken languages in the world. It has its own spelling, grammar, punctuation rules, idioms, and slang. This blog helps you understand how to use the Arabic keyboard.
Why should you learn Arabic typing?
So are you someone planning to learn Arabic? Or are you halfway through learning Arabic? To make yourself familiar with the language, you need to put in the required effort. You should be able to read, write, listen, and understand the language to master it. Hence you need to employ multiple tricks to learn a language. It may include watching Arabic movies for learning to type in Arabic.
If you are planning to master the Arabic language, it is important to learn to write in Arabic as well. In today’s world, typing is used more than writing with hands. Therefore, if you are in the process of learning Arabic, you should learn how to type in Arabic as well.
In this digital age, learning to use an Arabic keyboard on your computer or phone helps you fasten your learning process. It helps you learn Arabic online from tutors. Moreover, you can easily find a language-learning partner from an Arab-speaking country. To learn a language, you should involve in it in multiple ways. By involving in virtual chats with Arab-speaking people, you can get more familiar with the language.
Features of Arabic alphabets
Before you learn Arabic typing, you should be familiar with the characteristics of the Arabic language. It hardly has any similarity with the European languages.
It may look difficult to type in Arabic initially. If you put in the required effort, you can learn to type Arabic in a few days. With practice, you can learn to type Arabic as you do with your native language.
In the Arabic language, there are 28 letters. It includes consonants and long vowels. Every letter in Arabic has a basic form but changes depending on where it is placed.
It takes a different form when it is placed at the beginning, middle, or end of the written word.
The Arabic language is written from right to left. We write the Arabic alphabet based on an early model called North Semitic. In this language, there is a combination of placing dots below or above these shapes. Dots distinguish one letter from the other in this language. Also, short vowels are indicated by marks placed above or below the letters in a word.
How to change to an Arabic keyboard?
There are different ways by which you use the Arabic alphabet on your computer. A few common methods are discussed below. You can choose the right method that fits your language-learning style.
1. Change your system settings
An easy way is to change the system language on your computer. You can write in Arabic using the same way you use any other language. You don’t need to change the keyboard. It will have the same layout. The standard keyboard format will be the same as well.
When you do this procedure, please remember that the whole system language settings will turn to Arabic. If you are not familiar with the language, you may find it difficult to use your system.
Here is how you can change the system settings in Windows.
- Go to the option control panel.
- Click on “region and language.”
- You will get the “Keyboards and Languages” tab. Open it.
- Choose ‘Change Keyboard.’ You will get a list of available languages on your computer. You can click on the Arabic language and return to the top of the list. It will show different dialects in Arabic. You can choose the option appropriately.
- Your system is now ready for you to type in Arabic.
2. Buy an Arabic keyboard
You can buy a different keyboard that lets you type in Arabic and Latin characters. This keyboard will have Arabic letters printed on the keys. For a beginner learner, this could be a better option. It helps you become more familiar with the letters and you can type easily.
Another option is to buy software for Windows devices that enable you to write in Arabic. You can download virtual keyboards from a reliable source and start typing on them. You don’t need to reconfigure your system to enable a virtual Arabic keyboard.
3. Use a translator
For people who want to communicate virtually in Arabic without typing, you can use this shortcut method. You can use an English-Arabic translator. All you need is to copy-paste the result into the right space. You can use an online translator like Google Translate for this purpose.
However, if you are trying to learn to type in Arabic, this may not be a good option. It takes a lot of effort to copy and paste. It is altogether a complex process. But if you want to type a single word or short Arabic expression, this is an easy way to do it. It works when you want to translate one or two words without typing in Arabic.
4. Using Arabic keyboard on Mac
You can configure the Arabic Keyboard on Apple devices as well. Here is the procedure.
- In the Apple menu, go to the option ‘System Preferences
- You will see a dialogue box that will have a ‘Keyboard’ option.
- Click on the option ‘Input Methods.’
- Click on ‘+’ at the lower left.
- You will see a list of foreign languages. Choose Arabic for the option.
- You can activate keyboard shortcuts to make it easier.
To sum up, using an Arabic keyboard is the easiest way to get familiar with writing in the language. When you learn how to type Arabic, you become closer to mastering the language. Start Arabic typing by choosing an Arabic keyword now.
