What will be more useful in the future, learning farsi or arabic?

Question

I am very interested in middle eastern culture and would like to learn one of the two languages. I am also studying international finance and economics so I would hope that learning one of the languages would help my career. I know more people speak arabic but i have heard that farsi is more of an aristocratic language in the middle east. I do understand that they are different languages form different regions but how closely related are they?

Answer 1

arabic is one of the five languages used in UN, so it can be more usful in this regard. there are probably more iranian know arabic than arabs or other moslems know farsi, because arabic is the language of quran, there is a greater cultural heritage in arabic, even great persian scholars in middle ages wrote in arabic more, the two languages exchanged many words but they are very different, farsi is closer to english and aryan languages, arabic is semite and closer to aramic and hebrew, i don't know how aristocratic languages can be, but arabic is the closest language to jesus aramic and it's god's language for moslems

Answer 2

It depends on what country in which you reside.  If you're here in the US, you might want to learn Spanish or Arabic.  Both will be extremely instrumental in your career.

Answer 3

Far more people speak arabic.

Answer 4

just a heads up, you might also want to post this in the middle east section in travel.  You may get more answers there.

good luck!

Answer 5

Im not Persian or Arab but have quite a bit of knowledge.

I believe ARABIC would be more useful however Persian might be easier.

Answer 6

Marhaba!!

Ibrahim El Shafey

I've learned Arabic and Islamic Sciences: (philosophy - history - language - rhetoric - ... etc.)

Also, I learned a little in other sciences: (human development - NLP - communication skils - direct marketing - ... etc.)

Now: I am prepare my master in the grammer of the Arabic language (El Nahw)

I'm now:

Arabic language teacher online

Adviser to the Arabic language in the "www.alukah.com"

Lecturer in the direct marketing company

You can learn "the basic book in Arabic language" with other programmes..

I am working on the programme prepared by the Arab Organization for Education, Culture and siences- Tunisia

Thanks!!

Ibrahim El Shafey

Cairo - Egypt

0020109758962

[e-mail]