Syrian Cultural Orientation

1. SYRIAN CULTURAL
ORIENTATION
“Studying culture gives students a reason to study the target language as
well as rendering the study of L2 meaningful” (Stainer, 1971).

2. GEOGRAPHY
Syria is an important and influential country in the Middle East. It sits at
the juncture of Africa, Asia, and Europe.

3. HISTORY
• Syria’s history includes ongoing
reconfiguration of the country’s
territory and alliances.
• Territory: modern Lebanon, most
of present-day Israel and Jordan,
part of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

4. ETHNIC GROUPS
The country’s 19 million
people are divided into Sunni
Arabs (74 %), Alawis (12%),
Christians (10%), Druze (3%),
and also groups of Bedouins,
Ismailis, Turcomans,
Circassians, and Assyrians.

5. RELIGIOUS GROUPS

6. RELIGION IN DAILY LIFE

7. TRADITIONS
Syria is a culture heavily influenced by its traditions. A few of the traditions passed down
through the years include: cuisine, folklore dance, and festivals.

8. HOSPITALITY
 Guests should accept as much food as possible.
 Food should be eaten with the right hand.
 The Arabic expression ahlan wa-sahlan means
“welcome,” and will probably be repeated by the host several times during the visit.

9. GESTURES
Through verbal and
non-verbal
communication,
one can observe
what a culture may
value.

10. HELPFUL PHRASES
English Transliteration Syrian
1. Good morning
2. Good evening
3. How are you?
4. I'm fine, Thank God., and you?
5. What is your name?
6. My name is John
7. Nice to meet you
8. Good by
9. See you later
10. Thank you
11. You are welcome
12. I am sorry
SabaaH il-Kheyr
masaa il-Kheyr
keefak?
il-Hamdula mneeH keefak intey?
shoo ismak?
ana ismee jaan
tshar-rafna
KhaaTrak
bshoofak ba'deyn
Shukran
afwan yaa ahleyn
ana aasif
‫الخير۔‬ ‫صباح‬
‫الخير۔‬ ‫مسا‬
‫َك؟‬‫ف‬‫كي‬
‫ِ؟‬‫ت‬‫ان‬ ‫َك‬‫ف‬‫كي‬ ،‫منيح‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫الحمد‬
‫اسمك؟‬ ‫شو‬
‫جان‬ ‫اسمي‬ ‫أنا‬
‫فنا۔‬ّ‫تشر‬
‫خاطرك۔‬
‫بعدين۔‬ ‫بشوفك‬
‫۔‬ً‫ا‬‫شكر‬
‫أهلين۔‬ ‫يا‬ ،ً‫ا‬‫عفو‬
‫آسف۔‬ ‫أنا‬

11. DOS AND DON’TS
 Do use your entire right hand only to summon a person. Keep your palm down and wave
downward.
 Do keep your feet down and your soles on the ground.
 Do, if you are a man, stand when a woman enters the room.
 Do stand when new guests arrive at a social gathering or when an elderly or high-ranking
official enters the room.
X Don’t summon women if you are a male soldier! Let a female soldier do that.
X Don’t use the Western way of beckoning with one finger. It is very offensive.
X Don’t point to anybody with a finger; use the entire right hand instead.

12. DOS AND DON’TS
Cont.
X Don’t make the “A-OK” signal (circle with index finger and thumb of one hand); this
gesture may be misinterpreted as obscene.
X Don’t point upward with the middle finger. It is obscene in the U.S. and equally so in Syria.
X Don’t use obscene or indecent language within earshot of Syrian citizens. Many are
familiar with American slang.
X Don’t cross your legs when sitting in a chair and show the bottom of your feet to someone.
X Don’t lean against a wall when speaking with another person.

13. REFERENCES
• http://4.bp.blogspot.com/4Gua2twwr0k/TetwelZuXsI/AAAAAAAAABc/Acok-yCMJ5A/s400/13_Syrian-Culture.jpg
• https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608045229252020746&pid=15.1&P=0
• http://timeswampland.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/syriachristians.jpg?w=753
• http://4.bp.blogspot.com/NduE_UY9G9w/Tet_NPtiLfI/AAAAAAAAACI/AcjQ1ZMwX-g/s1600/Arab-Culture-and-
Tradition.JPG
• https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2443/3874670086_37d7cf88e7.jpg
• http://4.bp.blogspot.com/Wh_YEFkpOrQ/Up0AEKvoPtI/AAAAAAAAAUg/fp7oGeg7PMk/s1600/Picture18531.jpg
• http://www.ehospitalitytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/syria.jpg
• http://www.aski-sham.com/userfiles/image/New-website/food2.jpg
• http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/90/eb/08/90eb0897ff744d6041f49a4cd81ba389.jpg
• http://3.bp.blogspot.com/iAV2_UOzPuY/T8d9ewrIa7I/AAAAAAAAADY/objaMkLC03w/s1600/Syrian+sweet2.jpg
• http://bp0.blogger.com/_NUZpJTtmmVs/SHsd2RAjI/AAAAAAAAAVs/Q702wCXlioo/s400/lebanese_food_tabboule_9734.jpg
• http://topnews.in/health/files/hand-gestures.jpg
• http://travel.ninemsn.com.au/img/slideshow/rude-gestures/article.jpg
• http://jeffwerner.ca/images/journal/hand_gestures-002.jpg
• http://www.ronedmondson.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/yes-and-no.jpg
• http://blog.natoof.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/pics-022.jpg
• http://hs2.lingnet.org/levantine.html