摘要：This paper shows that students who learn Standard Arabic before a dialect take 'an
etymological trip' in learning the phonology of the dialect in question. The paper also
discusses instructional implications related to the teaching of foreign languages in
general and Arabic in particular, arguing that learners should be exposed to dialects
early on. This should be especially the case if the ultimate aim is to use the target
language in face-to-face communication and not only to handle printed material.
