Ask Questions about Arabic languge

Sirius99,

I don't know if that's Arabic.  In what context was it said, and in which dialect? 

That's pretty much a transliteration of the poem.

If you don't mind:

al-Dahr means eternity or "forever."

Forever seems like "forever" (in its infinite nature) and the days are the same.  People are the same, and the world belongs to the victor.

Basically, the world, its system and the people who inhabit it have always been the same and will always remain.  The rule of the universe is one:  The victor shall reign.

The poet is Abu al-'Ala'a al-Mi'arri.

its from a poem and may not make sense after translation

it says

The Years Like The Years and the Days are One     The People Like The Pleople and The World to Whom Win

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the word "like" there means Similar.

In this sentence only. 

It could also be SVO, or VO only.

Yes.  The dual and plural forms of gender-words differ, too.

Everyone in the Arab world can speak, write and understand classical Arabic.  In fact, kids learn it before going to school because cartoons (and dubbed Mexican serials ) are done in classical Arabic.  The grammar is studied throughout school (12 years).

Not all TV shows are done in classical Arabic.  Most kids' shows are in classical Arabic.  Egyptian serials, for example, will speak with an Egyptian dialect.  Newspapers, however, are all published in classical Arabic.

It differs a lot from the local dialects.  I heard some Westerners who learned Arabic say that they found the Yemeni dialect to be the closest to the classical Arabic -  I'm not sure about that though.  Arabs from all over the Arab world do understand each other, but in varying degrees.  I'm pretty sure that all Arabs are familiar with the Egyptian dialect, since it's the most popular.  Shaami (Greater Syria; which includes Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon) dialects come second in their popularity.  Gulf dialects are not easily understood, but conversing with a Gulfanian sounds more "Arabic" compared to dialects from the Moroccan bloc.  We usually require a translators when a Moroccan is involved in the conversation Actually, in all the times I've come across a Moroccan, we've ended up switching to classical Arabic.

Classical Arabic is the same as the Arabic of the Qur'an, except that the Arabic of the Qur'an is a bit more sophisticated and eloquent.

I hope this answers your questions.

I may not be qualified to answer these questions but from my understanding.

a]Arabic is spoken over a large area and dialects vary a lot.Arabic dialect spoken in Morocco and Arabic dialect spoken in Iran can vary as much as Portuguese from Romanian/Italian.

b]Literate people all over the Arabic world can speak/understand classical Arabic.