Thread: Subliminal language learning?!?!

I stumbled on a product on Amazon tonight titled, Learn to Speak the Egyptian Language Faster and Easier with Subliminal Programming CD.

Here's a link: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Egyptian-Language-Faster-Subliminal-Programming/dp/B002J36GB8"]Amazon.com: Learn to Speak the Egyptian Language Faster and Easier with Subliminal Programming CD: Everything Else[/ame]

I'm skeptical. Has anyone tried it? And willing to admit it in public? ..g.:

And now the question... am I curious enough to try the silly thing?

I'm curious. Supposing that subliminal programming does work, how would you know that it was the Arabic language that you were being programmed with? You would just be taking their word for it. Just a thought.

It seems that you won't really have a need for this anyway. Since it just makes you get an extreme desire to learn 'the Egyptian Language' (vague!). Seems you already have that desire.

I'm curious too... But also skeptical!

I may be showing my ignorance in a real big way here, but is there really a living language called "Egyptian"? I thought the primary language in Egypt was Arabic, with maybe a lot of French influence. But this doesn't say "Egyptian Arabic", just repeatedly "Egyptian." Is this something different?
Rosette

This subliminal learning/influence/advertising shtick has been around for decades, but it's not been widely adopted and no substantial body of research has been able to demonstrate proof that it works. I don't think this product would hurt you (beyond taking some of your money), but I personally wouldn't bother, and as Rosette points out, it is a little suspicious that they reference "Egyptian" as a language, when any scholar of Arabic would call it "Egyptian dialect" or "ECA."

Seriously, if you want to feed Arabic into your brain without a textbook, the best way to do it is by immersion. It's not practical for most people to take off and move to Cairo (or even spend the summer at Middlebury), so the next best thing is to take advantage of the resources of the Internet and keep the Arabic language pouring out of your speakers as much as possible. The constant exposure to the sounds of the language does make a difference, both in your comprehension and speaking--even if you are passively absorbing it. There are plenty of legitimate resources for getting Arabic movies, TV shows, music, etc., online if you don't want to resort to bootleg stuff, and you probably have a music collection you can use. The important thing is to keep challenging your ears with a steady stream of new material--different words and fresh voices.

Originally Posted by Rosette

I may be showing my ignorance in a real big way here, but is there really a living language called "Egyptian"? I thought the primary language in Egypt was Arabic, with maybe a lot of French influence. But this doesn't say "Egyptian Arabic", just repeatedly "Egyptian." Is this something different?
Rosette

Well, Egyptian can be used as a way to shorten 'Egyptian Arabic', which has a pretty different grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and development than standard Arabic. There is not mutual intelligibility between Egyptian Arabic and standard Arabic. So given all that, it does not look strange to me to see modern Egyptian spoken Arabic called, simply, 'Egyptian'. In Egypt they mostly call it call it 'amiyya (which I believe roughly translates to colloquial or slang) or masrii, therefore distinguishing it from 'arabiyy/arabic...doing the same in English therefore has precedent in the native language.

That CD looks pretty goofy. Shira, I think you should review it! :)


Edited to add: For the record, most of what is published for learners as Egyptian Arabic is even more specifically Cairene Egyptian Arabic.

Ah, why waste your time with learning Egyptian, if there is a subliminal belly dance CD!!!!

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Subliminal-Improve-Dancing-Ultrasonic/dp/B001LQXQ26/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1256401839&sr=8-1]Amazon.com: BMV Quantum Subliminal CD Improve your Belly Dancing (Ultrasonic Dance Series): Brainwave Mind Voyages: Music[/ame]

That one comes with an even more hilarious description.

Everything that Tourbeau and Moncia said! I wouldn't waste my time or money on it.