1. Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures
  2. School of Languages, Cultures and Societies
  3. Centres and groups
  4. Modern South Arabian Languages
  5. Engagement

Engagement

Arabian landscape

Blogs

Here, you can find Ahmed and Abdullah al-Mahri’s blogs in Mehri using the Arabic-based script developed by the DEAMSA project. Some have been translated into English. You can also find the ELAR blog about the third Mehri e-book Selim and the dom-fruit. This includes a translation of the e-book into English.

 

Workshops

  • Language and/or Nature in Southern Arabia: online workshops held through Zoom on weekly basis from 23 March 2020 - 14 July 2020, and resuming on 01 September 2020
  • Mehri language and nature course, Salalah, 05-15 January, 2020: Ali al-Mahri and Janet Watson
  • Cultural Issues in Dhofar course, Salalah, 05-15 January, 2019: Ali al-Mahri and Janet Watson
  • 2018 ورشة تدوين اللغات العربية الجنوبيت - صلالة - تحت إشراف جامعة نزوى وجامعة ليدز من 26 أغوستوس إلى 5 سبتمبر
  • Mehri Language Course, LHRI, University of Leeds, 18-20 July, 2018: Janet Watson, Barry Heselwood and Jack Wilson, with ECR workshop on afternoon of 20 July
  • Language and Nature: Fourth workshop on Endangered Languages, University of Leeds, 02 July 2018: Organised by Diane Nelson, Jon Lovett, Janet Watson, Thea Pitman 
  • Mehri language workshop. Uppsala University, Sweden, 28 March 2018: Janet Watson & Saeed al-Mahri
  • The symbiotic relationship between language and nature in southern and eastern Arabia, Qatar University & University of Leeds, Qatar University, 18-20 February, 2018. Presentations by Janet Watson, Abdullah al-Mahri, Sam Liebhaber, Leonid Kogan, Dawn Chatty, Erik Anonby, Christina Anonby, Ahmed al-Mashikhi, Shahina Ghazanfar, Kaltham al-Ghanim, AbdulQadir al-Kumzari, Tom Jackson, Simon Popple, and others
  • Cultural Issues in Dhofar course, Salalah, 04-14 January, 2018: Ali al-Mahri and Janet Watson
  • Endangered Languages and People Movement: Third workshop on Endangered Languages, University of Leeds, 04 July 2017: Dawn Chatty, Mandana Seyfeddinipur, Geoffrey Khan, Rosaleen Howard, Janet Watson, Ali al-Mahri, Diane Nelson
  • Rock hyraxes, Reindeer & Re-evaluating Value: Second workshop on Endangered Languages, University of Leeds, 16 March 2016: Mandana Seyfeddinipur, Diane Nelson, Janet Watson, Jack Wilson, Ismail Mesut Sezgin, Giuliano Castagna, Munira al-Azraqi, Sopiko Daraselia 
  • Workshop on Endangered Languages, University of Leeds, 22 April 2015: Janet Watson, Khalid Salim Ruweya, Diane Nelson, Ismail Mesut Sezgin
  • Special session on Languages of Southern Arabia, Seminar for Arabian Studies, July 2013
  • Laterals in two Modern South Arabian languages, University of Salford, March 2013: Janet Watson & Barry Heselwood
  • Mehri Language Workshop, University of Salford, May 2011 

Presentations on MSAL by investigators

Seminar and conference presentations

  • J.C.E. Watson & Leonid Kogan: 'What's the time? Natural expressions of time in Modern South Arabian', Language and Nature workshop, University of Leeds, 02 July, 2018
  • Barry Heselwood & J.C.E. Watson: 'Silent sonorants in Mehri', LNP, University of Leeds, 18 April 2018
  • Barry Heselwood & J.C.E. Watson: 'Silent articulations in Mehri', poster presentation at BAAP, April 2018 colloquium, University of Kent
  • Leonid Kogan, J.C.E. Watson & Abdullah al-Mahri: 'The Modern South Arabian languages', The symbiotic relationship between language and nature in southern and eastern Arabia conference, Qatar University & University of Leeds, Qatar University, 18-20 February, 2018
  • J.C.E. Watson, Abdullah al-Mahri & Chris Norton: ‘NLP for under-resourced Semitic languages: The case of Modern South Arabian’. Qatar Computing Research Institute, Doha, Qatar. February 2018
  • J.C.E. Watson & Ali al-Mahri: ‘Language Change through Urbanisation: The case of Mehri’. University of St Andrews. February 2018
  • J.C.E. Watson & B.C. Heselwood: 'Laryngeal features and contrasts in Mehri stops', Poznan Linguistics Meeting 47, Poznan, Poland, 19 September 2017
  • A. Bellem & J.C.E. Watson: 'Ssshhh! A new analysis of the Śḥerɛ̄t s̃ ~ š contrast', Seminar for Arabian Studies 51, London, 04-06 August 2017
  • J.C.E. Watson & Ali al-Mahri: 'Language Change through Urbanisation: The case of Mehri', Endangered Languages and People Movement, University of Leeds, 04 July 2017
  • Jack Wilson & J.C.E. Watson: 'The expression of direction and orientation in two Modern South Arabian languages', NACAL 45, Leiden, 09-11 June 2017
  • J.C.E. Watson (delivered by Giuliano Castagna): 'Language and Nature in Dhofar', Linguistics in the Gulf conference, Turin, April 2016
  • J.C.E. Watson & Abdullah Musallam al-Mahri, with Professor Jon Lovett & Dr Claire Quinn: Filmed debate for MOOC on 'Language and Nature', University of Leeds, 26 August, 2015
  • M.J. Morris: 'A script for Soqotri?', Biodiversity and Culture of Soqotra: A Multi-disciplinary Outlook on the Island’s Past, Present and Future, Sapienza University, Rome, Sept 19-21, 2014 
  • D. Eades: ‘Syncretism in the verbal morphology of Harsūsī, a MSAL of central Oman’. Seminar for Arabian Studies, July 2013
  • D. Eades, J.C.E. Watson & M. Al-Mahri ‘Camel terminology amongst the Omani Bedouin’. The 3rd Conference of the International Society of Camelid Research and Development, SQU, Muscat, Jan. 2012
  • D. Eades, J.C.E. Watson & M. Al-Mahri: ‘Camel culture and camel terminology amongst the Omani Bedouin’. Camel Conference, SOAS, London, May 2011.
  • J.C.E. Watson: ‘MSAL, Ancient South Arabian, Yemeni Arabic, with a peep at Ethio-Semitic’. Seminar for Arabian Studies, July 2013
  • J.C.E. Watson & M. Al-Azraqi: ‘Lateral emphatics and lateral(ised) fricatives in Saudi Arabia and MSAL’. With M. al-Azraqi. Seminar for Arabian Studies, London, July 2010.
  • J.C.E. Watson: ‘Aspects of deixis and definiteness in Mehri’. Deixis in Semitic, University of Salford, April 2010
  • J.C.E. Watson & A. Bellem: ‘A detective story: Emphatics in Mehri’. Seminar for Arabian Studies. London, July 2009

Guest and keynote lectures

  • J.C.E. Watson & Ali al-Mahri: ‘Beauty in Diversity: Language, Culture and Nature in Southern Arabia’, Anglo-Omani Society Webinar, 16 July 2020
  • ‘Endangered languages, cultures and ecosystems: The case of Modern South Arabian’. NACAL, Paris. 24-26 June 2019
  • ‘Endangered languages, cultures and ecosystems: The case of Modern South Arabian’. CELC, University of Cambridge. 20 February 2019
  • J.C.E. Watson & Saeed al-Mahri: Modern South Arabian: Threats and opportunities in language documentation. The Annual Carlos Landberg Lecture. Uppsala University, Sweden, 27th March 2018
  • J.C.E. Watson, Chris Norton & Abdullah al-Mahri: NLP for under-resourced Semitic languages: The case of Modern South Arabian, Qatar Computing Research Institute Hamad Bin Khalifa University, 19th February 2018 
  • M.J. Morris, J.C.E. Watson & Ali al-Mahri: Conflict and change: The case of Modern South Arabian, University of St Andrews, 15th February 2018 (Two separate lectures)
  • J.C.E. Watson & Ali al-Mahri: 'Language and Nature in Southern Arabia: The case of Modern South Arabian', Nizwa University, Oman, 5th November 2017
  • J.C.E. Watson & Ali al-Mahri: 'Language, Culture, Plant Use: The case of Modern South Arabian', SQU Staff Club, Muscat, Oman, 6th November 2017
  • J.C.E. Watson & Saeed al-Qumairi: 'An ethnolinguistic approach to herbal medicine: The case of Modern South Arabian', Wild Plants and Herbal Medicine, Qatar University, 19th October 2017
  • J.C.E. Watson, B.C. Heselwood, A. Bellem & Ali al-Mahri: 'An instrumental phonetic analysis of MSAL: Mehri stops and the Śḥerɛ̄t s̃ – š contrast,' CINQUIEMES JOURNEES D'ETUDES SUR LES LANGUES SUDARABIQUES MODERNES, OmanSaM, Paris, 21st September 2017
  • M.J. Morris: What is ‘poetry’ in the Modern South Arabian Languages? Can it be a useful tool for studying the languages?' CINQUIEMES JOURNEES D'ETUDES SUR LES LANGUES SUDARABIQUES MODERNES,  OmanSaM, Paris, 20th September 2017
  • J.C.E. Watson & Ali al-Mahri: 'Language and Nature in Dhofar', American University of Sharjah, 23rd October 2016
  • J.C.E. Watson & Ali al-Mahri: 'The Linguistic Tapestry of South-Western and Southern Arabia', The Ancient Languages of the Arabian Peninsula and their Impact on Arabic. CHSS, Qatar University, 19th-20th October 2016
  • M.J. Morris: 'Soqotra: People, Language and Culture; summary of past work, where we are now, and looking to the future', FoS 15th Symposium in Tuebingen, 2nd September 2016
  • J.C.E. Watson & Ali al-Mahri with Abdullah al-Mahri: 'Documenting the languages and traditional cultures of Dhofar', Dhofar University, Salalah, Oman, 29th October 2015
  • J.C.E. Watson & Ali al-Mahri: 'Documenting Endangered Languages & Traditional Cultures: The case of Mehri and Śḥerɛ̄t',  State of the Art Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences for Qatar and the Arab Gulf, CHSS, University of Qatar, Doha, Qatar, 21st October 2015 
  • J.C.E. Watson & Khalid Ruweya al-Mahri: 'Documenting endangered languages: The case of Modern South Arabian with focus on Mehri and Śḥerɛ̄t (Jibbali)'. University of Edinburgh, 5th October 2015
  • M.J. Morris  "Promoting, Enhancing and Safeguarding Soqotra's Cultural Heritage". Keynote at  the Conservation of the Natural and Cultural Heritage of Socotra Symposium, CIBIO-InBIO, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Porto, Portugal, 11th-13thSeptember 2015
  • J.C.E. Watson & Abdullah Musallam al-Mahri: 'Endangered Languages: The case of Mehri'. InterComm, University of Leeds, August 20th 2015
  • J.C.E. Watson, Ali al-Mahri & Saeed al-Mahri: 'Sight and sound: A community-based, multimodal documentation of the Modern South Arabian languages'. LangUE, University of Essex, June 18th 2015.
  • J.C.E. Watson & Ali al-Mahri: 'A community-based, multimodal documentation of Modern South Arabian'. Plenary lecture at 10th Newcastle-upon-Tyne Postgraduate Conference in Linguistics, March 20th 2015
  • J.C.E. Watson & Ali al-Mahri: 'A community-based, multimodal documentation of Modern South Arabian'. CRELL public lecture, University of Roehampton, London, 16th March 2015.
  • J.C.E. Watson, B. Heselwood & Ali al-Mahri: 'Phonation categories in Arabic and Modern South Arabian: Shedding more light on the phonological categories of the early Arab grammarians', University of Newcastle, Jan. 21st 2015
  • M.J. Morris: ‘Frankincense and Myrrh in Dhofar’. Christmas lecture and discussion of project at St Andrews Botanic Garden, Nov. 27th 2014
  • M.J. Morris: 'Some aspects of language decline: The case of the Modern South Arabian languages', Seconde journee d'etudes sur les langues sudarabiques modernes, University of Paris-Diderot, Paris, Sept. 8th 2014
  • J.C.E. Watson & Ali al-Mahri: 'A multimodal, community-based approach to language documentation: The case of MSAL', Seconde journee d'etudes sur les langues sudarabiques modernes, University of Paris-Diderot, Paris, Sept. 8th 2014
  • J.C.E. Watson, B. Heselwood & Ali al-Mahri: 'Phonation categories in Arabic and Modern South Arabian: Shedding light on the phonological categories of the early Arab grammarians', Arabic in Context: Horizons of Islamic Theology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Sept. 2nd 2014
  • J.C.E. Watson with Ali al-Mahri: 'Language and culture: The documentation of the Modern South Arabian languages’. Endangered languages of the Middle East, SOAS, London, May 15th, 2014
  • J.C.E. Watson with Saeed & Ali al-Mahri: 'Culture and water use in southern Oman: Changing use and changing behaviour', WADI Webinar, University of Leeds, April 29th 2014.
  • J.C.E. Watson with Ali al-Mahri: 'Language and culture: The documentation of Modern South Arabian', Arabic and Semitic Linguistics Contextualized, University of Erlangen, Erlangen, April 11th 2014.
  • J.C.E. Watson with Barry Heselwood: 'Phonation categories in Arabic and Modern South Arabian'. Key-note lecture at the Arabic Linguistics Symposium 28, University of Florida, Gainesville, March 13, 2014
  • J.C.E. Watson: 20-02-2014 اللغات العربية الجنوبية المعاصرة وعلاقتها باللغات السامية الأخرى -  مدرسة أبو عبيدة بسدح
  • M. J.Morris: ‘Write it or lose it: an alphabet for the pre-literate languages of Southern Arabia’, University of St. Andrews, Agnes Savill Club, Parliament Hall, January 2014
  • J.C.E. Watson, with Ali al-Mahri: 'The documentation and ethnolinguistic analysis of Modern South Arabian', Linguistics in Arabia 1, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, December 4th 2013
  • J.C.E. Watson: ‘The Modern South Arabian languages: Documentation and links with Ancient South Arabian, Yemeni dialects and Ethio-Semitic’, Universitet i Tromsø, Norway, August 16th 2013
  • J.C.E. Watson: ‘The documentation of Modern South Arabian’, Language, Linguistics and Translation PGR Group, University of Leeds, May 30th 2013
  • M.J. Morris: ‘The Batahira: History, change and language’, Historical Association of Oman, March 2013
  • M.J. Morris: ‘The Batahira’, Sultan Qaboos University Staff Club, Muscat, March 2013
  • J.C.E. Watson: ‘The documentation of Modern South Arabian languages’, Historical Association of Oman, Sultan Qaboos University Staff Club, March 2013
  • M.J. Morris: ‘The importance of the Modern South Arabian Languages (MSAL)’ (in Arabic), Al-Khawla bin Hakeem Secondary School, Salalah, Oman, February 2013
  • J.C.E. Watson: ‘Mehri and the Modern South Arabian languages of Oman and Yemen’, University of Vienna, January 2013
  • J.C.E. Watson & Ali al-Mahri: ‘Travel to Mecca from southern Oman in the pre-motorised period’, Historical Association of Oman, Muscat, April 2012
  • J.C.E. Watson & Ali al-Mahri: ‘Travel to Mecca from southern Oman in the pre-motorised period’, SQU staff club, Muscat, April 2012
  • J.C.E. Watson: ‘Issues in Modern South Arabian’. UK Semitic Linguistics Meeting, Cambridge, June 2012
  • J.C.E. Watson with M. al-Mahri: ‘Travel to Mecca from Oman in the pre-motorised period’. Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam, British Museum, London. March 22–24, 2012
  • J.C.E. Watson: ‘The Mehri language, alive and flourishing in modern-day Dhofar’, Sultan Qaboos University Staff Club, Muscat, March 2011
  • J.C.E. Watson: ‘Language and Heritage: Collecting oral tales and stories in Mehri’. Workshop on recording intangible heritage on the UNESCO representative list. Abu Dhabi Culture & Heritage, Intangible Heritage Department, Abu Dhabi, March 2011 (In Arabic)
  • J.C.E. Watson: ‘Mehri, an endangered language spoken in Oman and Yemen’, University of Oxford, Linguistic Circle of Oxford, March 2010
  • J.C.E. Watson & A. Bellem: ‘The phonetics and phonology of emphatics in Mehri’. Workshop on Pharyngeals and Pharyngealisation, University of Newcastle, March 2009
  • J.C.E. Watson: ‘South Arabian and modern Yemeni dialects’. Yemen: Bridging the gap between the past and the present, Heidelberg, June 2007