Help with Arabic Phrasebooks

Hi, I recently went to pick up a phrasebook for my trip to
Syria, Jordan, and Egypt. The Barrons phrasebook and
tapes looked good but said that it was Egyptian Arabic but
that it would be understood in other arabic countries.
do I need different phrasebooks for the different countries?
are there any guides which include regional dialect
pronounciations?
Help !

[There are 5 posts - the latest was added on Thu 20 May, 9:57]

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1. Don't worry about it Added by: Euro
   [Timestamp: Mon 10 May, 5:58 Tasmanian Standard Time]

   Egyptian Arabic is understood by many, because Egyptian
   films and TV are very popular in the Arab world. You might
   have a bit more problem understanding the "dialects" of
   others - especially that the hard G sound in Egyptian is
   usually a soft J sound in other dialects. Still, this is
   something you will catch onto as you go. Would be a shame to
   burden yourself with a book for each country, really.

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2. number 1 Added by: approval
   [Timestamp: Mon 10 May, 23:59 Tasmanian Standard Time]

   Yes, if you speak bad arabic, Egyptian or Syrian is the
   same.
   Anyway, they will be very happy to ear you speaking some
   words of their language, and will help you in english.
   Some times, their english = your arabic ...
   The difference is that the egyptian will ask for a
   backshish,
   the syrian will not, the jordan : i do not know.
   

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3. A good, phrase book, Added by: T1
   [Timestamp: Tue 11 May, 4:13 Tasmanian Standard Time]

   I have found a good Arabic phrase book, that will help you
   with Syrian,/Jordanian dialects,
   The Egyptian Dialect will usualy be understood, in Syria.
   Agood book is the "Language/30 Speak Arabic Now"
   i have been told its one of the best books,
   and it will help you in Egypt too,
   Educational Services Corp.
   1725 K street,NW #408
   Washington DC 20006
   202-298-8424

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4. Misr Added by: American in Cairo
   [Timestamp: Wed 12 May, 2:28 Tasmanian Standard Time]

   I admire your desire to communicate with the local people
   in your upcoming trip but I wonder about the practicallity
   of even buying a book unless your trip is an extensive
   one. The "basic" Arabic shown in travel guidebooks should
   be quite enough (as many will understand basic English or
   French) Egyptian Arabic ('amayea) is most widly understood
   dialect throughout the Arab World(The Jordanian and Syrian
   dialects aren't well understood in many circumstances in
   Egypt.)

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5. Jordan Added by: Tamam F. Koudeih (tamam@hotmail.com)
   [Timestamp: Thu 20 May, 9:57 Tasmanian Standard Time]

   You need just Arabic to talk to people, Standard Arabic
   I'm a 21 years old man.If you come to Jordan I have all the
   information you need about Jordan,
   places to visit,Prices,Places to stay,Rental Cars,Places to
   eat .............etc.
   I do tours around Jordan for all budgets, whatever is your
   budget!
   whether you go on my tour or you don't you can get
   absolutely FREE INFORMATION
   I'll be very happy to tell all he information you need for
   free and I'll try to do my best.
   you can find me in Amman at the Bdeiwi Hotel the hotel is
   very clean, quiet and cheap just 8 JD for a Double Room.
   Free hot showers.
   BDEIWI HOTEL
   Khayyam St. Down Town Amman-JORDAN
   Tel. 4643394
   4643386
   or you can e-mail me: tamam@hotmail.com
   

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