About this Item
The Second Edition Revised dated January 1973 (after another UDF "Second Edition Revised" dated January 1972, and the original TOS edition dated December 1969).
Red cloth black titled in English and Arabic 16x12cm. Printed by National Printing Press, Deira, Dubai. (1), 248, (4), (1)pp. Covers near fine with short tear to spine tail. The blank free endpapers have been removed front and back with inscription to front pastedown, two heavy lines of black felt tip redaction to the foot of the title page, with minor bleeding to the next leaf not affecting text. The interiors are otherwise near fine.
The inscription dated 5 July 1976 reads: "Gift from Major Hamad Khlaifa [Khalifa?] To Edward J. Curran Jr., UNDP-FAO Project, Box 176, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE". The address comes up as the Agricultural Research Centre at the Ministry Agriculture and Fisheries, with FAO and UNDP looking into creating an Agriculture and Fisheries Development Authority at that time.
The UDF was formed out of the Trucial Oman Scouts (TOS) at independence when control transferred from Britain to UAE's Defence Ministry. Headquartered at RAF Sharjah the TOS was the first modern Emirati military force (1951-71), maintaining internal security, deterring Saudi annexation, and supporting the Sultan's Armed Forces in Oman. It had its own Education Centre, and a Boys' School attended by many of its Arab troops. The transfer was overseen by Colonel H.E.R. (Roy) Watson, TOS Commander during 1970-74. TOS members were invited to stay on, and almost all did including British Officers and NCOs reemployed on voluntary secondment. The British had proposed developing the TOS into a unified UAE federal army. But with Abu Dhabi prioritising its own larger and better equipped Defence Force (ADDF) which included Air and Sea Wings, this did not happen. In addition, the UDF's inherited internal security role was less relevant, and it was still perceived as British. In 1973 it was redeployed to defend external borders. During the unification of Emirati forces in 1974-76, the UDF merged with the Sharjah National Guard to form the Al Yarmouk Brigade.
This book revises the original TOS Word List (1969), itself based on MECAS' English-Arabic Dictionary (1966) "incorporating the words more commonly used in the Trucial States Area". It was first issued to help British Officers and NCOs communicate with Arab colleagues in their daily work during the transition to independence, and remained relevant in the UDF with so many British personnel staying on. It predates SAF's "Elementary Omani Colloquial Arabic" (1974) produced for the same purpose during the Dhofar War.
It opens with Commanders' Introductions to this and the 1969 edition, explanatory notes, alphabet and pronunciation (pp1-6). The List is presented A-Z in 3 columns for English, Gulf Colloquial, and Written Arabic (pp7-215). Thematically arranged sections cover ranks, drill commands (marching, saluting, bayonets etc, with a section on the Bedu Sling), greetings, numbers, calendar, countries, and important international bodies (UN, Arab League) (pp217-236). It includes explanatory notes (pp3-6); the Word List presented A-Z in 3 columns for English, Gulf Colloquial, and Written Arabic (pp7-215); thematically arranged sections (pp217-236), and Grammar (pp237-(252)). Themes include ranks, drill (marching, bayonets, the Bedu Sling etc), greetings, numbers, calendar, countries, and important organisations. The last 4 pages of Grammar are additional to the 1969 edition, with the changes otherwise minor.
Worldcat locates only 1 copy of the 1972 edition (OCLC 917739559: Humboldt Universitat). Durham University and the National Army Museum hold the 1969 edition.
(Ref: FO 371/163045; Yates & Lord, "The Military and Police Forces of the Gulf States Vol 1", 2019; FAO).
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