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Early advanced training material for US military personnel working with Iraqis. A first edition set of 9 volumes or Modules (of 12) in matching brown and cream illustrated wraps 22x28cm, most staple-bound and 3-hole punched. (Module 3) vi, 175pp; (M4) vi, 162; (M5) v, 169; (M7) v, 125; (M8) v, 129; (M9) v, 133; (M10) v, 115; (M11) v, 117; (M12) v, 115pp. Illustrated in b/w. Near fine with light wear and some marks, missing Modules 1, 2, and 6. A separate "Speaking Exercises" book for teachers not included here confirms 12 Modules in total, containing 48 Lessons. Extremely rare, unrecorded on Worldcat. The Department of Defense's Defense Language Institute developed out of the Military Intelligence Service Language School founded in 1941. It grew rapidly during the Cold War with Centers for English and Foreign Languages. The Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC) launched its first Arabic course, the Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) Basic Course, in 1975. With increasing US involvement across the region it launched its first courses in the Egyptian, Syrian and Iraqi dialects in the early to mid-1980s for those who had attained MSA Basic. These responded to strategic needs arising from closer US ties with Egypt after Camp David, its Cold War concerns over Syria (with the course applied to support operations in Lebanon also), and US military, intelligence, technical, and other support to Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War. DLIFLC would soon develop this Iraqi Course for the First Gulf War, and add new dialects in the late 1980s-90s (Saudi, Gulf, Maghrebi). The very first dialect courses were very similarly structured thematically and in approach, but adapted to provide immersion in the local scene. The Iraqi Course thus references specific Iraqi military and civilian agencies and missions, people, places, history, cultural figures, manners and customs, and diverse local situations in exercises and explanatory notes throughout. Each Module takes a specific theme grouped roughly into introductions (M1-4), military (M5-8) and civilian (M9-12) as follows. M3 Necessities and Emergencies: Directions, Public transport, Phone calls, Health problems (Lessons 9-12) // M4 Leisure Activities: Eating out, Visit to Mosul, Shopping, Tour in Baghdad (Lessons 13-16) // M5 Military Organization and Training: Army, Air, Navy (17-20) // M7 Special Military Activities: Communication, Maps, Interrogation, Liaison Officer (25-28) // M8 Military Hardware: Uniforms and equipment, Heavy weapons and vehicles, Combat aircraft and helicopters, Warships and submarines (29-32) // M9 Iraq's Setting: Geography, Natural resources, Government, History (33-36) // M10 Iraq's People: Religions, Customs, Family, Income and living standards (37-40) // M11 Mass Communications: News in print, Broadcasting, Literature, Performing Arts (41-44) // M12 Internal Affairs: Customs and security, Financial matters, Public Services (45-48). (The missing Modules cover introductions and greetings (M1); times, dates, biographical data, occupations (M2); military training and service (M6)). Reference: Jan Lochovsky, The Arabist and the State, Charles University, 2023.
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