Non-Arab / Arab Language Barrier

[FatPapiNY]

I have an Arab pen-pal who I would like to be able to talk and or write to. I am from the U.S. and do not know any Arabian phrases or how to read Arabic.
Does anyone know an online free translation like altavista.babelfish.com free translation website that caters to this or are the languages so different that it is virtually impossible? Please post any ideas you may have so I can have a more valuable exchange with my new friend. :confused:

[chbear]

Be careful...online translations are notoriously inexact and you may inadvertently write something that is badly translated.

A friend of mine went on an Arabic course just for fun, and learned quite a lot. Perhaps you could try that.

[FatPapiNY]

Be careful...online translations are notoriously inexact and you may inadvertently write something that is badly translated.

A friend of mine went on an Arabic course just for fun, and learned quite a lot. Perhaps you could try that.
Thank you for your insight ChBear. I will keep that suggestion in mind.
Hugs for the Holidays and have a Happy New Year

[gsdfargo]

I have an Arab pen-pal who I would like to be able to talk and or write to. I am from the U.S. and do not know any Arabian phrases or how to read Arabic.
Does anyone know an online free translation like altavista.babelfish.com free translation website that caters to this or are the languages so different that it is virtually impossible? Please post any ideas you may have so I can have a more valuable exchange with my new friend. :confused:

Try getting a Rosetta Stone foreign language series. Also believe it or not there is a book: Arabic for dummies!!! But this easy book has alot of useful phrases. And of course it is always helpful to have a tranlisteration (not a translation) dictionary. Oh, and one last thing...memorize the word Habibi !!! It means "my love"...