One of the goals of this book is to provide students of Arabic with knowledge about the components of the language and how they are actually used by Arabic speakers. It also provides information to advanced students and teachers on proper Arabic usage. This book has an unusual design. It is neither a reference grammar, nor a vocabulary list, nor is it a textbook. It is rather a practical guide to help students work their way through aspects of Arabic which pose the greatest difficulty for them.

It differs from textbooks in its scope. Instead of a focus on grammar solely, or on vocabulary, this book approaches Arabic as a complete whole, though with a focus on Modern Standard Arabic. It explains the linguistic situation in the target culture and describes the varieties of Arabic, showing through examples which variety is appropriate for which situation. It also presents a model representing levels of register. The focus, of the book however, is mainly on three important aspects of Arabic: (1) the sociolinguistic variables which determine the most appropriate ways of using the linguistic elements in order to understand and make oneself understood, (2) the building blocks of the language, or its vocabulary, and (3) the structure that holds the words together, or its grammar.

In addition, this book contains both the normative rules of use and a description of how Arabic is actually used by Arabs. This is a radical departure from the vast majority of conventional grammars and textbooks.