# Add different Arabic Varieties (dialects)

**URL:** <https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/add-different-arabic-varieties-dialects/58763>\
**Category:** Common Voice\
**Created:** [April 26, 2020, 8:31pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/add-different-arabic-varieties-dialects/58763 "2020-04-26T20:31:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ahmed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8c91f0/32.png) [@ahmed](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/ahmed)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 8:31pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/add-different-arabic-varieties-dialects/58763/1 "2020-04-26T20:31:13Z")

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hey, I think the very specific goal of common voice can’t achieved this way, I quote “Common Voice is Mozilla’s initiative to help teach machines how real people speak.” we don’t speak the formal/classical arabic, every region has it’s distinctive version of arabic that differ a lot, the reason why the classical arabic is the formal is really complicated and i think it’s related to religious concerns, muslims believe that they have to preserve the classical arabic because it’s the language of their holy book (qur’an). the arabic dialects are “how real people speak”.

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**Author:** ![stergro](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/stergro/32/40229_2.png) [@stergro](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/stergro)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 9:32pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/add-different-arabic-varieties-dialects/58763/2 "2020-04-26T21:32:16Z")

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Hi Ahmed, people discussed this several times, for example here:

> [@Building an Arabic dataset for common voice](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/building-an-arabic-dataset-for-common-voice/29728/8):
>
> Hello everyone, @tinok You explain it very well blush thanks. I’m Ruba From Palestine a new contributor in Localization team, and im interested in this project too. I’m working in Pontoon and yes the missing 33 is still the same, i will try to localize them and will ask the Arabic Mangers to have a look and approve them slight_smile at the mean while, what can I do ??

It is always possible to add a new language or dialect to Common Voice, but be aware that this means a lot of work and you have to be able to collect many sentences under a public domain licence in that dialect.

I once wanted to add a German dialect, but it turned out to be very difficult because there is no standardized form and not enough sentences available. If your variation of Arabic does have a separate version of Wikipedia your chances are good that you will be able to start it.

EDIT: looks like Egyptian Arabic is the only Arabic dialect that has its own Wikipedia: [مصريين - ويكيبيديا](https://arz.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%86)

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**Author:** ![ahmed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8c91f0/32.png) [@ahmed](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/ahmed)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 10:46pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/add-different-arabic-varieties-dialects/58763/3 "2020-04-26T22:46:11Z")

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that’s good, I am from egypt already  
can you tell me please who to add a new language?

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**Author:** ![stergro](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/stergro/32/40229_2.png) [@stergro](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/stergro)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 7:09am UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/add-different-arabic-varieties-dialects/58763/4 "2020-04-27T07:09:22Z")

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Here is a post about the process:

> [@open\_book Readme: How to see my language on Common Voice](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/readme-how-to-see-my-language-on-common-voice/31530):
>
> triangular_flag_on_post This information is also now available on the [About Pages](https://commonvoice.mozilla.org/about) on Common Voice Website. Please help us to localise this by joining [Pontoon](https://pontoon.mozilla.org/projects/common-voice/)open_book [Mozilla Voice Community Playbook](https://common-voice.github.io/community-playbook/): The source of truth for setting up and maintain self-sustainable communities. Hello everyone, I would like to open this topic to summarize some of the most asked question we are getting: How do I get my language in Common Voice. There are three steps to have your language ready: …

The basic process is:

- Someone from the Commen Voice team has to add the new language code to all tools (is it arz or something like ar\_egypt?) @nukeador can you help here?
- Translate the website
- Collect sentences (Wikipedia extraction often works best, but you can also collect sentences manually)