Help Identify Arabic Dialect!

This task is for Arabic speakers who understand the different local Arabic dialects (اللهجات العامّية، أو الدّارجة).

Below, we show you some Arabic sentences. Your task is to highlight the dialectal parts within each sentence.

Here are some simple examples:
Informed Consent Form

Purpose of research study: We are collecting human annotations to improve automatic translation of Arabic into other languages. These annotations might be class labels, judgments of output quality, or actual translations.

Benefits: Although it will not directly benefit you, this study may benefit society by improving how computers process human languages. This could lead to better translation software, improved web searching, or new user interfaces for computers and mobile devices.

Risks:There are no risks for participating in this study.

Voluntary participation:You may stop participating at any time without penalty by clicking on the “Return HIT” button, or closing your browser window.

We may end your participation if you do not have adequate knowledge of the language, or you are not following the instructions, or your answers significantly deviate from known translations.

Confidentiality: The only identifying information kept about you will be a WorkerID serial number and your IP address. This information may be disclosed to other researchers.

Questions/concerns: You may e-mail questions to the principal investigator, Chris Callison-Burch. If you feel you have been treated unfairly you may contact the Johns Hopkins University Institutional Review Board.

Clicking on the “Accept HIT” button indicates that you understand the information in this consent form. You have not waived any legal rights you otherwise would have as a participant in a research study.

Click here to [show more] examples of the Gulf dialect.

Click here to [show more] examples of the Levantine dialect (Jordanian/Palestinian).

Click here to [show more] examples of the Egyptian dialect.


Instructions:
  • To highlight a segment, CLICK ONCE on the first word, then CLICK ONCE on the last word. (DO NOT CLICK AND HOLD.)
  • To remove a highlight, put your mouse on it. It will become red, and then simply click on it.
  • It is OK if one sentence has more than one highlight.
  • The task is best done in Chrome or Firefox. IExplorer works too, but not very smoothly.

    Help me! I have questions!!
         Q: What do I do with words that look Fusha, but are being used as dialect?
         A: This happens a lot in Arabic. These words should be highlighted.
         Q: What if the sentence is in Fusha, but still has some dialect?
         A: Highlight the dialect part, even if it is small. Don't highlight the Fusha part.
         Q: What if the sentence has more than one dialect segment?
         A: Use more than one highlight.
         Q: What if the sentence has no dialect at all?
         A: Leave the sentence with no highlights.
                                      Please review the extra examples before you start. (Click above on the "[show more]" links.)
                                      Those extra examples are very very very helpful to understand the task!
                                      You still have questions? Then please send us an e-mail: callisonburch@gmail.com

                                      This is a simple task, and your answers will help advance research on the Arabic language,
                                      so please do the task properly, and please have fun doing it. :)
    First, please answer these questions about your language abilities:
    (You don't have to answer these questions in every HIT; one time is enough)

    Is Arabic your native language? Yes No
    How many years have you spoken Arabic? (If native speaker, just enter your age.) years
    Which Arabic dialect do you understand best?
    What country do you currently live in? (All countries are OK.)

    Thanks for doing our HIT! Please provide any comments that you have about this HIT. We appreciate your input!