In this fictional water-service meeting, service representative Muna, laundry owner Nabil and resident Lina question a proposed uniform reduction, distinguish fair comparisons from fixed entitlements and demand visible action on public consumption.
01Read the Arabic conversation
مُنَاقَشَةُ الْقُيُودِ عَلَى اسْتِخْدَامِ الْمِيَاهِ
مُنَى: تَقْتَرِحُ الْمُسَوَّدَةُ خَفْضَ اسْتِهْلَاكِ كُلِّ مُشْتَرِكٍ بِعِشْرِينَ فِي الْمِائَةِ لِأُسْبُوعَيْنِ، مُقَارَنَةً بِالشَّهْرِ الْمَاضِي. هَذِهِ نِسْبَةُ النَّقْصِ الْمُتَوَقَّعِ فِي الْكَمِّيَّةِ الْمُتَاحَةِ لِلْحَيِّ خِلَالَ فَتْرَةِ الصِّيَانَةِ الْمُقْبِلَةِ.
نَبِيلٌ: خَفَّضْتُ اسْتِهْلَاكَ مَغْسَلَتِي مِنْ مِائَةِ مِتْرٍ مُكَعَّبٍ إِلَى ثَمَانِينَ فِي الشَّهْرِ الْمَاضِي. سَيَطْلُبُ مِنِّي الْمُقْتَرَحُ خَفْضًا إِضَافِيًّا، بَيْنَمَا يَبْدَأُ مَحَلٌّ مُمَاثِلٌ لَمْ يُخَفِّضْ اسْتِهْلَاكَهُ مِنْ حَدٍّ أَعْلَى.
لِينَا: وَعَدَدُ الْمُقِيمِينَ فِي بَيْتِي تَغَيَّرَ مِنْ ثَلَاثَةٍ إِلَى سِتَّةٍ هَذَا الشَّهْرَ. لَا أَطْلُبُ إِعْفَاءً مِنَ الْمَسْؤُولِيَّةِ، لَكِنَّ مُقَارَنَةَ الْفَاتُورَتَيْنِ دُونَ ذِكْرِ هَذَا التَّغَيُّرِ سَتُعْطِي صُورَةً نَاقِصَةً.
مُنَى: أَفْهَمُ الِاعْتِرَاضَيْنِ. نِسْبَةُ النَّقْصِ عَلَى مُسْتَوَى الْحَيِّ لَا تُثْبِتُ أَنَّ تَوْزِيعَهَا بِالتَّسَاوِي عَادِلٌ. وَاخْتِيَارُ شَهْرٍ وَاحِدٍ مَرْجِعًا يُسَهِّلُ الْحِسَابَ، لَكِنَّهُ قَدْ يُخْفِي فُرُوقًا تُؤَثِّرُ فِي التَّطْبِيقِ.
نَبِيلٌ: أَسْتَطِيعُ تَقْدِيمَ الْفَوَاتِيرِ وَسِجِلِّ كَمِّيَّاتِ الْغَسِيلِ لِشَرْحِ التَّغَيُّرِ. لَا أَقُولُ إِنَّ خَفْضِي السَّابِقَ يَمْنَحُنِي امْتِيَازًا دَائِمًا؛ أُرِيدُ أَلَّا يُعَامَلَ الْجُهْدُ السَّابِقُ كَأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَحْدُثْ أَصْلًا.
لِينَا: وَقَبْلَ مُطَالَبَتِنَا بِإِثْبَاتِ جُهُودِنَا، لِمَاذَا لَا تَزَالُ نَافُورَةُ السَّاحَةِ تَعْمَلُ؟ قِيلَ لِجَارَتِي إِنَّهَا لَا تَسْتَخْدِمُ مِيَاهَ الْحَيِّ، لَكِنَّهَا لَمْ تَحْصُلْ عَلَى تَوْضِيحٍ مَكْتُوبٍ يُؤَكِّدُ هَذَا الْكَلَامَ.
مُنَى: رَاجَعْتُ سِجِلَّهَا هَذَا الصَّبَاحَ، وَهِيَ تَسْتَخْدِمُ الْمَصْدَرَ نَفْسَهُ. سَأَطْلُبُ إِيقَافَهَا الْيَوْمَ ضِمْنَ صَلَاحِيَاتِي، وَأُصَحِّحُ الرَّدَّ السَّابِقَ. لَكِنَّنِي لَنْ أَدَّعِيَ أَنَّ وَفْرَهَا وَحْدَهُ يَسُدُّ الْفَجْوَةَ الْمُتَوَقَّعَةَ.
نَبِيلٌ: هَذَا يَجْعَلُ الطَّلَبَ أَكْثَرَ إِقْنَاعًا، وَلَكِنَّ إِيقَافَ النَّافُورَةِ لَا يُعْفِينَا مِنْ بَحْثِ اسْتِهْلَاكِنَا. أَعْتَرِضُ عَلَى طَرِيقَةِ تَوْزِيعِ الْعِبْءِ، لَا عَلَى وُجُودِ عِبْءٍ يَجِبُ التَّعَامُلُ مَعَهُ.
لِينَا: إِذَنْ لِنَتَّفِقْ عَلَى الْمَعْلُومَاتِ اللَّازِمَةِ لِلْمُقَارَنَةِ. فِي بَيْتِي يَلْزَمُ تَوْضِيحُ عَدَدِ الْمُقِيمِينَ وَتَارِيخِ التَّغَيُّرِ، لَا مُجَرَّدُ إِرْسَالِ فَاتُورَةٍ تُظْهِرُ زِيَادَةً يَسْهُلُ تَفْسِيرُهَا عَلَى أَنَّهَا إِهْمَالٌ مِنَّا.
مُنَى: سَنَطْلُبُ الْمَعْلُومَاتِ الْمُرْتَبِطَةَ بِسَبَبِ الْمُرَاجَعَةِ فَقَطْ، وَنُوَضِّحُ كَيْفَ تُؤَثِّرُ فِي الْقَرَارِ. لَا حَاجَةَ إِلَى نَشْرِ أَسْمَاءِ الْمُقِيمِينَ أَوْ تَفَاصِيلِ زَبَائِنِ الْمَغْسَلَةِ لِشَرْحِ أَسَاسِ الْمُقَارَنَةِ لِلْجُمْهُورِ.
نَبِيلٌ: وَيُمْكِنُ مُقَارَنَةُ اسْتِهْلَاكِي بِكَمِّيَّةِ الْغَسِيلِ لِتَقْيِيمِ الْجُهْدِ، لَكِنَّ انْخِفَاضَ الْمَاءِ لِكُلِّ قِطْعَةٍ لَا يَعْنِي انْخِفَاضَ الْمَجْمُوعِ إِذَا زَادَ الْعَمَلُ. أَقْبَلُ أَنْ يُنْظَرَ إِلَى الْمِقْيَاسَيْنِ مَعًا.
لِينَا: وَلَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ يَتَحَوَّلَ التَّصْحِيحُ إِلَى مُكَافَأَةٍ لِمَنْ كَانَ اسْتِهْلَاكُهُ أَعْلَى. نَحْتَاجُ إِلَى تَمْيِيزِ الْحَاجَاتِ الْأَسَاسِيَّةِ مِنَ الِاسْتِخْدَامَاتِ الْقَابِلَةِ لِلتَّأْجِيلِ، دُونَ اعْتِبَارِ الْفَاتُورَةِ الْقَدِيمَةِ حَقًّا ثَابِتًا فِي الْمُسْتَقْبَلِ.
مُنَى: سَأَسْحَبُ مِنَ الْمُسَوَّدَةِ شَرْطَ الْخَفْضِ الْمُوَحَّدِ. وَسَأَرْفَعُ بَدَلًا مِنْهُ مُقْتَرَحًا يَبْدَأُ بِالِاسْتِخْدَامَاتِ الْقَابِلَةِ لِلتَّأْجِيلِ، مَعَ مُرَاجَعَةِ الْحَاجَاتِ الَّتِي لَا تُوَضِّحُهَا الْفَوَاتِيرُ وَحْدَهَا قَبْلَ تَحْدِيدِ حُدُودٍ فَرْدِيَّةٍ.
نَبِيلٌ: بَعْضُ زَبَائِنِي يَطْلُبُونَ غَسْلَ سَتَائِرَ لَا يَحْتَاجُونَهَا فَوْرًا، وَيُمْكِنُ تَأْجِيلُ غَسْلِهَا بِالِاتِّفَاقِ مَعَهُمْ. سَأَبْحَثُ هَذَا الْخِيَارَ، مَعَ تَسْجِيلِ أَثَرِهِ عَلَى الْعَمَلِ، بَدَلَ وَصْفِ كُلِّ اسْتِهْلَاكٍ تِجَارِيٍّ بِأَنَّهُ ضَرُورِيٌّ بِالدَّرَجَةِ نَفْسِهَا.
لِينَا: هَذَا تَمْيِيزٌ مُفِيدٌ، لَكِنْ مَنْ يُقَرِّرُ أَنَّ الِاسْتِخْدَامَ ضَرُورِيٌّ؟ إِذَا تَرَكْنَا التَّصْنِيفَ لِكُلِّ صَاحِبِ طَلَبٍ، فَقَدْ تَصِلُ الْحَالَاتُ الْمُتَشَابِهَةُ إِلَى نَتَائِجَ مُخْتَلِفَةٍ بِحَسَبِ قُدْرَتِهِ عَلَى الْإِقْنَاعِ.
مُنَى: سَنَنْشُرُ مَعَايِيرَ الْمُرَاجَعَةِ وَأَمْثِلَةً تَوْضِيحِيَّةً، وَيَذْكُرُ الْفَرِيقُ سَبَبَ قَبُولِ الطَّلَبِ أَوْ رَفْضِهِ. لَيْسَ الْمَقْصُودُ أَنْ يَحْصُلَ صَاحِبُ الصَّوْتِ الْأَعْلَى عَلَى حِصَّةٍ أَكْبَرَ، بَلْ أَنْ نُطَبِّقَ الْمَعَايِيرَ بِاتِّسَاقٍ.
نَبِيلٌ: وَكَيْفَ سَنَعْرِفُ مَا وَفَّرْنَاهُ فِعْلًا؟ إِذَا قَارَنَّا أُسْبُوعَيْنِ بِشَهْرٍ كَامِلٍ فَسَيَبْدُو الِانْخِفَاضُ كَبِيرًا حَتَّى دُونَ تَغْيِيرٍ. يَجِبُ أَنْ تَتَسَاوَى مُدَّةُ الْمُقَارَنَةِ، وَأَنْ تُذْكَرَ تَوَارِيخُ الْقِرَاءَاتِ بِوُضُوحٍ.
لِينَا: وَأُرِيدُ مُتَابَعَةَ الْبَلَاغِ عَنِ الْأُنْبُوبِ الْمُتَسَرِّبِ قُرْبَ الْحَدِيقَةِ. أَرْسَلْتُ صُورَةً قَبْلَ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ، وَلَمْ أَتَلَقَّ مَوْعِدًا لِلْفَحْصِ. لَا أَعْرِفُ كَمِّيَّةَ الْفَقْدِ، لَكِنَّ تَجَاهُلَ الْبَلَاغِ يُضْعِفُ الثِّقَةَ.
مُنَى: سَأُضِيفُ رَقْمَ الْبَلَاغِ وَمَوْعِدَ الْفَحْصِ إِلَى سِجِلِّ الْمُتَابَعَةِ، وَأُبَيِّنُ مَنْ يَتَوَلَّاهُ. وَسَنُوَحِّدُ مُدَّةَ الْمُقَارَنَةِ فِي التَّقْرِيرِ. لَنْ نَحْسِبَ إِصْلَاحًا مُتَوَقَّعًا ضِمْنَ الْوَفْرِ الْمُتَحَقِّقِ قَبْلَ التَّأَكُّدِ مِنْ إِنْجَازِهِ وَتَقْدِيرِ أَثَرِهِ عَلَى الْفَقْدِ.
نَبِيلٌ: أُرِيدُ أَنْ يَفْصِلَ التَّقْرِيرُ بَيْنَ خَفْضِ الِاسْتِهْلَاكِ وَإِصْلَاحِ التَّسَرُّبِ وَإِيقَافِ النَّافُورَةِ. جَمْعُهَا فِي رَقْمٍ وَاحِدٍ مُفِيدٌ لِلْمَجْمُوعِ، لَكِنَّهُ لَا يُبَيِّنُ أَيُّ إِجْرَاءٍ نَجَحَ وَأَيُّهَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى تَعْدِيلٍ.
لِينَا: وَيُمْكِنُ نَشْرُ أَسْبَابِ تَصْحِيحِ الْقَرَارَاتِ دُونَ كَشْفِ تَفَاصِيلِ الْأُسَرِ. إِذَا عَرَفَ النَّاسُ أَنَّ تَغَيُّرَ عَدَدِ الْمُقِيمِينَ يُرَاجَعُ، فَلَنْ يَظُنُّوا أَنَّ كُلَّ اسْتِثْنَاءٍ نَاتِجٌ عَنْ مَعْرِفَةٍ شَخْصِيَّةٍ.
مُنَى: سَنَتَلَقَّى طَلَبَاتِ الْمُرَاجَعَةِ عَبْرَ الْمَكْتَبِ وَالْهَاتِفِ وَالنَّمُوذَجِ الْإِلِكْتُرُونِيِّ، بِالْمَعَايِيرِ نَفْسِهَا. وَسَيَتَضَمَّنُ كُلُّ رَدٍّ طَرِيقَةَ الِاعْتِرَاضِ، لِئَلَّا يَصِيرَ خَطَأٌ فِي الْبَيَانَاتِ قَرَارًا نِهَائِيًّا يَصْعُبُ تَصْحِيحُهُ عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ.
نَبِيلٌ: أَقْبَلُ الْمُسَاهَمَةَ فِي الْخَفْضِ الْمُؤَقَّتِ، لَكِنَّنِي أَحْتَاجُ إِلَى تَارِيخِ انْتِهَاءٍ وَاضِحٍ عِنْدَ الِاتِّفَاقِ مَعَ الزَّبَائِنِ. لَا يَصِحُّ أَنْ تَمْتَدَّ الْقُيُودُ تِلْقَائِيًّا لِأَنَّ أَحَدًا لَمْ يُعْلِنْ مُرَاجَعَتَهَا.
لِينَا: وَإِذَا تَبَيَّنَ أَنَّ الْكَمِّيَّةَ الْمُتَاحَةَ أَقَلُّ مِنَ الْمُتَوَقَّعِ، فَلَا نُخْفِ الْمُشْكِلَةَ لِلِالْتِزَامِ بِوَعْدٍ سَابِقٍ. الْمَطْلُوبُ أَنْ يُشْرَحَ أَيُّ تَمْدِيدٍ بِبَيَانَاتٍ جَدِيدَةٍ، مَعَ فُرْصَةٍ لِمُنَاقَشَةِ أَثَرِهِ عَلَيْنَا.
مُنَى: سَأُحَدِّدُ فِي الْمُقْتَرَحِ تَارِيخَ انْتِهَاءٍ بَعْدَ أُسْبُوعَيْنِ مِنْ بَدْءِ التَّطْبِيقِ، وَمُرَاجَعَةً قَبْلَهُ. وَأَيُّ تَمْدِيدٍ سَيَحْتَاجُ إِلَى قَرَارٍ جَدِيدٍ مُعَلَنٍ يُوَضِّحُ سَبَبَهُ وَمُدَّتَهُ، لَا إِلَى اسْتِمْرَارٍ صَامِتٍ لِلْقُيُودِ.
نَبِيلٌ: سَأُرْسِلُ سِجِلَّاتِي وَأَتَوَاصَلُ مَعَ الزَّبَائِنِ بِشَأْنِ التَّأْجِيلِ الْمُمْكِنِ. لَمْ نَتَّفِقْ عَلَى حَدِّي النِّهَائِيِّ، لَكِنَّنَا اتَّفَقْنَا عَلَى أَلَّا تَكُونَ النِّسْبَةُ الْبَسِيطَةُ بَدِيلًا مِنْ فَهْمِ الِاسْتِهْلَاكِ وَالْحَاجَةِ إِلَيْهِ.
لِينَا: سَأَنْتَظِرُ نَشْرَ الْمُقْتَرَحِ الْمُعَدَّلِ، وَأُتَابِعُ الْإِجْرَاءَيْنِ اللَّذَيْنِ لَا يَحْتَاجَانِ إِلَى حَسْمِهِ: إِيقَافَ النَّافُورَةِ وَتَحْدِيدَ مَوْعِدِ فَحْصِ الْبَلَاغِ. عِنْدَئِذٍ تُصْبِحُ الْمَسْؤُولِيَّةُ الْمُشْتَرَكَةُ عَمَلًا يَظْهَرُ لَنَا، لَا مُجَرَّدَ شِعَارٍ.
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Muna: The draft proposes that every account holder reduce consumption by twenty per cent for two weeks compared with last month. That is the expected shortfall in the quantity available to the neighbourhood during the upcoming maintenance period.
Nabil: I reduced my laundry’s consumption from one hundred cubic metres to eighty last month. The proposal would require a further reduction from me, while a comparable shop that had not reduced consumption would start from a higher baseline.
Lina: The number of people living in my home changed from three to six this month. I am not asking to be exempt from responsibility, but comparing the two bills without mentioning this change would give an incomplete picture.
Muna: I understand both objections. The neighbourhood-wide shortfall does not prove that distributing the same percentage to everyone is fair. Choosing one reference month simplifies calculation but may conceal differences affecting implementation.
Nabil: I can provide bills and a record of laundry volumes to explain the change. I am not saying my earlier reduction gives me a permanent privilege; I want that earlier effort not to be treated as though it never happened.
Lina: Before asking us to demonstrate our efforts, why is the square’s fountain still running? My neighbour was told that it does not use the neighbourhood’s water, but received no written clarification confirming that statement.
Muna: I reviewed its record this morning, and it uses the same source. I will request that it be switched off today within my authority, and correct the earlier response. But I will not claim its savings alone cover the expected shortfall.
Nabil: That makes the request more convincing, but switching off the fountain does not exempt us from examining our consumption. I object to how the burden is distributed, not to the existence of a burden that needs addressing.
Lina: Then let us agree on the information needed for comparison. For my home, the number of residents and date of change need explaining, rather than simply sending a bill showing an increase that could easily be interpreted as carelessness on our part.
Muna: We will request only information relevant to the reason for review and explain how it affects the decision. There is no need to publish residents’ names or the laundry’s customer details to explain the comparison basis to the public.
Nabil: My consumption can be compared with laundry volume to assess the effort, but less water per item does not mean a lower total if business increases. I accept that both measures should be considered together.
Lina: I also do not want the correction to become a reward for whoever used more. We need to distinguish basic needs from uses that can be postponed, without treating an old bill as a permanent future entitlement.
Muna: I will remove the uniform-reduction requirement from the draft. In its place I will submit a proposal starting with uses that can be postponed, with needs not explained by bills alone reviewed before individual limits are determined.
Nabil: Some customers request washing for curtains they do not need immediately, and the washing can be postponed by agreement with them. I will explore that option and record its effect on the business, instead of describing every commercial use as equally essential.
Lina: That is a useful distinction, but who decides a use is essential? If classification is left to each applicant, similar cases may receive different outcomes according to their ability to make a persuasive case.
Muna: We will publish review criteria and illustrative examples, and the team will state its reason for accepting or rejecting an application. The aim is not to give a larger allocation to the loudest voice, but to apply the criteria consistently.
Nabil: How will we know what we actually saved? If we compare two weeks with a whole month, the reduction will appear large even without a change. Comparison periods must be equal, and reading dates clearly stated.
Lina: I also want follow-up on the report about the leaking pipe near the park. I sent a picture three days ago and received no inspection date. I do not know the amount lost, but ignoring the report undermines trust.
Muna: I will add the report number and inspection date to the follow-up record and identify who is handling it. We will also use equal comparison periods in the report. We will not count an expected repair as achieved savings before confirming completion and estimating its effect on losses.
Nabil: I want the report to separate consumption reductions, leak repairs and switching off the fountain. Combining them into one number helps show the total, but does not show which measure worked and which needs adjustment.
Lina: Reasons for correcting decisions can be published without disclosing families’ details. If people know that changes in household size are reviewed, they will not assume every exception comes from personal connections.
Muna: We will accept review requests through the office, telephone and online form, under the same criteria. Each response will include a way to challenge it, so that a data error does not become a final decision that is difficult for the person concerned to correct.
Nabil: I accept contributing to a temporary reduction, but I need a clear end date when making arrangements with customers. Restrictions should not extend automatically because nobody has announced their review.
Lina: If the available quantity proves lower than expected, we should not conceal the problem to maintain an earlier promise. Any extension should be explained with new data, with an opportunity to discuss its effect on us.
Muna: I will set an end date in the proposal two weeks after implementation begins, with a review beforehand. Any extension will require a new announced decision explaining its reason and duration, rather than restrictions continuing silently.
Nabil: I will send my records and contact customers about possible postponements. We have not agreed my final limit, but we have agreed that a simple percentage should not replace understanding consumption and the need for it.
Lina: I will wait for the revised proposal to be published and follow up the two steps that do not depend on finalising it: switching off the fountain and setting an inspection date for the report. Then shared responsibility becomes action we can see, not merely a slogan.
02Useful words and expressions
| Arabic in the conversation | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| نِسْبَةُ النَّقْصِ الْمُتَوَقَّعِ | the expected percentage shortfall |
| خَفْضًا إِضَافِيًّا | an additional reduction |
| حَدٍّ أَعْلَى | a higher baseline |
| امْتِيَازًا دَائِمًا | a permanent privilege |
| تَوْزِيعِ الْعِبْءِ | distributing the burden |
| لِتَقْيِيمِ الْجُهْدِ | to assess the effort |
| حَقًّا ثَابِتًا | a fixed entitlement |
| الْقَابِلَةِ لِلتَّأْجِيلِ | that can be postponed |
| بِاتِّسَاقٍ | consistently |
| الْوَفْرِ الْمُتَحَقِّقِ | savings actually achieved |
| طَرِيقَةَ الِاعْتِرَاضِ | the way to challenge a decision |
| اسْتِمْرَارٍ صَامِتٍ لِلْقُيُودِ | restrictions continuing without an announcement |
03Check your understanding
Choose one answer for each question. Look back at the Arabic conversation for evidence. Open the English question support or a hint when you need help.
What to remember
- Separate a neighbourhood-wide shortfall from the fairness of imposing the same percentage on every account.
- Evaluate both efficiency and total use, and distinguish planned savings from outcomes actually achieved.
- Require visible responsibility from the service, consistent review criteria and a stated process for ending or extending restrictions.
Explore the Arabic in this conversation
Related grammar and vocabularyOpen Araqick guides connected to this conversation.
Lakinna and Lakin in Arabic: Two Patterns for But
لَكِنَّهُ قَدْ يُخْفِي فُرُوقًا تُؤَثِّرُ فِي التَّطْبِيقِ
Use lakinna to qualify the convenience of a calculation with a concern about hidden differences.
Idha in Arabic: How to Say When and If
إِذَا قَارَنَّا أُسْبُوعَيْنِ بِشَهْرٍ كَامِلٍ فَسَيَبْدُو الِانْخِفَاضُ كَبِيرًا حَتَّى دُونَ تَغْيِيرٍ
Connect a misleading comparison with its likely apparent result using idha and fa-sa-.
Because in Arabic: Give a Reason with Lianna
لِأَنَّ أَحَدًا لَمْ يُعْلِنْ مُرَاجَعَتَهَا
Use lianna to identify an inadequate reason for allowing restrictions to continue.
