[2] The term Šāwi typically refers to the tribes living between the Tigris and the Euphrates, but many tribes are also found elsewhere, such as northern Jordan, Palestine, western Syria, and Lebanon.
[3] Cantineau (1936) was the first classification the dialects of the sheep breeders of northern Arabia.
The hallmark of Shawi dialects is the affrication of Old Arabic *k and *g (< *q) in front environments into č [t͡ʃ] and ǧ [d͡ʒ], respectively, as opposed to the north Arabian camel-breeder varieties, which exhibit ć [t͡s] and ź [d͡z].
Shawi tribes constitute the first recognized Bedouin migration wave from northern Arabia.
Local traditions and some studies date their arrival to one millennium ago, although older migrations are likely for some clans.