A recent article by the Khaleej Times has highlighted the efforts made by UAE Minister for Culture and Youth, Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, to promote and preserve the Arabic language.
The article explores the “current status of the Arabic language”, highlighting how the United Arab Emirates as a whole, and Al Kaabi in particular, are “shaping its future”.
Al Kaabi believes the Arabic language is intricately linked to the cultural identity of the 400 million Arabic speakers around the globe and that its preservation is essential in terms of the historical and religious importance of the language.
Below you will find the main points of the article alongside some of the findings of the ‘Status Report and the Future of the Arabic Language’ which was conducted in 2018.
What is the UAE’s Role in Promoting Arabic?
According to Al Kaabi, the UAE have always tried to “promote Arabic while also encouraging our people to acquire skills in other languages”.
In 2008, the UAE Cabinet authorised Arabic as the official language at all ministries and federal institutions, which was an important step in raising the status of the language within the UAE itself, and in 2012, the Arabic Language Charter, similarly enhanced the role of Arabic in society.
Likewise, the Madrasa e-learning platform, launched by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, is actively encouraging educational access for 50 million Arab students worldwide.
Are Linguists Right to Worry about the Future of the Arabic Language?
With over 400 million Arabic speakers worldwide it may seem that the linguists’ fears that “Arabic is a disappearing language” are an “exaggeration”.
When this fact is considered alongside the evidence from the 2018 report, evidence suggests that “Arabic continues to be vibrant and powerful, and capable of creative and scientific expressions” so there is “massive potential for the language to grow in the future and confront the challenges”.
According to online statistics, the Middle East has a “higher-than-average” internet penetration rate (67.2% compared to the world average of 56.8) which is also playing a part in the sustained use of Arabic on social media platforms.
Al Kaabi stated “a number of recent initiatives for the Arabisation of sciences hold immense prospects for the growth of the language” and aim to encourage increased Arabic use in fields such as, science, technology, law and education.
However, the report also noted potential challenges such as:
• A lack of strong language policies in several Arab countries
• Lack of coordination between institutions working to develop the Arabic language
• A shortage of interesting books for children and young adults published in Arabic
• The absence of an institutional framework for developing digital content in Arabic
How does Jokha Alhathi’ Winning the Man Booker Prize Affect the Arabic Language?
This is an important accomplishment because it “puts the spotlight on literature from the Gulf region”.
Although Arabic literature has been translated and read around the globe for centuries, many of the more recent translations are from outside the Gulf region, so this prize has highlighted the “cultural life of the Gulf” which is a “welcome development because discussions about the Arabian Gulf often revolve around issues related to the economy, politics and so on”.
To view the full Khaleej Times article, please click here, and to view the findings of the 2018 report, click here.
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