The Arabic language is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It originated in the Arabian Peninsula and is now the official language of over 20 countries. With over 300 million speakers worldwide, it is considered to be one of the oldest languages in the world and plays an important role in the Islamic faith.
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On 18 December 1973, the General Assembly of the United Nations officially adopted Arabic as the sixth official language of the organization; other languages being Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Since 2012, UNESCO has celebrated “multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six of its official working languages throughout the organisation.”
History of the Arabic Language
Arabic was first spoken by nomadic tribes in the Arabian Peninsula. It perfectly ties into what the word ‘Arabic’ translates to – “nomadic” Arabs, aka nomads. It belongs to the Semitic family of languages and is distinctive as it carries 28 letters, rather than 26 letters as the English language does. Some of these Arabic letters simply do not exist in other languages, such as “ض” or “daad”, which is used heavily in Arabic speech. Many consider this letter to be a symbol of pride for Arabic, due to the fact that it is unique.
The Arabic language is rich and diverse. There are many dialects, forms and styles that give it a complex and interesting background – showcasing just how diverse one language can be. For example, the United Arab Emirates adopts Gulf Arabic, a language shared by countries on the coast of the Persian Gulf, while Levantine Arabic (North and South) is spoken across countries on the Levant, including Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Palestine, Jordan and others.
In the English language, you can often find words with Arabic origins, such as “tariff”, “elixir”, “sultan”, “algebra” and “mosque”. Other than English, Arabic has also impacted Spanish and Portuguese cultures as a result of the Islamic presence within the Iberian Peninsula for around 800 years.
While Arabic is predominantly spoken in the Arab world, many North African countries have adopted the language, namely Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco (along with Berber and French) and Tunisia.
The Arabic alphabet can be traced back to the 3rd century, even though inscriptions were common after the birth of Islam. It originated from the writing used by Nabataean tribes who occupied Northern Arabia, Southern Syria, the Sinai Peninsula and Jordan. The alphabet we know today has many similarities to that of the Nabataean script, mainly long vowels and consonants.
The Arabic alphabet has definitely developed over the years. In its early years, Arabic did not have as many dots that we see and use in modern Arabic. These dots were introduced mainly to help differentiate between various sounds. It was only in the 20th century when punctuation marks were adopted into the language.
Where is Arabic spoken today?
Arabic is mainly spoken in countries on the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East and North Africa – also known as the “Arab World”. Countries that claim Arabic as an official (or co-official) language includes Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates. Countries such as Iran, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Turkey consider Arabic as a national language or recognize it as a minority language.
However, Arabic continues to spread across the globe as Arabic speakers migrate and settle down in countries outside their homes. They seek countries in the Americas, Europe and Southeast Asia, contributing to the growth of the language.
A language that connects international speakers
“The Arabic language and culture cannot be separated. Learning Arabic means you fully integrate yourself with its people, life and culture,” says Yousef Omar, Head of the Languages Academy at TELLAL Institute. Mr. Omar quotes Nelson Mandela to remind us of the importance of learning international languages, reiterating that “if you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.”
“There is one way to understand another culture,” suggests Mr. Omar. “Living it through language. Move into it, ask to be tolerated as a guest and learn the language. At some point, understanding may come. It will always be wordless.
“Every year, TELLAL institute through its Languages Academy celebrates the UN Arabic language Day with our students and teachers. We offer a variety of innovative and creative programmes that are aimed at improving Arabic teaching and learning.
“I believe that the language and culture are the key to better education in the multilingual world we live in. We use language in contexts such as drama, storytelling and other creative and innovative ways to share a language,” he says, sharing his passion for a global language.
Ms. Marwa Hamdy, Arabic and Islamic teacher at Brighton College Dubai also holds the language close to her heart.
“Being an Arabic teacher in the UAE teaching a unique language makes me proud and helps me build students’ personalities and helps me enrich their identity, allowing them to discover adventures through Arabic cultures.
“Learning Arabic will improve your memory and will keep your brain and memory sharp; it helps you understand Islam deeply, as the Arabic language is the language that the Holy Qur’an was revealed in.
“The culture and history of Arabic has influenced and contributed to a variety of fields such as architecture, math, geography, science, poetry, philosophy, and music around the globe. Students can learn other languages such as Farsi or Persian, Turkish, Urdu and Hebrew as well.”
Ms. Hamdy poetically reminds us that “Arabic is not only a language but also a call for peace and love for the whole of humanity.”
A gateway into Arab culture
When Joseph Ashcroft, a primary teacher at Raeburn Primary School, UK, briefly taught in the UAE, he didn’t anticipate the impact that the language could have in his life. “I have always been fascinated by the way Arabic sounds and looks – almost more like art than writing,” he shares.
“During my time teaching in the UAE, I loved Arabic. Speaking the language really made me feel involved. I loved learning new words and phrases and feeling like I was a real part of the place in which I lived. It was so exciting to feel like a student, perpetually learning new things. It felt like the more Arabic I learnt, the more I learnt about the Middle East and Islam too. This was the same with dialects as well; although frustrating at first, the subtle differences in certain phrases and how they are received depending on who you are speaking to are fascinating.
“Perhaps most of all, I loved the reactions I received from people when speaking Arabic. The responses of students were a particular highlight – they always seemed excited and pleasantly surprised to be able to speak to me in what was either their first language or one that they were learning, just like me. As well as this, it helped me to feel closer to the Arabic teachers and other Arabic speakers who can so often feel cut off as an expat. Being able to greet them good morning, for example, always felt nice.
“Even now, living away from the UAE, I relish any opportunity to practice my Arabic whenever and wherever possible. Every time I visit an Arabic restaurant, I always dust off the cobwebs and (try to) order and converse in Arabic. My love and enthusiasm must be infectious; a number of my entirely British class answer the register in Arabic every single day.”
The value and significance of Arabic, as told by Ajman University
“ليس لأنها تمثّل الهوية القومية لأبنائها، فكل لغات الأرض تعطي هذه الخاصية لأبنائها، وليست هذه مزية بحد ذاتها. وليس لأنها لغة الرسالة الأخيرة من رب الكون لسكان الأرض، وهو ما حدا بعشرات الملاين إلى التطلع لتعلمها لإرواء شغف معرفة القرآن. بل لأنها إرث حضاري أممي تعلقت بها دول وشعوب حبا بالإسلام، وتعلقت بها دول وشعوب ليس مسلمة ولا عربية (مثل كوريا والصين) حبا في إيقاعها الصوتي وسلاسة مخارجها، وتعلق بها مفكرون وباحثون من أجل فك طلاسم لغات انقرضت ولم تترك إرثا… إن آثار العربية بفروعها السامية متفشية في لغات أوروبا وأفريقيا وآسيا تفشي الماء في عروق النبات ليس في العصر الحديث بل منذ قرون بعيدة، إنها إرث أممي؛ تجد موسيقاها يسلب قلب السامع وضخامة معجمها دليل على توغلها البعيد في التاريخ وصمودها أمام كل التحديات. هذا وغيره كثير.. كثير لا يتسع المقام لتفصيله. إن من مزايا اللغة العربية الخالدة أنها تقاوم الزمن وهذا مما جعل أهلها يعشقون الحرص عليها، ويحبون ألا يغادروا دوائرها كالعادات والتقاليد والثقافة.. وفي دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة نماذج يُشار لها بالبنان في حرص الدولة حكاما وشعبا على حماية اللغة من عوامل التداخل الثقافي الغزير. فقد نجح سعيها المشكور في احتواء ثقافاتٍ ولغات عديدة وجعلها الهوية العربية واللغة في الرتبة العليا.”
“The value of the Arabic language goes beyond the fact that it represents the national identity of its speakers as this feature is common for all languages, and beyond the fact that it is the language of God’s final message to mankind, which encouraged tens of millions to aspire to learn it with a passion to advance in the knowledge of the Qur’an. Indeed, its international cultural heritage led nations to relate to it for the sake of Islam. On the other hand, non-Muslim and Non-Arab nations (such as Korea and China) admire its vocal rhythm and smooth phonics, while intellectuals and researchers explore it to decipher extinct hieroglyphs.
“The traces of Arabic and its Semitic branches have been prevalent in European, African and Asian languages for centuries – the way water flows in the veins of plants. It is an international heritage; its music captures the heart, and its rich vocabulary is a clear indication of its consolidation throughout history and its resilience in the face of challenges. There is definitely a lot more to talk about. One of the characteristics of Arabic is that it resists time hence its speakers love to preserve it and don’t tend to abandon the things that shape it, such as customs, traditions and culture. In the UAE, there are various examples of the keenness of the rulers and people to protect the language from the influence of cross-cultural factors. In fact, the UAE is home to a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural population, yet it has succeeded in enhancing the Arabic identity and language.” – Dr. Fayiz Althunibat, Head of Arabic Language and Islamic Studies Department.
Arabic in the Modern World
“The significance of Arabic cannot be underestimated in the modern world,” suggests Emma Whale, Vice President of Schools at Pearson Middle East. “The language brings with it a 2,000-year heritage and nurturing and it is important to uphold the Arabic identity for future generations. Preservation of the language is of significant cultural, historical and religious importance.
“At Pearson Middle East, we believe the language should be a key part of the core curriculum and we have hence introduced bilArabi – an Arabic language programme for schools that uses fun and engaging course content, and an inquiry-based approach that makes learning student-centered. It also includes accessible language, helping students to engage with the language, understand it and use it to interpret the world around them.”
What does the Arabic Language mean to you?
“The Arabic language to me is the most beautiful, fascinating and versatile art form. The powerful and rich vocabulary makes it convey thousands of emotions aesthetically.” – Tasneem Fakhri, Robotics Lead at MSB Private School, Dubai.
اللغة العربية هي وعاء ثقافتي. تمنحُ ألفاظها و تعابيرها مع شاعريتها الحياة لما أؤمن و أشعر و أحلمُ به. هي لغة ديني و تاريخي، و لغة القلب و العقل
“The Arabic language is the vessel of my culture. Its words and expressions along with its poetic nature bring to life my beliefs, feelings, and dreams. Arabic is the language of my faith and history; the language of the heart and mind.” – Salma Zarzour Alabed, Teacher.
“Not only is it my mother tongue, it is the language that best helps me express my emotions, my feelings, and my perspectives towards the world we live in. Like any other new language, to some, the Arabic language may seem pretty difficult to comprehend at first. But to me, it is the language that identifies me, my beliefs, my culture, and most importantly, my religion. Although I can speak a few other languages, I can see myself more in Arabic, because it makes me who I am, and enhances my skills as a strong individual in a competitive world.
“Along with its beautiful wordings that can transform simple letters into a heartwarming poem, the Arabic language has its own unique style of communication. It’s not like any other language out there – it is a style of creativity that builds more confidence and boldness in me every time I’d speak it. Being one of the richest languages in the world with over 12 million words, having knowledge of the Arabic language feels like a privilege to me.
“As I wake up every morning, I see a bright future coming towards me knowing that I’m a native Arabic speaker because it makes me want to let out my outermost potential and aim one day to become the best version of myself. At the end of the day, I know wouldn’t have been where I’m today if it wasn’t for my ability to express myself, which is a strength I gained through learning Arabic. I now wake up every day with pride and confidence to call myself an Arabic speaker as each day passes, and as I take every growing step in my life.” – Hala Haytham, Student at Curtin University (Bachelor of Communications).
It’s clear that Arabic holds important significance in people’s lives. It’s a widespread language that has taken flight in countries outside the Arab world, with many wanting to study its origins and various dialects. We continue to embrace the language and culture, celebrating the impact and significance of this beautiful language, in the hopes of showcasing the true beauty of Arabic.
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