What would happen if one of the official languages of the UN was no longer used because of the influence of western culture, economics, or Latin slang? If one of the most spreading languages in the world was on the decline? Well, this is something that many Arabic speaking countries will have to start to consider because, truth is, the language is slowly on the decline.
On Sunday, the Arab Thought Foundation said they were ready to launch their latest initiative, Let’s Rise with Our Language, which will attempt to increase and encourage the use of Arabic. This initiative, finalized following a two-year research project, includes 35 recommendations from 20 language intellectuals, scholars and personalities and is the outcome of a two-year research project.
The announcement was made in the company of Prince Khalid Al Faisal, the President of the Arab Thought Foundation. Speakers stressed that Arabic usage is in decline and steps should be taken to preserve it and to encourage its use by the youth.
The foundation also stressed that losing Arabic would have a detrimental effect on Arabic culture and identity.
As part of the research, academics looked into how youth culture was using Arabic online. They discovered that teenagers often typed in Arabic but used Latin letters or even numbers. This is also compounded with the literacy challenges faced by the region. Historically there have been limited education opportunities. In 2003, a UNESCO report detailing the illiteracy rates in several Arabic countries, showed that some countries had an illiteracy rate of as little as 60% among people aged 15 and over.
Dr. Ziad Al Dreis, vice-chairman of the executive board at UNESCO announced that 18December will now be World Arabic Language Day. This day has special reverence for Arabic speakers because this was the day Arabic was officially declared one of the six languages of the UN in 1973. Al Dreis says, “It is not spelling mistakes that will harm the language but what will actually harm it is the Latinized Arabic teens use online.” His goal is to rekindle the want to talk in Arabic when in a group of people that all speak the language.
If you are looking for an Arabic translation service for papers, websites, conferences, or telephone calls, Today Translations specialises in Arabic translations. With many years of experience, Today Translations can create success in anyone’s language. Learn more about our translation services here.
