Qatar - Experts explore status of Arabic language, ways to improve position

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) QNA

Doha: A seminar on the Arabic language was held yesterday as part of the 'Seminar Series' organised by the Ministry of Culture, in partnership with Qatar University and the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, which runs until March 31.

The seminar, held at Qatar University under the title 'Has the Arabic language declined in our societies', was attended by Minister of Culture, H E sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al Thani; Assistant Foreign Minister, H E Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater; Qatar University President, Dr. Hassan Rashid Al Derham; a number of professors and students of Qatar University and guests. Dr. Ali Ahmed Al Kubaisi, Professor of Arabic language at Qatar University and member of the Doha Historical Dictionary of Arabic, poet Abdul Rahman Al Dulaimi, and media personality Amal Arab also attended the seminar. It was moderated by Muhammad Saleh.

At the beginning of the seminar, Dr. Ali Ahmed Al Kubaisi said:“Judging the decline in the status of the Arabic language in our societies requires scientific study and serious research to find the actual reality through a scientific approach which leads to results reinforced with real and credible facts.”

With the lack of this type of studies, he said:“We have no choice but to depend on indicators and phenomena through which we can reach judgement dominated by individual opinion.” 

He added that there are three opinions in general about the decline in the status of the Arabic language.“One party believes that the status of the Arabic language has declined but according to them it will improve by disappearance of its causes, and the second party believes that its status has declined and warns of the repercussions of that decline on the individual, society and nation. While the third party believes that the status of Arabic is preserved by the text of the Qur'an and the rule of the Constitution,” said Dr. Al Kubaisi.

He said that the first and second opinions depended on the actual reality represented in the use of the Arabic language in all walks of life, while those of the third opinion turned a blind eye to this usage reality on the pretext of preserving Arabic in the Qur'an and the Constitution.

Dr. Al Kubaisi gave some reasons for the decline in the status of the Arabic language at present as a result of its exclusion from the places of use designated for it by using the local dialect or the foreign language in its place, due to the family environment that does not promote the children's use of classical Arabic as a substitute for dialects and foreign languages, and the problems related to education and the impact of social media in writing and expressing incorrectly.

He said that other reasons are lack of awareness of the importance of Arabic, which led to a preference for foreign languages, a weak demand for reading in Arabic, the adoption of many media outlets in local dialects, the widespread use of foreign languages in many sectors.

Dr. Al Kubaisi warned of serious repercussions for this decline, the most important of which are related to future generations of youth, distance from the society's values and identity problem. He proposed a set of measures that enhance the status of Arabic, the most important of which is the interest in strengthening the role of the family in providing the Arab child with his or her eloquent language, developing Arabic language curricula and methods of teaching and learning it at all stages of learning to ensure focus on learning and proficiency in various language skills.

Dr. Al Kubaisi also suggested for changing the negative perception of the Arabic language and creating linguistic awareness that appreciates its place in the life of the individual, society and the nation, through arranging programmes to improve the status of Arabic language.

MENAFN22032022000063011010ID1103889813