RIYADH: Arabic and French experts this week underlined the importance of learning languages to enhance intellectual and cultural communication.
At an event in France to mark Arabic Language Month, they noted how, without the Arabic language, the world would not have been able to access a significant portion of the intellectual heritage of Greek philosophers, as well as mathematics and sciences from ancient times.
Hamdi Al-Adawi, professor of linguistics at Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, described the role of language in expressing a person’s inner thoughts and feelings, and described the historical interplay between Arabic and French.
“The Arabic language has played a vital role towards affirming the role of Islam in enhancing communication between different civilizations, blending civilizations, and fostering the exchange of cultures,” he told Arab News.
Al-Adawi noted that the convergence of certain words, concepts and meanings between languages is key to accepting other cultures and coexisting peacefully with them.
He also said that there are many shared terms among languages, which encourages leveraging these similarities to understand the commonalities between these languages and their cultural connotation.
Al-Adawi concluded that the cultural exchange between the Arabic and French languages is tangible and well documented.
Some examples include the Belgian orientalist Henri Lammens, who identified more than 700 Arabic words in his French-language writings in the early 20th century, and the French writer Pierre Giraud who acknowledged the influence of Arabic on the French language, providing a list of 280 Arabic words that were used in French during different periods.
Jack Lang, the secretary-general of the Arab World Institute, said that “the Arabic language is music, and it is a global language.” He noted that it ranks fifth among the most spoken languages in the world.
“We cannot ignore the fact that the Arabic language has served as a bridge for communication between peoples. Without the Arabic language, we would not have been able to access a significant portion of Greek philosophers, nor mathematics and sciences from ancient times,” he said.
Lang, who is a former French minister of education, highlighted the efforts being made by Saudi Arabia to preserve the Arabic language, saying that the Kingdom was “moving towards exerting a considerable cultural effort.”
He added that he currently observes “large cultural events happening throughout Saudi Arabia.”
He also praised Saudi Arabia’s role in assisting other countries in their commitment to the Arabic language through the Arab World Institute, which is based in Paris.
Lang noted the intention to establish a House of the Arabic Language in France, in collaboration with King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language.
KSGAAL launched Arabic Language Month in France on Oct. 7, in collaboration with the Arab World Institute.
Events included a seminar, a panel discussion and a scientific competition focused on the art of diction, with participation from several contestants.
Abdullah Al-Washmi, secretary-general of KSGAAL, said that the academy is active in various fields to promote the Arabic language, locally and globally.
The academy launched the Arabic Language Month program in France, which aimed to display KSGAAL activities related to teaching Arabic to non-native speakers and to highlight the Kingdom’s efforts in serving the Arabic language and its sciences worldwide.
Additionally, the academy is working to offer training programs to enhance teachers’ competencies and improve Arabic language learning outcomes for students, in line with the objectives of the Human Capability Development Program, one of the initiatives under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by interested individuals and intellectuals, led by the Kingdom’s ambassador to France, Fahad Al-Ruwaili.
KSGAAL will continue the activities of Arabic Language Month in France on Nov. 1, featuring tours in several French cities in collaboration with French and international educational institutions.
