World Arabic Language Day marked

AMMAN — Marking World Arabic Language Day, which is celebrated every year on December 18, Jordanians express their mother tongue’s importance in various aspects of their lives.  

The Arabic language is “a pillar of the cultural diversity of humanity”. It is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, used daily by more than 290 million people, according to the UNESCO website.

“In the diversity of its forms, classic or dialectal, from oral expression to poetic calligraphy, the Arabic language has given rise to a fascinating aesthetic, in fields as varied as architecture, poetry, philosophy and song,” UNESCO said.

Arabic language has played a vital role in moulding personality, character and people’s daily lives, Kholoud A. who is an Arabic school teacher told The Jordan Times over the phone on Saturday.

“The language is a vital tool in the development of societies and cultures,” she added.

“Arabic is not just a language for us, it is our identity,” Kholoud said, noting that there is a growing need to preserve the language, especially with the numerous changes that have emerged due to the use of technological advancements.

Dalia Mounir Qasem, a Jordanian Arabic teacher who majored in teaching Arabic language to non-native speakers, told The Jordan Times that she chose this specialty due to developing a passion for her mother tongue, in addition to her belief in the importance of teaching it in a modern way that would attract the attention of younger generations.

“My aim is to use the modern approaches in teaching Arabic language to non-native speakers, especially with the existence of technology,” Qasem noted.

“I study Arabic because it is the language of my ancestors and it allows me to understand the culture and literature of the Arab world more deeply. It is simply something that I profoundly enjoy,” Odette Yidi, an Arabic language student who lives in Colombia told The Jordan Times on Saturday.

What makes Arabic a special language is that it is “simply poetic and expressive”, in addition to being rich in idioms, Najeeb Chlela, an Arabic language student from Lebanon told The Jordan Times.