University of Birmingham

Department of Modern Languages

Arabic Section

Sponsored by the British Academy

Narrating and Translating Rape/ Violence in Wartime: The Role of Language(s)

Dates: Thursday 9^th  and Friday 10^th  October 2014

Location: University of Birmingham, School of Arts and Music, Department of Modern Languages, Arabic Section, Birmingham B15 2TT

All enquiries to: Dr. Anissa Daoudi, Modern Languages, Arabic Section

a.daoudi@bham.ac.uk

Narrating and Translating Rape/ Violence in Wartime: The Role of Language(s)

Breakdown of the two days:

Day One
09:30 – 10:00	Arrival and Registration
10:00 – 10:15	Welcome
10:15 – 11:00	Keynote speech
11:00 – 11:30	Break
11:30 – 13:00	Panel One
13:00 – 14:00	Lunch
14:00 – 16:00	Panel Two
16:00 – 16:30	Break
16:30 – 17:30	Book Readings from Arabic Literature: -         Fadhila al Farouq - Ta’a al Khajal  تاء الخجل -         Inam Bioud -  Assamek la yubali السمك لا يبالي
17:30 –	Dinner at Winterbourne House, University of Birmingham

Day One

Keynote Speech - Prof Karima Bennoune

Prof.  Karima Bennoune is a professor of international law at the University of California – Davis School of Law.

Panel One – Narrating Rape in Algeria in the 1990’s

Ms. Wassyla Tamzali

Algerian writer, a former lawyer and head of women’s rights at UNESCO

La violence contre les femmes entre le discours religieux et les politiques familiales dans les pays dits musulmans.

Ms. Bedjaoui Meriam (University of Algiers):

Readings in Maissa Bay’s work about rape in the 1990’s

Ms. Rym Ouartsi (Kings College London):

Surveying language, gender and violence through La Harem de Madame Osmane, Rachida, and Barakat!

Panel Two – Sexual Violence and the Arab Spring

Prof. Scott Lucas (University of Birmingham):

The Propaganda of Violence in the Syrian Conflict

Ms. Balsam Awni (University of Birmingham):

Translating Jihad Al Nikah in Syria and Iraq: a Linguistic interpretations of Jihad Al Nikah and Al Sabi

Ms. Sahar Mediha Al-Naas (University of Exeter):

Sexual Violence and the Exclusion of Women in the New Gendered Libyan State

Mr. Muman Saleh (University of Birmingham):

Rape in the Libyan Arab Spring: cases of silences

Readings From Arabic Literature: Facets of Rape in the 1990’s

1.     Ms. Fadhila al Farouq: Reading from Ta’a al Khajal  تاء الخجل

2.     Ms Inam Bioud: Reading from Assamek la yubali السمك لا يبالي

Dinner at Winterbourne House, Birmingham University

Day Two
09:30 – 10:15	Keynote Speech
10:15 – 10:30	Break
10:30 – 12:00	Panel One
12:00 – 13:00	Round Table Discussion
13:00 – 14:00	Lunch

Keynote Speech - Prof Amel Grami

Panel One – Gender and War

Ms. Imen Coso Ayari (Essex University): 

Silencing women/rape and sexual violence as a systematic weapon of war

Ms. Elham Manea (Zurich University):

The Arab Uprisings and Transitional Justice from a Gender Perspectives

Round Table Discussion

Chair:

Prof. Zahia Salhi (Manchester University)

Discussants:

Dr. Berny Sebe (University of Birmingham)

Dr. Anissa Daoudi (University of Birmingham)

Prof. Mohamed Salah Omri (Oxford University)

المسار العربي

اللغة العربية وتحديات التكنولوجيا الحديثة على مستوى الانترنت
حجم الخط:
المسار العربي / أيت عمار محمد 21/12/2010 00:26:00


بدعوة من مركز الدراسات المتقدمة للعالم العربي بجامعة درهم Durham البريطانية ومؤسسة التميمي للبحث العلمي والمعلومات بتونس، تم أيام 9 و 10 و 11 ديسمبر 2010 عقد المؤتمر الثاني والثلاثين لمنتدى الفكر المعاصر حول اللغة العربية وتحديات التكنولوجيا الحديثة على مستوى الانترنت.

وقد تم افتتاح المؤتمر بكلمة الأستاذ عبد الجليل التميمي بالعربية ثم كلمة د. أنيسة داودي من مركز الدراسات المتقدمة للعالم العربي بالانجليزية ثم كلمة سفير المملكة المتحدة المستعرب كريستوفر اكنور Christopher O’Cnonner ، والتي ألقاها بالعربية تقديرا منه لهذا الجمع من الأساتذة والخبراء المتخصصين والذين وفدوا من الدول التالية : الأردن، الإمارات العربية المتحدة، بريطانيا، تونس، الجزائر، روسيا، سربيا، قطر، المغرب الأقصى، فرنسا، مصر والمملكة العربية السعودية. وقد حضر افتتاح المؤتمر الباحث والخبير الثقافي السيد أنور حبيبي من رابطة الثقافة والعلاقات الإسلامية الإيرانية، وكان الحضور مكثفا من عدد من وسائل الإعلام المحلية والعربية.

وفي الكلمة التي ألقاها الأستاذ عبد الجليل التميمي، أكد على أن اللغة العربية تعد اليوم من أقدم اللغات الكونية وخامس لغة من حيث عدد مستعمليها وأنها صمدت أمام كل الأزمات والحملات التشويهية والتضليلية ومختلف التحديات. واليوم فان الجميع مدعوون لوضع مشروع النهوض بلغة الضاد في العصر الرقمي ثم دراسة الواقع اللساني وتفاعله مع مختلف الفنيات التعبيرية الجديدة وإثراء المحتوى الفني وكيفية معالجة واقع الترجمة الآلية وتطويع واختراع واشتقاق المصطلحات الفنية التي تمدنا بها المختبرات الدولية تباعا ويوميا.

أما د. أنيسة داودي فقد أكدت على أن هذا المؤتمر عالج موضوعا حساسا جدا لمس جوانب عديدة لطبيعة التحديات التكنولوجية التي تواجهها اللغة العربية اليوم، وانه نظار لمشاركة كوكبة من الخبراء من بريطانيا وفرنسا والعديد من الدول العربية مغربا ومشرقا، فالمؤمل أن يتم معالجة مثل هذه المشاكل وان نخرج بتبني مشروع جديد لهذا الغرض.

أما سفير المملكة المتحدة، الذي ذكر بأنه تعلم لغة الضاد بجامعة درهم، فقد أكد أن لها تاريخا مجيدا وهي اليوم من أكثر اللغات انتشارا في العالم وانه لا مفر من انتشارها على مستوى النت وانه يفضل تجنب الاحتكار اللغوي الذي من شانه استبعاد البعض من الوصول إلى المعلومة وتوصيلها إلى اكبر عدد من سكان العالم. وأكد أن معظم المؤسسات الدولية أصبحت تخصص أقساما للغة الضاد وان قناة البي بي سي البريطانية توفر كل المعلومات بالعربية على موقعها الالكتروني.

وخلال ثماني جلسات علمية قدمت 22 محاضرة كانت أولاها محاضرة مفتاحية تناولت وبعمق عديد الإشكاليات الدقيقة التي تجابهها لغة الضاد. ونظرا لكثافة الأطروحات والمقاربات، فإننا نوجزها في المسائل التالية :

- اللغة العربية تعد مكونا ووسيطا أساسيين لنقل المحمول الثقافي والحضاري بما يوفر للإنسانية عطاءات مهمة جدا، والعناية بما تساهم في تجاوز الفجوات الرقمية والاندماج في المحيط الجغراسياسي والاقتصادي لمجتمع المعلومات.

- رسم خارطة واقع العربية في الزمن الرقمي، يكشف عن ضعف المحتوى الرقمي وعدم اكتمال البنى التحتية للغة وتتعرض اللغة العربية لمعوقات عالمية ناجمة عن هجوم الثقافات والعلوم التطبيقية المعولمة، ولكي تفرض العربية نفسها على الساحة العالمية لابد من إدخالها في المجالات الرقمية واستيعاب الحداثة.

- اللغة العربية تواجه تحديا جديدا يتمثل في استعمال اللغة المحكية للتواصل وهذا الميدان يتصف بتقنيات متطورة وهي تعاني تشويها إملائيا ونحويا ربما يجعلها في المستقبل تترسخ وتحل محل الصيغة الكتابية للكلمات ذاتها في العربية الفصيحة.

- ظاهرة التحولات في الكتابة العربية التي فرضتها الحاجة للتواصل عبر المواقع الالكترونية الاجتماعية، مثل كتابة العربية بالحروف اللاتينية، والكتابة باللغة العامية، واللهجات المحلية، مع ما نتج عن ذلك من ظواهر كتابية جديدة وحروف بديلة في حال عدم مقدرة الحروف المعروفة على مواكبة المتطلبات، والبحث عن أسهل الطرق لإيصال الرسالة للمتلقي بأسرع ما يمكن.

- أزمة الترجمة لها علاقة مباشرة بوضعية اللغة العربية وهي ناتجة عن هيمنة اللغات الأجنبية وقد أدت إلى تدني جودة الترجمات الحاصلة اليوم في فضاءاتنا العربية.

- اللغة العربية تمتلك القدرة على احتواء وهضم المفردات العلمية والتقنية بما في ذلك تعابير الشبكة العنكبوتية، وتتمتع ببنية واليات قل وندر أن تتوفر في لغة أخرى.

- اللغة العربية المنطوقة تكرس في الفضاء الرقمي، وعلى نطاق التداول اليومي في الشبكة، وهي تكرس جانبا مهما من الاقتصاد اللغوي، الذي امتد بأشكاله الرقمية، نحو تغيير اللغة ودعم ما يسمى بالجوانب الصامتة منها وبألوان تستجيب كما وكيفا لطاقات التواصل الرقمي في هذا العصر.

- الدعوة إلى مراجعة المناهج والنظريات الملائمة للواقع الرقمي وذلك في ميادين الإنسانيات والعلوم الاجتماعية.

- يعد تحول المحادثة الشفهية إلى الفضاء الافتراضي، واحدا من تحولات الفهم الجديد للظاهرة اللغوية، حيث تحول المنطق الدلالي من خلال ثورة الكتابة الرقمية، نحو ايقنة الفعل والكينونة خلال اطر تلفظية جديدة.

- مواقف المعلمين من حوسبة منهاج اللغة العربية (مدارس ومعاهد الأردن نموذجا) حيث تطرقت الدراسة إلى التعرف على اتجاهات المستخدمين نحو حوسبة منهاج اللغة العربية وذلك من خلال الدراسة الميدانية على مجتمع الدراسة من خلال اخذ عينات وتوزيع استبيانات تحتوي على مجموعة من الأسئلة وأبرزت الدراسة عديد الحقائق المغيبة.

- التطعيم الإيقاعي في المخبر تطلب تكوين مجموعة من الباحثين من اختصاصات متنوعة كاللسانيات والموسيقى والنقد الأدبي وعلم النفس والتحليل الإعلامي ولم يتم ذلك إلا باستعمال آلات مختصة مثل الكمبيوتر وجهاز قيم الإيقاع الموسيقي. ومن شان الإمكانيات التي تقدمها التكنولوجيا الحديثة فتح آفاق جديدة للبحث في ميدان ما تزال التجارب فيه متواضعة.

- الدارس لأقطار العالم العربي في المشرق والمغرب يجد وضع اللغة العربية الفصحى غير سليم عند المتعلمين وحتى الجامعيين والمثقفين ورغم عمومية المشكل، فان هناك اختلافات في معالم هذا المشكل بين المشرق والمغرب العربيين.

- من اجل تطوير اللغة العربية الفصحى والتي هي بمثابة المصدر المعلوماتي فانه من الأفضل أن يتم الاهتمام بالجزء اللغوي في البرامج الموجودة في عصرنا الحاضر، إذ بدأت منذ عشر سنوات المرحلة الجديدة في تاريخ اللغة العربية وهي المرحلة المعلوماتية.

- التأكيد على أن اللغة العربية أساس الثقافة العربية وعمادها، وبالتالي ينبغي أن يكون لمعالجة أوضاعها واتخاذ القرارات الكفيلة بالحفاظ عليها وتطويرها وتحقيق استخدامها الشامل وغرس الاعتزاز بها في صدارة الاهتمامات الوطنية والقومية وخاصة في القمة الثقافية المرتقبة.

- التأكيد على أن قضية اللغة العربية في كامل أرجاء الوطن العربي قضية امن قومي، وان التسيب الذي يتسم به التعامل معها في جل الأقطار العربية مهدد بهذا الأمن القومي.

- دعوة الدول العربية والمنظمات القومية إلى سن تشريع لغوي ملزم ووضع مخططات لغوية يعطي الصدارة للغة العربية، باعتبارها لغة الهوية والحضارة والتنمية والأمن القومي، وينظم علاقاتها باللغات الأخرى التي ينبغي أن تبقى لغات أجنبية غير مهيمنة على العربية.

- ترسيخ الاعتزاز باللغة العربية في نفوس عموم المواطنين وذلك باستخدام مختلف الرسائل والأساليب العصرية وفي إطار اقتناع الحكومات والمجتمع المدني بهذه اللغة.

وقد خصص المشاركون جلسة حوار مفتوح تناولت عددا متزايدا من المسائل ذات العلاقة المباشرة بالانترنت
أما الحوار الذي دار بين المشاركين فقد اكتسى أهمية علمية وكان واقعا وحقيقة حوارا ثريا جدا تقاطعت وتكاملت فيه آراء واستشرافات المشاركين بكل حرية تعبير وساد الانسجام والتوافق واحترام الآراء بين كل المشاركين، كما يرفع المشاركون تقديرهم العالي إلى المستعرب السفير المملكة بتونس الذي احتفى بالمشاركين شانه في ذلك شان مديرة القنصلية البريطانية التي باركت مبادرة عقد المؤتمر.

وفي هذا الإطار فان المشاركين ليشعرون بالامتنان للفرصة الثمينة التي أتيحت لهم للتعرف على تونس والإمكانيات العلمية التي تتمتع بها من خلال تفعيل مؤسسات البحث العلمي الأكاديمية غير الحكومية لتقدم المعرفة والبحث العلمي، والعمل على عقلنة المشاريع العلمية ومعالجة العديد من الملفات مع عدد من المؤسسات العلمية العربية والدولية، وان الشراكة العلمية التي أنجزت اليوم بين مركز الدرايات المتقدمة للعالم العربي بجامعة درهم البريطانية والمؤسسة لدليل جديد على تواصلها العربي والعلمي.

وقد عزز المؤتمر برصيد مهم جدا من الأفكار والمشاريع والتحاليل ذات النفس الاجتهادي لمعالجة مشاكل لغة الضاد وما تواجهه من تحديات تكنولوجية عديدة وقد تم التوقف مليا حول عديد المسائل والإشكاليات البحثية الساخنة خلص المشاركون بعد مناقشتها بهدوء وفعالية إلى أن وضع اللغة العربية لا يحسد عليه وان الانترنت فرضت علينا واقعا جديدا يجب تداوله قبل أن تفرض عليه حلولا لا تمت لقناعاتنا وثوابتنا بصلة، وهذا ما يدعونا إلى تكثيف مبادرات مثل هذه اللقاءات العلمية الهادفة والغير مسيسة حفاظا ودفاعا على سلامة لغتنا اليوم وغدا.

وفي هذا الإطار يثمن المشاركون عقد هذا المؤتمر الاستثنائي والذي تم انجازه بشراكة علمية نموذجية من قبل مركز الدراسات المتقدمة للعالم العربي ومؤسسة التميمي للبحث العلمي والمعلومات وان د. داودي لترفع شكرها العميق وامتنانها للمؤسسة في شخص د. التميمي لما قام به من جهود قيمة لتنظيم المؤتمر وإنجاحه علميا.

وفي الختام لا يفوت المشاركون بتقديم شكرهم إلى د. أنيسة داودي للحفاوة البالغة بإقامة حفل عشاء على شرف الجميع وان تؤدي د. سلوى حفيظ المتخصصة في تاريخ الموسيقى وتهدي لنا باقة من الأغاني التونسية القديمة والشرقية بصوتها الحنون والمؤثر جدا، وهذا ما أضفى على المؤتمر قيمة جمالية لا تمحى من الذاكرة أبدا.

Another evidence of E-Arabic use

“Er7ol,” by Libyan Poet Giuma BuklebPosted on May 23, 2011
by mlynxqualey| Leave a comment

Giuma Bukleb
I particularly enjoyed the last stanza of Giuma Bukleb’s “Leave,” translated by Libyan poet and short-story writer Ghazi Gheblawi.

حتى الزغاريد، إن وجدت، التي بشّرت بميلادك
خذها وارحل
ودعنا..
Even the ululations, if they exist, that heralded your birth
Take it all with you and leave,
And let us…

'Revolutionary' Chick Lit, Erotic Theology, and the Future of the Saudi Novel

'Revolutionary' Chick Lit, Erotic Theology, and the Future of the Saudi Novel
mlynxqualey | May 9, 2011 at 10:32 am | Categories: Saudi, women | URL: http://wp.me/pHopc-1vr


Raja Alsanea, often praised/blamed for starting it all with her novel Girls of Riyadh.Anglos have long been charged by a belief in Arab (hyper)sexuality. As Edward Said nods at in his pioneering Orientalism, this is in large part because of Anglo (hyper)reserve about s-e-x. Indeed, we might just as well talk about why Anglo writers can't properly describe sex in their novels, and what they might learn from Saudi women.
This is in part because Saudis, Madawi al-Rasheed argues in The New Significance, have a history of healthy sex talk. Reserved Anglo women would be shocked by the talk of (married) Saudi women, she says, as Saudis "go in for elaborate 'sexual' talk."
However, the sex talk doesn't end there. It also, less healthily, extends to strict religious and government regulations. Al-Rasheed cites an elaborate "erotic theology," through which scholars circulate how-to sex manuals and answer sex questions live on television.
And in the last decade, sex talk has found its way into young women's novels.
Yes, the topic has been titillating for Anglo news editors. But also for Arab readers. According to the Oman Tribune, "London-based Saudi writer Zeinab Hifni’s latest novel Wesadat Le Hubbiki or the 'Pillow for Your Love'...is the talk of the [2011 Muscat International Book] fair."
And why not? The novel, published by Al-Saqi, is one of a number of well-known Saudi women's novels that talk about sex, international travel, and shopping. Are these novels revolutionary or reactionary? Are they good literature or neocapitalist fantasy?
Madawi al-Rasheed quotes novelist Badriya al-Bishr as saying that sexual themes in the new Saudi lit are just...sexual themes. Contemporary Arab literature, al-Bishr said, "is saturated with sexual scenes but critics do not concern themselves with this. Only when Saudi women write about sex, they are singled out."
Saudi reporter Sabria Jawhar wrote about the issue in Arabisto last year:
Female authors like Al Bishr and Al Gohani may never cross gender lines and be embraced for their work as writers and not just women. But that matters less than the fact they are reaching a female Saudi audience who may be inspired to reach beyond domestic life for a larger piece of the pie.
Obviously, we've written about this too much already:
The New Saudi Novel (Again): Rebellious Pamphlet or Artistic Revolution?
The ‘Tyranny of Sex’ in the Saudi Novel
Laila al-Othman: Too Much Sex in New Saudi (Women’s) Lit
Although there's probably no harm in this one:
A Primer on Saudi Lit, Abdulrahman Munif to Present

ARABIZI TEASER

Video about Arabizi

http://vimeo.com/1849133

‘Arabizi is destroying the Arabic language’

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article366743.ece

By RENAD GHANEM | ARAB NEWS

Published: Apr 19, 2011 22:25 Updated: Apr 19, 2011 22:25

JEDDAH: Arabizi, a term that describes a system of writing Arabic in English, is now more popular than ever, especially online.

Parents and teachers are becoming more concerned over the popularity of this new trend. Some see it as a threat to the Arabic language.

A non-English speaker does not need to speak the language to communicate with others in Arabizi. Numbers are also mixed in Arabizi to represent some letters in Arabic, such as 2, 5, 6, 7 and 9.

Most Arab Internet users find this way easier than typing in Arabic. Teachers fear that this will weaken their Arabic language ability or even replace the language in the future. Arabic professional professors from the Arab world consider it a war against the Arabic language to make it disappear in the long run.

Miral Dibawy, a 21-year-old university graduate, is using Arabizi because she finds it easier when typing on the Internet and sending text messages. She also admitted that it has weakened her Arabic language ability when it comes to writing.

“I was so addicted to this language when chatting and sending texts to my friends. When it came to my research paper, I was finding it hard to write in Arabic. I had to write it in Arabizi first and then translated it into Arabic,” said Miral.

She confirmed that she tried many times to write in Arabic or English, but she found it was very difficult because she had become dependent on Arabizi.

“When I start writing in Arabic, I found myself committing many mistakes and typos and sometimes had difficulty finding the words I wanted to express my thoughts.” She said that some writers used Arabizi when writing books and Internet blogs.

Dina Jamal, university student, agreed that Arabizi weakens the Arabic language and said she only uses Arabic or English when communicating online.

“I do not care if Arabizi is modern or elegant, all I care about is protecting my mother language,” she said.

She added that it is sad that people ignore Arabic, the best language to express feelings, and use Arabizi instead. She said that it is better to use it sparingly and only online and not make it a language that in the future could replace Arabic.

Ali Nasser is a private company employee who does not think there is a problem using Arabizi. He said that Arabizi is a valid mode of communication inside the company and used when emailing other co-workers.

“For me, it is difficult to express myself in Arabic. I cannot write slang in Arabic because it is difficult, while in Arabizi I can. I do not see any evidence that Arabizi weakens my Arabic. The same could be said about weakening the English language but it is not true. I think people are oversensitive about this issue.”

Taiba Al-Amoudi, a private middle school Arabic teacher, claimed that Arabizi was negatively affecting her students’ command of the language.

“The student started creating words from Arabizi and using it in their daily conversation and this is negatively affect their Arabic language knowledge,” said Al-Amoudi

Hossam Gouda, an Arabic language teacher at a private school in Jeddah, believes that Arabic speakers must use Arabic only, the same rule applying to other languages.

Gouda said that there had been a noticeable decline in the performance of students when it comes to Arabic.

“Using Arabizi has a negative effect on the Arabic language,” he said.

He confirmed that Arabic speakers must protect the language and make it stronger.

“What’s happening is that Arabic speakers are weakening the language by using Arabizi, and destroying it in the process,” he said.

Gouda added that it’s better to use Arabic online for as long as possible to prevent it from disappearing in the long run.

Arabic language day: Qatari style

Arabic language day: Qatari style
Posted in Applied Linguistics,Arabic language,Arabic slang,Arabizi,Linguistic relativity,Sociolinguistics by FFSS on March 16, 2011
Tags: Arabic language, Qatar, Qatar University

Image via Wikipedia
It seems the winter is going slowly and it’s time for those beautiful long walks again, and for those of us who love a challenging walk this is a good time. Though now I’m told the next time I am in Scotland to try the Munro walk, actually I call it a climb, apparently it’s not for the faint hearted so I’ll have a go and see- of course the best part are the breathtaking views. I have three of four posts to put up, of course I could not resist looking at the speeches of Gaddafi and writing about them from a linguist’s point of view (they are quite interesting, and I hope the Libyan people will soon be saved from this situation our prayers are with them).The other one is a review of an unpublished book chapter that I was sent a while ago, and it addresses the effects of the English language on the Arabic language in Gulf schools- anyone interested should read it, well-written, well researched. Thank you and welcome to the new subscribers to the blog, I hope you will get some nice posts in your inbox and that you won’t be disappointed; and thanks to the suggestion that I should blog more often. I will do my best, I can only think of one clichéd excuse ‘there is so much work to do’ and I hate to blog rubbish since I think my readers deserve good things.

Right back to our topic, one that is once again at the heart of Arabizi (Arabizi- How we use Arabic today©2011) the fascination and inquisitiveness into how Arabic native speakers use their language today. Is the suggestion, which often offends natives, that Arabic is dying or being lost by its speakers a true statement or one unfounded? Well to answer that you’ll need to carry out some research but here based on newspaper articles we make an analysis of the state of Arabic language right now, since newspapers reflect some type of reality.

I came across the post below on a Qatari newspaper on the 4th of March 2011, titled: ‘Qatar University holds Arabic language day’. Then it occurred to me that I never quite grasp why it’s important to celebrate one’s language and mark a special day for it, if one uses it every day in all communication?! But then, thinking this idea over and in looking closely at the context, and my own personal experience in travelling extensively in the region- it dawned upon me: the Arabic is never really spoken in public. It does not behave like the official languages in other parts of the world. Arabic in Qatar although the official language, in actual fact is only spoken by a minority, the majority speak English, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Indonesian and I think Thai (I don’t know the exact distributions). The schools do not cater to promote proficiency in the teaching of Arabic, and English is becoming ever more popular as a medium of instruction (I will discuss this in the next few posts when reviewing the book chapter I mentioned above). So the result is that the language is in danger of being lost or shifted or…whatever one wishes to label this process- but one fact is real that it is not as stable as a functioning official language should be, hence the worry. Hence the special language festivals and days to mark and reinforce the importance of the language, I cannot say that this is aimed at the non-native speakers for there is also an absence of well organised institutes that teach Arabic as a second language. And the factors go on and on, I will stop now and let you read the short article pasted without editing and at the bottom some of my thoughts on it:

———————————————————– enjoy!

Qatar University holds Arabic Language Day

DOHA: Qatar University (QU) College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) held its third Arabic Language Day celebration this week, under the theme ‘My Language and the Other.’

The programme included an exhibition of students’ work highlighting excerpts from Dr Al Bastian’s widely-acclaimed publications, poetry recitation, and discussions on issues of Arab and Islamic communities.

QU VP and Chief Academic Officer Dr Sheikha bint Jabor Al Thani gave the opening address in the presence of Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, guest and founder of the Abdul Aziz Al Babtain Prize for Poetic Creativity Dr Abdul Aziz Al Babtain, members of QU leadership, Supreme Council of Education representatives, CAS Dean and faculty, staff, and students.

Dr Al Thani stressed the importance of promoting and celebrating the Arabic language and highlighted QU’s role in doing so.

“This event encourages communication and interaction with other languages and cultures. Our language is deep-rooted in genuine values and sentiments and is the best channel to showcase our ancient and vibrant heritage. It is everyone’s responsibility to honour our language and we have to exert every effort to develop and preserve it,” she said.

She outlined the many programmes that QU offers especially the Arabic for Non-Native Speakers (ANNS) programme which attracts international students, promotes Arab and Islamic culture, and boosts social and cultural openness.

Minister Al Kuwari pointed out the role the ministry plays to promote Arabic and Islamic language and culture.

He thanked QU for its participation in the activities celebrating Doha as the Capital of Arab Culture 2010.

CAS Dean Dr Kassim Shaaban noted that Arabic Language Day was acknowledged by the Arabic Language, Education, Culture, and Science Organisation (ALECSO) to be celebrated throughout the Arab world. He referred to some of the current challenges the language faces in competition with other languages and dialects.

“This however had the effect of increased awareness and interest in the Arabic language in terms of culture, science, and religion,” he said.

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I often talk of the nature of language being more than just words and that seems to be a strong motivation for holding these days/events. Language allows people to understand the culture of the other, for it holds the key to the belief, customs, culture and even way of thinking for the speakers. If the language is lost the culture is lost and it’s as simple as that, I think the more I come across these types of writings the more I am convinced of that fact: language is more than mere words. At least the Qataris are trying to pre-empt the ‘death’ of their language and by default the death of their customs and culture. I am still on this journey of discovery and I hope one day I will understand the reality of language and its indispensible nature for the human being. Please share your views as always thanks for reading!

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Sources:

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/144591-qatar-university-holds-arabic-language-day.

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The power of words: What the ‘revolution’ in Egypt illustrates
Posted in Applied Linguistics,Arabic slang,Arabizi,Linguistic relativity,Linguistics,Sociolinguistics,Some writings by FFSS on February 10, 2011
Tags: Applied Linguistics, Egypt, Egyptians

Image by StartAgain via Flickr
It has been a while since I jotted something down for the blog, wishing you all a wonderful new year both Gregorian or Chinese and I pray that peace comes to all peoples of the earth and that we all live our lives happily. I have a few topics to write about over the next few weeks, today I am revisiting one of my favourite topics (still trying to understand it in its true meaning) the power of language or more precisely the power of words.

As a linguist there is always that need to understand the power of words or the power of how people use language in all spheres of their life, and inevitably the effect of those words. One of the topics I have discussed on this blog time and time again is the fact that language is more than mere words and that these words have far reaching meanings and implications this was done most notably through the ever recurring ‘Sapir-Whorf hypothesis’ posts. In looking at the current events in Egypt (that at times are hard to watch because of the unbelievable violence, and the hurt of looking at such a beautiful country fall apart) one thing is clear language clearly plays a major role.

Dubbed as a revolution, we know that all revolutions whether intentionally organised or spontaneously supported and joined by people, have or move on what is termed as ‘slogans’. Slogans have a few characteristics: they are usually short this ensures that remembering them will not be hard, and depending on the language of the so called slogans they might rhyme, a further aid in helping people remember them. They are words that are repeated again and again to reinforce the feelings and stance(s) of the ‘protesters’ (not sure if that’s the right word- words can be sensitive! If they are called protesters or revolutionists what are the implications??) Slogans were very prominent in the French, Grenadian, Chinese and Russian revolutions, simple words to move the emotions the simple people who wanted more justice in their lives as they saw it at the time (See: The Power of words- Literacy and Revolution in South China 1949-95, by Glen Peterson, 1997). There were three common Bolshevik slogans during the 1917 revolution: 1. Factories for the workers, land for the peasants. 2. All power to the soviets. 3. Bread, and freedom! Short and easy to remember and I am sure even in non-technology days, these words spread fast because of the power of words.

In Egypt they have new simple slogans created at every step through this uprising of theirs, everyday new slogans appear and sometimes more than one in a day. What is amazing is that once it is uttered in Cairo, you find it is also uttered in Alexandria, Suez, Luxor, London, Washington, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, Belgium, Beirut, Amman (I could go on) and even Japan –all in the same Arabic words, in the same tune and vigour. Is that the power of words or what? When looking at these people outside Egypt chanting these slogans one can see their seriousness and earnestness in repeating those words, perhaps it’s the association they attach to the words?! This is something that has intrigued me for days and caused me to write this post, how the whole world has viewed the unfolding of events in Egypt in an unprecedented manner, and at the centre of it all language plays a major and central role (maybe for a linguist that’s the case and for a politics student it isn’t?). It’s almost as if those outside Egypt in their solidarity marches feel as the people feel in Cairo, any new slogan they repeat it, translate it and spread it. This reminds me of the basis of NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) in which language, its repetition and what one associates with those words can help transform a person’s life for the better (maybe a topic for another post).

We cannot ignore the role of technology in all this, it is through the satellite TV stations that (live news coverage) people see the slogans or hear them chanted that they can then re-chant them. I do not think there has been anything like this in the history of popular uprising, revolutions or whatever one wishes to call them, where the words and aspirations of a people uttered in one corner of the earth are reiterated across the globe in the same tune, style and sincerity. I am not a historian (though history interests me) but I cannot remember of ever reading anywhere how the slogans of one group were reiterated and reverberated across the world in this way. In addition to the spoken slogans and the mimicking of those, there is also the power of the written words. Over the past fourteen days some pictures usually with a man or woman or child holding a banner with a message have become iconic in representing the events in Egypt. These same words are then take and re-written across the world by supporters of the people in Egypt, the power we are talking about here is doubly strong: speech and words. This was a short note on how I see language plays a major role or rather a powerful role in events such as these and that what is happening in Egypt is unprecedented on many fronts and one of those is the use of language (intentional or unintentional).

I don’t know how things will end in Egypt (though tonight we are hearing different things?) but I hope that peace and security will be restored in Egypt and that the wonderful kind-hearted Egyptian people will be at peace soon- Allah yahmeeki ya Masr wa yahmee sha3b Masr (May God protect Egypt and its people). Please share your views on this post as always I look forward to them, I am open to suggestions or ideas, and if I have not replied to any recent messages I apologise will do so soon.

Enjoy!

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Sources: Peterson, G (1997) ‘The Power of words- Literacy and Revolution in South China 1949-95’.

Wiki-answers: For Russian and French revolution information (slogans).