Every year on December 18th, the world celebrates World Arabic Language Day, an occasion established by the United Nations to commemorate the adoption of Arabic as the sixth official language of the international organization in 1973. This occasion highlights one of the pillars of humanity's cultural diversity, as Arabic is spoken by more than 400 million people around the world, and is a liturgical language for more than one and a half billion Muslims, in addition to being a vessel for an ancient civilization that contributed to the transmission of sciences and knowledge to the Western world for centuries.
Amid this international celebration, a pressing question arises regarding the state of the Arabic language in local communities and the contemporary challenges it faces. A field survey conducted by Al-Youm newspaper revealed growing societal concern about the encroachment of foreign languages, particularly English, on the national language in the public sphere and the job market, threatening to weaken the connection to cultural identity among rising generations.
Identity conflict and the demands of globalization
The survey revealed a consensus among citizens and residents that Arabic is not merely a means of communication, but rather an "identity" and a fundamental pillar of cultural stability. In this context, Ahmed Al-Shehri, an English teacher, remarked, somewhat paradoxically, that learning foreign languages to keep pace with technological and scientific advancements should not undermine the mother tongue. Al-Shehri described Arabic as a vital necessity, akin to food and drink, emphasizing that global openness does not mean abandoning one's roots.
For his part, Ahmed Abdelbaset warned against the absolute dominance of foreign languages in the financial and business sectors, pointing out that the biggest challenge lies in the fact that "business" language has become entirely dependent on Western terminology. He called for the enactment of legislation mandating the use of Arabic in markets and commercial correspondence, with the possibility of employing translators for international communication, to ensure that Arab identity is not eroded amidst daily transactions.
Between societal negligence and official responsibility
The survey participants recalled the literary heritage of the language, with teacher Haitham Shehab El-Din invoking Hafez Ibrahim’s famous poem in which he laments the fate of the Arabic language among its people, stressing that the Arabic language possesses flexibility and a superior ability to absorb modern scientific achievements, and that the shortcoming lies with the people of the language who have retreated from using it on social media platforms and new media.
In a related context, Yazid Kamal Al-Khayyat pointed out that preserving the Holy Quran remains the divine guarantee for the survival of the Arabic language, but he cautioned that practical realities present challenges that require a conscious approach. He called for activating the role of mosques, families, and schools in proper linguistic development to foster pride in the Arabic language.
Calls to enhance the visual presence of the language
Talal Al-Adilani, one of the participants, did not hide his lack of prior knowledge of the event's date, which he considered an indication of weak local marketing for these international days. Al-Adilani called for a greater visual presence of the Arabic language in the streets, on signs, and in the names of shops, which have increasingly adopted foreign names. He emphasized that language is like clothing that distinguishes nations, and that restoring its prestige requires concerted societal and official efforts, starting with legislation and extending to daily practices.
