Stop apologising for your Arabic: Linguists demand end to dialect discrimination

From ancient poetry to modern content creators, experts trace how dialects and classical Arabic complete each other

Arabic language education needs to be more accessible and immersive, say linguists. Getty Images

Arabic dialects have long carried a stigma and been dismissed as slang, but linguists are calling for them to be viewed as a source of pride.

On the closing day of the International Congress of Arabic and Creative Industries in Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena on Monday, cultural leaders made a plea for change, insisting dialects are a vital part of Arabic's future.

Ali Bin Tamim, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, rejected the common perception, shared in academic and business circles, of dialects as inferior forms of Arabic.

“We wasted a lot of effort because we did not understand that the relationship between dialects and classical Arabic is that they complete one another and they are a natural extension,” he said. “We cannot consider dialects as slang, because slang is a behaviour, not communication.”

Regional dialects, he contends, spring from a rich history of classical Arabic poetry.

“It has always been connected to the educated or the most knowledgeable part of society. You can also trace dialects through poetry, which is one of the authentic arts of the Arabs. For example, in the UAE it goes back more than 350 years alone through the work of the 16th century Nabati poet Majid bin Dhaher,” he said.

“Meanwhile, the Egyptian dialect has been going on for more than 600 years, as have the dialects of the Levant and [in what is now the Saudi regions] of Hijaz and Najd. They express their ancient heritage accurately and cannot be belittled.”

Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre chairman Ali Bin Tamim describes UAE dialect as part of Arabic's heritage. Photo: Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre

Hanada Taha, professor of Arabic language at Zayed University, said the growing gap between the appreciation of Arabic dialects and the classical form reflects a broader regional issue over how the language is taught.

“Children are in private schools that teach everything in English and teach Arabic in a single lesson – barely 45 minutes per day,” she said.

“That is not enough. We need to be immersed in Arabic. Arabic does not come to you by barely learning it. Especially classical Arabic. Quality is important, yes, but so is quantity.”

That imbalance, she says, could cause insecurity in future generations of Arabic speakers.

“There is this constant apology,” she said. “Even yesterday, someone said, 'By the way, I don't speak good Arabic because all my work is in English.' Come on. We should reach a day where we don't have to present such a disclaimer before we talk.”

Meanwhile, Marwa Khost, consumer communications lead at Google Mena, says Arabic language education should prioritise flexibility rather than perfection.

“One school of thought says don't speak classical Arabic unless you master it. What does that mean? If I say something in dialect, they tell me: 'Shame on you.' As if language must be perfect, black or white. No – it's a mix,” she said.

“According to context, I may speak classical Arabic, or a dialect, or even mix in English for a technical term. This is not sudden. It comes from society and from schooling. I remember in school my biggest concern was parsing grammar.

“But now we need to make the teaching of the language more accessible to children. That's what motivates children and they will feel achievement when they can naturally blend classical Arabic and dialects together.”

As for the Arabic language's global trajectory, Bin Tamim believes the future is bright.

“Studies show by 2050 there will be more than 750 million Arabic speakers,” he said. “I think Arabic's future is strong and secure and any claims that Arabic will be replaced in the region by another language are based on ignorance.”

Khost echoed this optimism, citing her own work at Google and pointing to recent cultural shifts.

“Content creators are speaking classical Arabic and exploring the roots of words, and young audiences are engaging,” she says. “Non-native speakers are also eager to learn Arabic.

“For me, Arabic is the most beautiful language sonically. Even without looking at grammar and roots, just listening – it is music. It is alive and it will stay alive, and dialects are part of its music.”