A child learning to write in Arabic. (Photo: Antonie Robertson/The National)
A child learning to write in Arabic. (Photo: Antonie Robertson/The National)

If we want to keep Arabic alive, don’t blame English



I grew up reading Nabil Farouk’s Rewayat Masreyya Lel Geb (Egyptian Pocket Novels), particularly Ragol Al Mostaheel (The Man of the Impossible, the Egyptian version of James Bond) and Malaf Al Mostakbal (The Future File, a science fiction series) published in Arabic by the Modern Arab Association.

Such series were very popular in the region during the 1980s and 1990s. I can fairly say that those books contributed greatly not only to my love of reading, but also to my Arabic language development. I still remember my indulgence in these fictional worlds and fictional characters, which introduced me to many words and phrases that I would not have learnt outside these books.

Unfortunately, such options don’t seem to be available for children nowadays. The limited choices of Arabic books for young people, particularly in genres like fantasy and science fiction, was discussed during the 2015 Emirates Airline Festival of Literature last week.

Noura Al Noman, an Emirati science fiction writer of Ajwan and its sequel Mandaan, expressed her disappointment at the situation. She told the audience that she was motivated to write novels after she was unable to find young adult science fiction in Arabic for her daughters to read. She noted that the number of Arabic teenage fiction books in all genres is very small, not only in science fiction, and encouraged authors to target this particular age group.

Another important point that should be discussed is that the available Arabic fiction has not caught up with the latest technological advances, including audiobooks and podcasts.

But even if more books were available in Arabic, there are no guarantees that young people would actually read or listen to them, especially with the great level of competition in the market?

These days, there are many other entertaining options for young people, including TV shows, video games and the internet. Most of the best content in these is in English.

Children are nowadays exposed to English content in far more fun and interesting ways in both physical and social-media environments. In these circumstances, it’s not surprising that children have no strong motivation to learn Arabic.

Take video games, for example, which are very popular among young people in the UAE and elsewhere. Children spend substantial amounts of time on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, Wii and computer gaming. Younger kids also spend a long time on gaming applications on their iPads and other tablets. But how many of those video games and applications support the Arabic language?

Another important example is TV shows. In my view, the Arabic TV series, particularly the Khaleeji ones, focus mostly on social drama, discussing the same issues over and over again. It’s no wonder English TV series are more popular in the region. They provide a variety of genres and present a range of stories in a more realistic and engaging way. Not to mention the quality of production.

English language films (particularly from Hollywood) are also more popular, not only here in the UAE, but worldwide. However, in some countries including France and Germany, these movies are available in the local language. So people go to the cinema and watch them dubbed into their own language.

Furthermore, English is the dominant language online; more than half of the internet’s content is in the English language. Arabic content does not exceed 3 per cent of the total.

We need to keep all these factors in mind when we discuss the weakening role of the Arabic language.

In a special report by The National, experts said that Arabic was at risk of becoming a foreign language in the UAE, where many pupils complete their education with poor speaking and writing skills.

The report focused on the role of education institutions in addressing the issue.

Indeed, there is an urgent need to address Arabic pedagogy issues. School curriculums need to catch up with sophisticated language learning techniques.

There is also a need to improve the quality of Arabic teachers and work on finding and producing a wide-range of interesting learning resources for students.

While the debate mostly focuses on how the language is being taught in schools, there is also a need to make learning Arabic relevant in young people’s daily lives. Also, we must stop blaming the English language, because doing so will only distract us from focusing on improving the Arabic content.

aalmazrouei@thenational.ae

@AyeshaAlmazroui

If you go
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When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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Dias Karmanov (KAZ) beat Mabrook Rasea (YEM) by points 2-1.

Male 54kg Round 1

Yelaman Sayassatov (KAZ) beat Chen Huang (TPE) TKO Round 1; Huynh Hoang Phi (VIE) beat Fahad Anakkayi (IND) RSC Round 2; ​​​​​​​Qais Al Jamal (JOR) beat Man Long Ng (MAC) by points 3-0; ​​​​​​​Ayad Albadr (IRQ) beat Yashar Yazdani (IRI) by points 2-1.

Male 57kg Round 1

Natthawat Suzikong (THA) beat Abdallah Ondash (LBN) by points 3-0; Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Ahmed Al Jubainawi (IRQ) by points 2-1; Hamed Almatari (YEM) beat Nasser Al Rugheeb (KUW) by points 3-0; Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) beat Yu Xi Chen (TPE) by points 3-0.

Men 86kg Round 1

Ahmad Bahman (UAE) beat Mohammad Al Khatib (PAL) by points 2-1

​​​​​​​Men 63.5kg Round 1

Noureddin Samir (UAE) beat Polash Chakma (BAN) RSC Round 1.

Female 45kg quarter finals

Narges Mohammadpour (IRI) beat Yuen Wai Chan (HKG) by points.

Female 48kg quarter finals

Szi Ki Wong (HKG) beat Dimple Vaishnav (IND) RSC round 2; Thanawan Thongduang (THA) beat Nastaran Soori (IRI) by points; Shabnam Hussain Zada (AFG) beat Tzu Ching Lin (TPE) by points.

Female 57kg quarter finals

Nguyen Thi Nguyet (VIE) beat Anisha Shetty (IND) by points 2-1; Areeya Sahot (THA) beat Dana Al Mayyal (KUW) RSC Round 1; Sara Idriss (LBN) beat Ching Yee Tsang (HKG) by points 3-0.

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Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
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Fixtures

Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE

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The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.

It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.

The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.

Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”

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Junichiro
Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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TV: Abu Dhabi Sports

Pakistan squad

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Tree of Hell

Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla

Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Company%20profile
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Rating: 3/5

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Director:
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Starring: Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, John Paul Gaultier, Rihanna
Three stars

The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
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Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cargoz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Premlal%20Pullisserry%20and%20Lijo%20Antony%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns 

- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;

- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,

- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.

SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now

INDIA SQUAD

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Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.

Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.

The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.

One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.

That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

Results

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m; Winner: Gurm, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Al Nafece, Al Muatasm Al Balushi, Mohammed Ramadan

6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Adrie de Vries, Ibrahim Aseel

6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Ottoman, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi

7pm: Liwa Oasis – Group 2 (PA) 300,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Hakeemat Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ganbaru, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

MATCH INFO

Barcelona 5 (Lenglet 2', Vidal 29', Messi 34', 75', Suarez 77')

Valladolid 1 (Kiko 15')

The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now