Learning to write and speak Arabic is very rewarding

Readers discuss Arabic reading. Other topics: Indian currency, Jordan and money

Learning Arabic is a worthwhile activity for everyone, readers say. Fatima Al Marzooqi / The National

Thank you for your online guide, Arabic Language Day: Learn your alifs, baas and taas (December 18).

I feel so ashamed for not being able to speak Arabic even though I’ve lived in the UAE for almost eight years.

This is a great initiative. I wish there were English subtitles on Arabic television for the purpose of learning.

You can learn a lot from movies and TV shows. More initiatives like this would be welcome.

S Gartvigsen, Dubai

I have lived in the UAE for 30-plus years and I am still struggling to learn Arabic.

Why? Because when native speakers realise that I am not an Arab, they start to speak in English.

Name withheld by request

I learnt some Arabic in 1980, then I started to learn again in 2004, at the age of 47.

My first Arab teacher was a Syrian, and I later had Moroccan, Tunisian and Egyptian teachers. I am so glad to have learnt the language as I am now able to talk to Arabic-speaking migrants in my home country.

Ingrid Zirpel, Germany

I still remember my Arabic words and the lessons we were taught in school. It is a very beautiful language to speak and to write.

Kalpana Rajusth, Mumbai

Girl’s death was a real tragedy

I was saddened by your report, Emirati family mourns for 'sweet, smiling and loving' daughter crushed by iron gate (December 19).

This is an extremely tragic event. It must be devastating for the family to have lost their beautiful daughter who had her entire life ahead of her.

I sincerely hope that no other parent has to endure the pain of losing their beloved child.

Fatima Suhail, Sharjah

Many young children play unsupervised in their gardens. I would be asking questions about the gate’s ­installation.

Belinda Wallington, Dubai

Doubts about demonetisation

I am writing in reference to Kapil Komireddi's opinion article, Modi is an unstoppable force – and that's India's great modern tragedy, (December 18).

Komireddi has done well to underscore the need for debate and even dissent in a democratic country such as India before vital decisions are taken or implemented.

It is increasingly evident that most of the illicit money in India was laundered or converted into assets such as gold within a few weeks of the demonetisation announcement in early November. However, small-factory workers and other low-wage earners have lost their jobs en masse.

The demonetisation decision had not been thought through, and it has caused immense and unprecedented hardship for the entire nation.

Unfortunately, the basic reason for demonetisation – that is, flushing out illicit money – has been whittled away in the process.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai

The writer of the article appears to be living in the long-dead global dream of utopian socialism.

The narrative painted by the governing party in India is looking to drive transformation.

India’s painfully slow progress in contrast with other large economies is due to this overly subservient mindset of worship of democracy.

Transformative change is painful and it hurts large segments of society. Komireddi fails to mention the pain that citizens of Europe faced for six to eight months during its currency transformation.

Name withheld by request

Terror strikes in a peaceful land

The incident described in ­Gunmen kill seven people – including a tourist and two civilians – in southern Jordan (December 19) was tragic.

This kind of thing used to be unheard of in a country as peaceful as Jordan.

It’s heartbreaking that innocent civilians lost their lives in this act of violence.

Name withheld by request

Extradition may not be worth it

I am writing in reference to UAE legal Q&As: Can I be extradited to UAE over unpaid credit card debt? ­(December 18)

It probably depends on the amount involved, because extradition is expensive.

H Horsfall, Dubai