SECOND ARABIC LANGUGAGE FORUM SET TO ADDRESS CHILDREN’S LINGUISTIC CHALLENGES
The second Renaissance of Arabic Language Forum will be held at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) from 20th to 21st January 2016.
The conference, entitled ‘Linguistic Upbringing of The Arab Child – The Reality and Prospects for the Future’, is set to be hosted by the World Organization for Renaissance of Arabic Language (WORAL), a member of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), and aims to foster a progressive society that is appreciative of its culture, while promoting the Arabic language. The conference will be held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of QF.
The forum will seek to raise awareness and promote children’s acquisition of the Arabic language, as well as explore the factors affecting their linguistic learning abilities.
Discussions will focus on the need to promote Arabic media content on the proper use of the language and engage parents as active agents in their children’s education and development. Dr Ali Al Kubaisi, Director General of WORAL, commented on the conference, saying: “The second forum aims to support and promote the Arabic language to children for several important reasons including the ability to teach, learn, and preserve.”
“Family plays a vital role in creating generations proficient in the language, and who are proud of their heritage. Parents should educate their children about the modernisation of the Arabic language and encourage Arabic content in traditional media and social media.”
Expecting to attract between 250-300 professors, researchers and teachers from around the region, the conference will consist of lectures, panel discussions, and seminars run by experts and prominent researchers in the Arabic language and education field.
Guest speakers attending include: Dr Abdullah Al Danan, a renowned linguistic expert and inventor of the theory ‘Natural Teaching Method of Classic Arabic Language’; Dr Abdul Salam Masdi, a Member of the Board of Trustees of WORAL; Professor Bashir al-Obeidi, President of the European Observatory; Ali Al Rais, Director General of the Joint Production Program for the Arab Gulf States Cooperation Council; Dr Abdul Rahman Bodra Professor of the Arabic language at Abdelmalek Essaâdi University in Morocco; Dr Ahmed Darwish, Professor of Comparative Rhetoric at Cairo University; Professor Sawsan Makni, Director of Academic Programs at the Future Institute in Paris; Dr Aze-Eddine Bouchikhi, Head of Linguistics and Arabic Lexicography Program at Doha Institute for Graduate Studies; Ms. Shaima Al Bishtawi founder of Al Hudhud Company for creative content for children, and Mr. Ibragim Sanad, a creative writer for children.
The Arabic language is the fourth most widely-spoken language in the world, after Mandarin, Spanish and English. However, it suffers from several challenges, including the influence of colloquial Arabic. Other issues include the coining of words to keep up with the technological developments that require new vocabulary, and the influence of foreign terms, particularly English, as a result of the internet and globalisation.
WORAL enhances the cultural and educational aspects of community development through the teaching and learning of the Arabic language, encouraging new research, supporting translation to and from English, and the Arabisation of technical, technological, and scientific terms.
FAQs