Sheikha Moza inaugurates forum on advancement of Arabic language

HH Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser, the Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), has patronized the inauguration of the forum on the advancement of Arabic language at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) here early Tuesday morning. HH Sheikha Moza underlined while addressing the opening session of the forum, the challenges currently facing the Arabic language, which require exerting all efforts to overcome them and advance it forward. The revival of Arabic language is inseparable from the nation's revival as it is synonymous with the whole Arab world, which should be free in thought, economically strong, and politically independent, HH Sheikha Moza indicated. HH pointed to the limited budgets collected on an Arab level to fund scientific research programs which do not reach 0.2%, in comparison with the 2% minimum in developed countries, considering the expression of political commitment towards supporting the Arab language to be insufficient on its own. HH Sheikha Moza welcomed all official and academic Arab initiatives and their recommendations, and concurrently called for the importance of placing Arabic language advancement programs through linguistic development, turning the language into a cognitive entity embedded in sustainable development and a language for the sciences capable of staying abreast with higher education outputs and scientific research in a knowledge-oriented society. Stressing the uniqueness of the language's structure and its development's parallelism with a nation of similar characteristics, HH Sheikha Moza called on the researchers and participants attending the forum to identify ideas and procedural visions which contribute towards shifting the Arabic language from mere codification purposes and usage in archives and platforms, to a lively language always memorable with a bountiful cognitive presence, as well as one for applications in laboratories, plants, science, and research. Talk of the Arabic language is original and direct channeling culture and identity while in turn representing a civilized presence for the nation and the language at the same time, H.H. Sheikha Moza remarked adding that language is the withstanding pillar among "Language, Culture, and Identity", which destabilize as an entity upon the collapse of one. The human being in essence is a language, fulfilling oneself while personifying authenticity, approximating ambitions, and facing obstacles in line with protecting "Language, Culture, and Identity", which vanish in his absence and appear in his presence, HH Sheikha Moza explained. HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser said that it's unfair to describe Arabic language as old-fashioned. "As if Arabic language functions on its own regardless of our purposes and actions," HH said, adding that people forget that Arabic language is the object and it's people who don't keep pace and are old-fashioned. HH highlighted the need to work on re-position the Arabic language and bring it back to what it used to be hundreds of years ago; the language of science, literature and acculturation with other civilizations. HH Sheikha Moza noted that, in the past, others used to cite from Arabic works, were influenced by its scientific product , and sought to learn it, expressing regret for the current absence of Arabic language from the field of scientific research in the Arab world, which is witnessing a phase of weakness in writing, publishing and translation. HH stressed the role of educated youth who believe in their identity, in improving the Arab advancement, which subsequently leads to promoting language and pointed to the enthusiasm that everyone immersed in when Arab youth in Arab Spring capitals used standard Arabic as one of the tools. HH Sheikha Moza added that launching the Forum on the Advancement of Arabic Language stemmed from HH's vision to raise questions, while participants use their expertise and knowledge to find approaches that contribute to reviving Arabic language, expressing hopes that the event will come up with proposals for strategic projects and long-term plans that help reviving and advancing Arabic language. Concluding her speech, HH Sheikha Moza stressed her keenness on adopting everything that achieves the goal of advancing Arabic language, warning meantime that any negligence towards it would mean neglecting the Arab nation. A documentary was shown during the ceremony to depict the current status of Arabic and the marginalization and neglect it has been through due to the influence of other languages. The event was attended by a number of Their Excellencies the Sheikhs, ministers, and participants, including heads of Arabic language academies from Arab countries, university professors, in addition to experts in language, media and translation. The recent decree issued by the Supreme Education Council (SEC) stated that Arabic should be the official teaching language of Qatar University , HH discussed the importance of the Arabic language in reinforcing national identity. She encouraged the university to continue to work on advancing the students’ skills in English by offering various programmes for this purpose, and noted that English proficiency should be mandatory upon graduation rather than upon admission.