Why the Split Between Classical and Everyday Arabic Endures
If Arabs want a true lingua franca, they must ease the rigid boundaries they’ve set up between the local dialects and the formal language.
A Form of Yemeni Poetry Thrives in Defiance of War
At a Cairo conference this month, scholars began the process of listing a form of traditional Yemeni poetry on the Unesco register of Intangible Cultural Heritage to help make sure that it endures.
Artificial Intelligence Helps Computers Leap Forward in Reading Arabic
New projects use artificial intelligence to read Arabic publications of all kinds, opening up the possibility that local, print-only archives could be transformed into widely-available, searchable online resources.
Finding the Words: Arab Writers on Queer and Feminist Expression
At a London literary event, an array of Arab authors discuss the hurdles that cultures, publishers, and even the Arabic language itself can present.
A New Certificate Measures Arabic Language Proficiency
A Paris-based organization provides the certificate, which is based on a widely used standard for measuring levels of proficiency in many languages.
Ancient Cousins of Arabic Survive in Oman—but for How Long?
A chance meeting with a speaker of Shahri shines light on the value of indigenous languages and the wealth of cultural knowledge and history they embody.
Notable Books of 2018 From and About the Arab World
A sampling of scholarly and literary works and translations that offer new perspectives on the region.
A Musical Approach to Teaching Arabic
An Egyptian academic uses songs to help non-native speakers learn Arabic and help attract foreign students to his country.
Teaching My Son Arabic: Balancing Love and Grammar
A second-generation Lebanese American mastered classical and colloquial Arabic as an adult. He wants his son also to have access to the world the language opened for him.
A Website Seeks to Show ‘How Alive Arabic Is’
Hossam Abouzahr argues that Classical and Colloquial Arabic should be used and studied “side by side.”
