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.”
An Increasingly Popular Cultural Lens: Arabic Literature
A researcher finds that more professors are teaching Arabic literature in translation, in courses sprinkled around the world. The next step, she says, is for the teachers to learn from each other.
To Sustain Standard Arabic, Invest Early in Grammar
The Arabic used is schools is almost a foreign language to many Arab students, but research suggests ways of teaching it more effectively.
Journalism Schools Need to Modernize; Sociologists Can Help
Arab governments may be more likely to tolerate reporters writing in foreign languages, but more journalists need to write in Arabic.
2017: The Arab World in Books
A sampling of literary and scholarly works from across the region that we have enjoyed over the past year.
Moroccan Academic Plays Matchmaker Between Books and Readers
A retired professor hunts down books published in Morocco and makes them available to a wider audience. His challenges reflect the wider problems of Arab publishing.
