The 18th of December every year marks the celebration of the “International Day of the Arabic Language” in Saudi Arabia.
This day coincides with the historic decision taken by the UN General Assembly in 1973. This decision adopted the Arabic language as the sixth official language of the organization.
This decision came after efforts made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other friendly countries for this purpose.
The Ministry of Education celebrates Arabic Language Day
The Saudi Ministry of Education celebrates this day under the slogan: “The contribution of the Arabic language to human civilization and culture.”
The ministry’s efforts to consolidate the status of the Arabic language.
It is noteworthy that the Saudi Ministry of Education contributes to the consolidation of the status of the Arabic language among students at all educational levels.
This stems from the importance of its role in building bridges of communication between cultures and peoples. It also contributes to the development and transmission of knowledge throughout history, and the promotion of dialogue.
The Ministry is also making substantial efforts to serve the Arabic language and enhance its status, through the following initiatives:
- Consolidate reading comprehension skills and Arabic calligraphy in the school curriculum.
- Promoting the use of Arabic in educational facilities as a language of communication between teachers and students.
Encourage students to participate in competitions.
- Encourage scientific translation from foreign languages into Arabic.
- Establishing colleges and departments for the Arabic language in public and private universities.
- Presenting initiatives and programs to teach Arabic to non-native speakers in Saudi schools abroad and education missions in host countries.
- Opening institutes and projects supporting its presence abroad.
- Serving scholarship students, their children, and the Arab and Islamic communities.
- Introduce Arab culture on a global scale.
Encourage schools to celebrate Arabic Language Day.
It should be noted that the Saudi Ministry of Education encourages the participation of its employees in International Arabic Language Day. This isay at the level of schools in the regions and governorates of the Kingdom.
It also makes sure to share food, digital platforms like “My School” and “My Kindergarten”, and educational channels.
The interest of the Ministry of Education in the Arabic language.
It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Education attaches significant importance to the Arabic language, through the implementation of several initiatives at the various educational levels, and among these initiatives:
- Organizing competitions for Arabic calligraphy in schools.
- They are holding workshops to train male and female students in Arabic calligraphy.
- Organizing competitions for students to write letters and thoughts in Arabic.
- Honoring outstanding students in the Arabic language.
- Holding exhibitions of the Arabic language in schools and education departments.
- Holding seminars and lectures at universities.
- Organizing cultural evenings on Arabic poetry and literature.
- Posting a message to the school radio about the importance of the Arabic language.
King Salman International Complex celebrates the International Day of the Arabic Language at UN Headquarters in New York.
The King Salman International Complex for the Arabic Language celebrates International Arabic Language Day 2022, at the UN headquarters in New York.
On the 19th and 20th of December, the theme of this year’s celebration is “The Arabic Language in the United Nations: A 50-Year Journey”.
This celebration is sponsored by Badr bin Farhan, Saudi Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Salman International Complex for the Arabic Language.
Confirmation of abundant contributions
The celebration of the International Day of the Arabic Language for the year 2022 comes under the title “The Contribution of the Arabic Language to Human Civilization and Culture”.
As this title demonstrates, the Arabic language has contributed abundantly to enriching humanity’s cultural and linguistic diversity.
Systematic mounting
Dr. Abdullah Al-Washmi, Acting Secretary-General of the Academy, confirmed that the Academy’s interest in supporting the Arabic language and its presence in international organizations are systematically escalating.
As a result of a successful celebration last year, the complex celebrates this occasion at the United Nations this year. It also includes the accompanying qualitative programs and activities.
Specialized sessions
The celebration of the complex will witness the presence of several diplomatic figures representing Arab and international organizations, such as the UN, the League of Arab States, and various Arab delegations.
During the celebration, the complex will organize some major specialized sessions, which will be presented by some prominent linguistic personalities and experts.
Among these sessions are “linguistic and cultural pluralism at the United Nations”, “translation from and into Arabic at the United Nations”, and “the march of the Arabic language at the United Nations”.
The complex will also organize three-panel discussions: “Linguistic Management in Social Media”, “Arabic Language and the Arts”, and “Principles of Translation in International Organizations”.
King Salman Complex Exhibition
The complex organizes the exhibition “The Arabic Language and its History in the UN”, which includes an introduction corner of the complex and its activities, and a documentary exhibition that monitors the history of the Arabic language in the UN.
The exhibition summarizes the most prominent contents of the book “History of the Arabic Language in the United Nations” in terms of documents, historical milestones, gains, and challenges.
The exhibition also includes a calligraphy corner for writing the names of the guests in Arabic. This corner also includes a corner for the Arabic Language Club at the UN and a meeting for students on scholarship in the USA.
Several entities will participate in the upcoming exhibition, through their introductory corners, including the Music Authority, the Fashion Authority, and the King Abdullah Center for Language Planning and Policy.
The world celebrates the Arabic language
UNESCO began celebrating the International Day of the Arabic Language under the title: “The Contribution of the Arabic Language to Human Civilization and Culture”.
This year’s celebration will be held in cooperation with the permanent delegation of Saudi Arabia to the organization. In addition, it will be held in partnership with the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Charitable Foundation.
It aims to highlight the abundant contributions of the Arabic language to enriching the cultural and linguistic diversity of humanity, and its contribution to the production of knowledge.
The organization stated that the celebration included organizing a series of panel discussions and cultural events at its headquarters in the French capital, Paris.
Academics, researchers, experts, and youth will gather to discuss some issues, most notably “Cultural Diversity: The Experience of the Arabic Language and its Interaction with Other Languages”.
Cultural events include a live mural of Arabic calligraphy, an exhibition of poetry, and a concert.
UNESCO celebrated International Arabic Day for the first time on December 18, 2012.
It devoted this annual date to highlight the legacy of the Arabic language and its great contribution to human civilization.
