Comments on: Where is the Arabic? http://www.languageonthemove.com/recent-posts/where-is-the-arabic?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=where-is-the-arabic Multilingualism, Intercultural communication, Consumerism, Globalization, Gender & Identity, Migration & Social Justice, Language & Tourism Thu, 17 May 2012 23:56:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Chris Morrow http://www.languageonthemove.com/recent-posts/where-is-the-arabic/comment-page-1#comment-311 Chris Morrow Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:14:51 +0000 http://www.languageonthemove.com/blog/?p=273#comment-311 The "fate" of formal Arabic in this region deserves serious consideration, and only a few presenters dealt with it. Saleh Troudi's research suggested that students are happy to focus on English, but many will never learn to use formal Arabic (MSA) for academic discourse. He pointed out that MSA is a rich world language with readily accessible high-level, intellectual texts (e.g., Al Arabi magazine). Real bilingualism means an ability to do most communicative activities in at least 2 languages, but I don't see that happening here in the near future. Qu'ranic Arabic and the spoken dialects aren't in trouble for the near term, but formal Arabic clearly is in my opinion. Local leaders should look to European models to see the kinds of sophisticated support that second (and third) languages need in order to truly thrive. The “fate” of formal Arabic in this region deserves serious consideration, and only a few presenters dealt with it. Saleh Troudi’s research suggested that students are happy to focus on English, but many will never learn to use formal Arabic (MSA) for academic discourse. He pointed out that MSA is a rich world language with readily accessible high-level, intellectual texts (e.g., Al Arabi magazine). Real bilingualism means an ability to do most communicative activities in at least 2 languages, but I don’t see that happening here in the near future. Qu’ranic Arabic and the spoken dialects aren’t in trouble for the near term, but formal Arabic clearly is in my opinion. Local leaders should look to European models to see the kinds of sophisticated support that second (and third) languages need in order to truly thrive.

]]> By: David http://www.languageonthemove.com/recent-posts/where-is-the-arabic/comment-page-1#comment-304 David Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:53:31 +0000 http://www.languageonthemove.com/blog/?p=273#comment-304 I believe that Arabic is used as a medium of instruction in some courses at least at UAEU... > none of the colleges nor universities in the UAE have Arabic > as the medium of instruction I believe that Arabic is used as a medium of instruction in some courses at least at UAEU…

> none of the colleges nor universities in the UAE have Arabic
> as the medium of instruction

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