Multilingual children perform better in school, are well-rounded and interested in other cultures. They have better linguistic skills, are creative, can retain knowledge well, and have a problem-solving and thought process. These well-rounded children are more likely to contribute to society as adults.
This page educates on this vibrant language and the many practical reasons for learning it.
History Of Arabic Language
The Arabic language has been around for over 1000 years. Having emerged in the Arabian Peninsula, it was first spoken by tribes in the northwestern frontier. The term 'Arabic' translates to 'nomadic,' representing the primary occupants of Mesopotamia, Lebanon, Sinai, and northwestern Arabia.
Arabic is a widely spoken member of the family of Semitic languages from the northern regions. The nomadic tribes spread the language far and wide, eliminating many ancient dialects like Phoenician and Coptic. Intermarriages between natives and the Arabs and conquests lead to rapid expansions of the tribe. The language made its way into Africa, the Middle East, and even China.
The Arabic language is distinctive because, despite consisting of several dialects, it is typically regarded as a single tongue. With over 400 million speakers, Arabic is one of the world's six most widely spoken languages.
The Qur'an, the sacred book of Islam, contains historical events from the seventh century that accounts for much of what we know about written, classical, or old Arabic. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) has emerged in recent years and is the modern variation used today in formal speech and writing in Arabic. Except for the addition of contemporary terms and a few minor variations in grammar structures, MSA and classical Arabic of the Qur'an are similar.
The Arabic language has incorporated terms from numerous other languages over the centuries. These include Hebrew, Aramaic, Persian, Greek, English, and French. It has also affected Turkish, Bengali, Hindi, Indonesian, Tagalog, and other languages. Modern-day Arabic is most frequently used in the workplace, government, and taught in institutions.
Reasons for Learning Arabic Language
More than 200 million people speak Arabic as their first language. It's one of the UN's six official languages, and ranks sixth among the world's primary tongues. Besides it being a widely spoken language, here are some more reasons why kids and adults should pick up the tongue:
Get Ahead of The Rest
Speaking Arabic will give you a bright, sophisticated appearance. Moreover, being a lesser learned language, picking up Arabic is an added advantage in acquiring a unique skill. Being a rich and fascinating culture, learning the language involves becoming familiar with the ethos of where it is being spoken.
Reading well-known classic literature is possible by learning the language. Imagine reading Arabic books in their original forms, like Aladdin, Ali Baba and The Forty Thieves, and Sindbad the Sailor. Or tales like The One Thousand and One Nights and poems of "fe" and Ahmad Shawqi.
Knowing Arabic will make learning other languages more accessible, including Turkish, Urdu, and even Hindi. The language borrows most of the terms in these languages' vocabularies. Considering they similar, you will be able to understand the semantic and grammatical concepts faster.
Opens Social Avenues
You'll get the chance to encounter genuine Arab hospitality. Arabs take great pride in their native tongue. When an Arabic native hears a few words from a foreigner, they are eager and delighted to help you learn their language. While traveling to where the language is being spoken, you engage in the distinctive culture, cuisine, literature, music, and art. You'll also get to grasp the importance of values to them, like courtesy, honor, and dignity.
Increase In Professional Demand
Even if you are in the West, you will have an advantage over the competition. Very few foreigners make an effort to study Arabic.
While working with Middle Eastern companies, learning the language will benefit your career.
Arabic speakers are in demand, including the translation and interpretation industries. Other fields include consulting, banking and finance, education, journalism, and foreign service. So, your children are at an advantage if they pick-up the language early to open many professional opportunities in the future.
Reading Arabic Language Books to Learn Dialect
Reading is the best thing a learner of Arabic can do to advance beyond the intermediate level. Reading Arabic language books is helpful since it enhances your language skills, regardless of the level of proficiency you wish to achieve.
The fundamental factor in developing your vocabulary is how frequently you are being exposed to a word. Your capacity to feel at ease with the word will improve the more circumstances in which this occurs.
You will better understand how the language functions, notably how the verb system underpins the creation or derivation of words. Reading is essential if you want to improve your vocabulary and move into more advanced levels of comprehension.
Language Lizard's Arabic stories for kids are an ideal place to initiate your child's interest in learning the language. They have an extensive selection of bilingual picture books and graphic novels. The library includes Arabic folktales, fables, multicultural stories, myths, legends, and board books. They even offer related audiobooks to better grasp phonetics. So, support your kid's curiosity in picking up the language and start today.
