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Tribune News Network
Doha
THE Community College of Qatar (CCQ) celebrated the World Arabic Language Day with a host of activities organised by CCQ faculty and students.
The event was attended by the Ambassador of China to Qatar HE Li Chen, CCQ President Dr Mohamed al Naemi, and the College Dean Dr Abdallah Hazaimeh, alongside a number of VIP guests and Arabic language experts.
The World Arabic Language Day commemorates approval of Arabic by the United Nations as one of its six official languages in 1973.
The activities ranged from interactive competitions and calligraphy exhibits to poetry recitations by students and speeches by experts that collectively defined this year’s theme ‘Our Language ... Creativity and Delight’, which aims at highlighting the aesthetic aspects of the Arabic language, as well as its ability to incorporate new terminology related to arts and sciences.
As this year’s main speaker, Li Chen talked about his experience in learning Arabic, his efforts of teaching Arabic in China and finally the collaborative relations between Qatar and his country.
The event’s guest speakers also discussed Arabic calligraphy and supporting creativity and intellectuals in Qatar. Moreover, the ceremony featured staging of a play titled ‘The Devil in Danger’. Written by celebrated Arabic Writer Tawfik al Hakeem, the play was performed in collaboration with the Theatre Arts programme at CCQ.
Commenting on the occasion, CCQ President Dr Naemi said: “We convene today to celebrate the World Arabic Language Day, and it is out of both pride and duty that we carry the banner of our beautiful language, for its greatness is not limited to a single chapter in the history of languages, but extends in esteem as it is the language of Islam, our civilisation and heritage. Arabic is the language through which we communicate and express our feelings of joy and sorrow, hopes and aspirations, as well as our past, present and aspirations for the future.”
He added: “On this occasion, I would like to tell our students to always remain proud of our Arabic language, renew the covenant to preserve it, and strive to learn it, so that everyday becomes one where we celebrate our beloved language.”
One of the event’s highlights was a speaking session on the making of ‘Doha Historical Dictionary’, a momentous literary project that chronicles the origin, meaning and evolution of Arabic’s rich vocabulary over 20 centuries. With the first phase set to be launched later this month, the project – which has generously received the direct support and sponsorship of the Amiri Diwan and the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani – is considered an extraordinary accomplishment, after several attempts by different Arab nations to launch a historical dictionary of the Arabic language have failed.
Dr Mohammed al Obaidi, deputy executive director of Doha Historical Dictionary Foundation and one of the project founders, pointed out that such attempts date back to the early 20th century, noting that the first phase of the project will include launching of the electronic version of the dictionary and the print version will be available in the second phase.
On her part, Tahani Abu Musa, the Arabic track coordinator at the college, commented:“With a long history that dates back to the 6th century, Arabic is one of the most fascinating languages that combines strength, resilience and the ability to embrace the various arts and sciences, and also carries the perfect blend of elegance and eloquence.”
She elaborated: “Today, Arabic is the 5th most widely spoken language in the world with an estimated 390 million speakers, in addition to being the liturgical language of 1.6 billion Muslims.”
The college concluded the ceremony with the honouring of the event’s participants and contest winners.
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06/12/2018
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