Arabic has ‘enriched’ world’s knowledge, sciences: Bokova
UNESCO marks ‘World Arabic Language Day’
PARIS, Dec 18, (KUNA): Director General of the UNESCO Irina Bokova on Friday reiterated the organization’s commitment to work for enhancing the learning and dissemination of Arabic, a language that is copious with treasures of knowledge and various sciences.
Bokova made the statement to the World Arabic Language Day 2015, which she started with speaking some welcoming Arabic words to greet attendees.
The World Arabic Language Day is annually marked on December 18.
This year, the celebrations are distinguished as they coincide with the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015) will be launched in 2015 that aimed to raise global awareness of how light-based technologies can provide solutions to global challenges in energy, education, agriculture and health. The UNESCO-led initiative celebrated the work of the 10th century Arabic scientist Ibn AlHaytham.
The 2015 World Arabic Language Day is dedicated to science and scientific communication as an opportunity to highlight the historical role of the Arabic language in research and the dissemination of knowledge, and the importance of multilingualism for the research community today.
It also coincides with the UNESCO’s 7th anniversary, Bokova said.
For his part, Saudi Permanent Delegate to the UNESCO Dr. Ziyad Al-Drees, also head of the advisory commission for promoting Arabic culture, said that choosing “The Arabic language and sciences” as the theme of 2015 celebrations aims to draw the attention to the significance and high value of Arabic.
Functions on the theme were attended by many authors, researchers, scientists, diplomats, media figures as well as UNESCO staff, he said.
The numerous researches and inventions Arabic offered to the world during the age of Islamic Renaissance constituted the nucleus of modern renaissance, Al-Drees stressed.
He pointed to the UNESCO celebrations of Arabic scientist Ibn Al-Haytham months before.
Arabic is the language of knowledge and culture and it reflects the entire world, head of the Paris’ Arab World Institute Jack Lang said. It is a tool for expressing ideas as well as the language of architectural engineering and beauty.
He added that France is planning to introduce teaching of Arabic, among other languages, at schools as of the age of five.
Kuwait’s Permanent Delegate to the UNESCO Dr. Meshal Hayat said the celebrations were the outcome of persistent efforts by the Arab group at the organization that were rewarded in 2012 with choosing December 18 as the World Arabic Language Day.
He added that the first day UNESCO celebrations, Thursday focused on the role of Arabic and Arab scientists for the progress of sciences at the age of Islamic Renaissance, and Arabization of modern sciences. Today’s session addressed the role of translation from and into Arabic in reviving the Arab renaissance.
Bokova