A Persuasion Essay Final Draft

Academy Writing 101 (47)
Name: Ali Mahmoud Fikri
ID: 61103
Persuasion. F

Language is an important component that defines a people’s heritage. But the issue is that how people use their language and on what foundation. Modernists have an estimation that Arabic is a vibrant language and must change with time, but traditionalists maintain that the language of a civilization can’t be customized with. This topic is defined as a more cultural and educational issue than a political one. The controversy of wither the Arabic language should be preserved or not was trending in the media after a several years from the impact of the social media. This argument was debated and reviewed for a couple of years until the situation became usual and people started to forget or ignore it. But now the debate came back with a bigger significance. Many scientists, presidents, professors, researches and people started to express it as a huge topic that has to be solved once and for all, but the argument is still going on and the topic is still unsolved. This issue is important and must still be discussed because it involves the language of a civilization and the effect that it has on the Arab’s pride of their language and culture. While modernists argue that Arabic is a dynamic language and must change with the changes in the world and with time, traditionalists preserve that the language of a culture is a fixed component that cannot be modified or tampered with. Through observation, it was noticed that the Arabic language is in danger. English language is the most common language in the world, thus pressuring Arabic language speakers to communicate in English, thus affecting their native linguistic skills. The other factor that has a major influence on weakening the language is private schooling. Students at private schools study English based curriculums taught by native English speakers. In other words, the focus on Arabic language skills is poor and students communicate in English within the school environment. The language of a culture is a fixed element that cannot be modified. No matter how much the world is changing, the mother language of a nation should not be changed or tampered with.
The first reason why Arabic language should be preserved, is that it is linked to the national identity of a person, it expresses the values and norms of a person. “Third, all the authors point out that identity constructs and is constructed by language. Leung, Harris, and Rampton argue that "language use and notions of ethnicity and social identity are inextricably linked"; Duff and Uchida examine the "inseparability" of language and culture; and Schecter and Bayley conceive of language as embodying in and of itself "acts of identity” (Barker C. & Galasiński D., 2001, p.419). When people speak their mother language it expresses their values, and that it will enable the future generations to relate to their society’s norms and values. According to the Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (2013) “Our national identity is integrally linked to the Arabic language, which serves as an effective medium to express our values, culture and heritage. Promoting the language will enable our future generations to connect with our roots, society and values more effectively.” The mother language is an important characteristic of a person’s identity. “The mother-tongue is said to be a particularly important aspect of (ethnic) identity since both are frequently viewed as being immutable and inherited from birth” (Fishman, 1991).
The second motive for why the Arabic language should be preserved is that it is a strong language that is important to the world and is a language with a strong impact/influence on other languages. Throughout history, Arabic speakers have often affected speakers of other languages, in its vocabulary and its structure (Versteegh, 1997, p.226). Arabic has a strong impact worldwide. As a global language it has influenced in its turn other languages within its range of impact (Versteegh, 1997, p.226). Arabic has been used for over 1,000 years in the fields of religion, science and literature. Arabic is from the top 6 languages worldwide, it is the only language that has the capability to clarify each human emotion, feeling and thought. The Arabic language is a strong impact able language.
If Arabs were to follow the modernists in their way of thinking, Arabs will lose their language which will lead to losing their identity, and the identity of a culture is very treasured, so it will ultimately affect the Arabs pride and influence in this world, which will lead to the extinction of the Arabic culture, tradition and will disable the future generations to link with their culture and society. But if Arabs were to choose to protect their language, the great Arabic language which is the most valuable component in the Arabic culture will be preserved, which will ensure the survival of the Arab’s identity, which will enable the future generations to connect with their roots, traditions and beliefs more meritoriously. ““Wisdom,” in a late saying “has alighted on three things: the brain of the Franks, the hands of the Chinese and the tongue of the Arabs.” (Hitti, 1996, p.26). France has attracted the most disrepute for attempting to protect its language from the arrival of foreign words (The Levin Institute: Protecting languages, 2014). Now people all around the world are willing to learn the language which is respected worldwide. Other countries with weaker languages than Arabic are securing theirs’, if the Arabs did the same, the Arabic language would be protected, known worldwide and will have the popularity and value that the French and many other major languages have.
Language is a significant aspect that expresses the tradition of a people. The debate of wither the Arabic language should be protected or not was trending in the society after numerous years from the impact of the social media. The Arabic language is a fixed factor that can’t be modified with. Initially, it’s because it’s linked to the national identity of a person, it expresses the values and norms of an individual, and also it’s because it’s a powerful language that is noteworthy to the world with a strong impact/influence on other languages. Arabs should be aware of the fact that if they lost their language; they will lose their identity, which will lead to a darker future for the Arab community. The language of a culture is a fixed element that cannot be modified or tampered with. No matter how much the English language is important, it’s not the mother tongue of the Arab community. Change must happen, the education in the Arab countries should involve more Arabic in the syllabus, Arab parents should give more attention towards their kids’ education and knowledge, the young generation should learn more about their background, more examination about how the government should use the Arabic language more than the English in public areas is suggested. Arabs for the past decades were always divided, now it is the time for them to put their hands together and save their identity and language. While this paper has covered many properties of the issue, it remains limited. However, further analysis about how some Arabs are not proud of their identity and social background is recommended.

References

Barker, C., & Galasiński, D. (2001). Cultural studies and discourse analysis: A dialogue on language and identity. London.
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Fishman, J.A. (1991). Reversing language shift.Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
Hitti P.K. (1996). The Arabs: A Short History. MacMillan Company.
Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research: Quotes Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum (2013) retrieved December 14, 2014, from: http://www.mohesr.gov.ae/En/FunyLinks/Pages/quotes-Mohamed-Bin-Rashid-Al-Maktoum.aspx
The Levin Institute (2014). Protecting Languages. Retrieved December 18, 2014, from: http://www.globalization101.org/protecting-languages/
Versteegh, C. H. M. (1997). The Arabic language. New York: Columbia University Press.Top of Form

References: Barker, C., & Galasiński, D. (2001). Cultural studies and discourse analysis: A dialogue on language and identity. London. Bottom of Form Fishman, J.A. (1991). Reversing language shift.Clevedon: Multilingual Matters. Hitti P.K. (1996). The Arabs: A Short History. MacMillan Company. Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research: Quotes Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum (2013) retrieved December 14, 2014, from: http://www.mohesr.gov.ae/En/FunyLinks/Pages/quotes-Mohamed-Bin-Rashid-Al-Maktoum.aspx The Levin Institute (2014). Protecting Languages. Retrieved December 18, 2014, from: http://www.globalization101.org/protecting-languages/ Versteegh, C. H. M. (1997). The Arabic language. New York: Columbia University Press.Top of Form