National Arabic Language Day

    Since 2012, Arabic Language Day has been celebrated on December 18th on an annual basis. The specific date’s significance lies in the fact that Arabic was deemed the 6th official language of the General Assembly of the United Nations. Whether by hosting cultural events, seminars, or workshops, this day has brought essential recognition upon a widely spoken language at the international level. 

    Often thought to have emerged in the northwest of the Arabian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BCE, Arabic is one of a few Semitic languages which also include Hebrew and Aramaic. Debate about Arabic’s origins are still prevalent in contemporary times, as some find Arabic script to have originated in Mesopotamia while others follow the idea that Arabic came to be in the south of Arabia. However, historians deduce that Arabic has existed for at least 1,500 years. 

    In modern times, Arabic is spoken across a plethora of countries. 25 countries currently claim Arabic to be an official or co-official language, a figure composed of countries like Lebanon, Somalia, Iraq, Algeria, and many more. As of 2022, the Arabic language is complemented by approximately 300 million speakers with Egypt holding the most at around 82 million. 

    National Arabic Language Day’s importance lies in its ability to recognize the language’s beauty and presence all across the globe. As the goal of the holiday is rooted in its importance to the United Nations General Assembly, implementing Arabic into our personal lives provides a way to cherish the language. This can be done through acts as simple as learning a few Arabic words or consuming Arabic literature or other media. 

    Sources:

• https://nationaltoday.com/arabic-language-day/

• https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1g/k1gqh73k3k

• https://ipll.manoa.hawaii.edu/arabic/about/