"Hi, Kifak? You?" If the Lebanese claim to be polyglot mixture very common language has its counterpart: the younger generation is criticized for his lack of fluency in Arabic, for which a campaign is launched: Thursday, the Arab Organization for Education , Culture and Science (ALECSO) proclaimed on March 1 "Day of the Arabic language" to "preserve the heritage of the Arab nation against globalization."
Lebanon, which saw the French mandate (1920-1943), is often considered the most "westernized" of Arab countries and more responsive to international trends. If French is a bastion in the Middle East, the language of Shakespeare has gained ground and the majority of schools teach Arabic, French and English from an early age. "Arabic is a language alive, but young people away from it," laments Susan Talhouk, president of the association "Fael Amer" (imperative) which has launched a campaign called "I'm talking to East, you answer me
in Western ". "Some are incapable of writing a text correctly (in Arabic) and many academics interviewed were not able to recite the alphabet," says the young woman. If
"Ktir thank you" (thank you), "bonjourein" (two greetings), "Charchour" (girl version Arabic) or "yalla bye" make us smile, inability to converse in a language even more annoying one. "Course + + el arabi? I am not interested ... Ktir," says Natalie, first class. "In our school, it's more cool + + to speak French, Arabic is rather regarded with disdain." For Ms. Talhouk, whose slogan is "Do not destroy your identity, preserves the language," "have a second language is an asset, provided the master and not to neglect their mother tongue."
Arab professors believe that the problem arises as a family. "Many parents tend to speak French or English to their children, "says Hiba, a teacher in Beirut." The problem is that I find myself with children six years old who do not speak their mother tongue and are almost shocked by Arab literary ", which differs from the spoken Arabic.
Worse, parents with dual nationality to enjoy" exempt "their children Arabic lessons." Some say the prof + talking to the child in French or English if he does not understand Arabic +. It's sad, do not be ashamed of their language, "adds Ms. Talhouk." Francophony is spending huge sums to the French, why not do the same? The school also takes part of responsibility, "often dealing with Arabic as a secondary material," says Henry Awaiss, director of the School of Translators and Interpreters of Beirut (
University Saint-Joseph). "Writing in Arabic is more fashionable, especially with the Internet. It is written in Latin characters: it is the Arab version of Facebook", adds Ms. Talhouk.
Thursday, the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) was proclaimed on March 1, "Day of the Arabic language" to "preserve the heritage of the Arab nation against globalization."
Reading is also lacking. "I do not read novels because they interest me Arabic not as young," said Bilal, a student of broadcasting. Leila Barakat, general coordinator of "Beirut World Book Capital" (April 2009-2010), which funds the campaign, "we must encourage children's literature, little developed in Arabic." Efforts must also focus on the development of science and technology terminology, which abound loans. "Young people must feel that this beautiful language also adapts to the times," explains Ms. Talhouk.
(Source: http://www.iloubnan.info)