The KFIP for Arabic Language and Literature has been one of the highlights for the King Faisal International Prize since its establishment in 1979. This indicates the importance given to the Arabic language, which is spoken in 23 countries around the world. Abdulmalik Al-Salman, professor at King Saud University’s computer science department, dwelt on the importance of the language and how it could be encouraged by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.
According to Al-Salman, even though Arabic is the official language in the Kingdom, some native speakers switch to English even if a single foreigner is present. He remembered a foreign professor from a sub-continental country, who had been teaching at the university for almost 20 years. He complained of Saudi students’ weakness in English. Al-Salman asked him in classical Arabic: “What did you learn about Arabic?” The professor could not understand Al-Sulaiman's simple question.
The Arabic language and literature has been one of the KFIP key categories of the award since its establishment in 1979. What would you like to say in this regard?
“Arabic language is the language of the Holy Qur’an, Islam and the first language of Muslims. For them it is a communication channel for the conduct of their worldly life. I should say that we are a people being honored by Almighty Allah, because of the Arabic language. Whatever effort we put into learning another language will neither be honored nor respected, from that point of view.
“Against this background, the King Faisal International Prize for Arabic Language and Literature, recognizing those working for its cause, was a commendable initiative. One fourth of the world’s population speaks Arabic, which is the official language of 23 countries and is also recognized by the United Nations. As such, Arabs and Muslims should be proud of the Arabic language and exert greater efforts to serve their mother tongue. Therefore, we must be proud of our language in front of the world and among our own people.
“I am sorry to say that some Arabs do not care for their own language and call for using English as a medium of instruction at the university. While I personally do not oppose to having a good command of other languages, and I do recognize that English is the gateway to today’s knowledge, what we really need cannot be achieved through other languages.
“We have to adopt a new policy that would make Arabic the official language for the Arabs and the Muslim world, because a man will not fully understand or gain knowledge of many things without using his mother tongue. In this context, I would suggest that the medium of instruction should be Arabic for a proper understanding of the subject.
“Why is there no interest among expats in Saudi Arabia to learn the language, despite the fact that they prefer to benefit from the country’s job opportunities rather than work in their own country?
“With regard to expatriates working in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries without learning Arabic, the situation has arisen due to the lack of effort to teach them Arabic. As far as the teachers are concerned, only those who know the Arabic language should be allowed, particularly in the universities, whether in Saudi Arabia or other Gulf countries.
“Expatriates should have a working knowledge of Arabic. Such a requirement should be mandatory, similar to TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) for visa applicants going to Europe and the United States for higher studies. A similar condition should apply to candidates coming to an Arab country. Knowledge of Arabic language should also be a criterion for promotion.
“It is sad to see our Muslim brothers living here for more than ten years without learning Arabic. Also, we don’t speak to them in our language. In fact, we switch over to English for their sake.
“I think an expatriate should have the ability to deal with Arabic speakers. There should be an integrated system to safeguard Arabic interest when we are recruiting foreigners. For example, some people are protesting that most of the reference material in today’s learning environment is in English. I suggest that there should be a center for translations to translate all books coming from abroad. It is not ideal for us to learn English in order to understand their works. If we really want to gain international respect, we should become leaders on our own, while we are in a position to impose our language on others, because they are in need of us. I really appreciate those heads of states and some politicians who are using their own language at the global level, even though they are fluent in other languages.”
Should foreign diplomats, coming to Saudi Arabia, be able to speak Arabic?
“Absolutely. Not only foreign ambassadors but also all diplomats coming to Saudi Arabia should know Arabic. It is part of the mission to understand the culture and history of the country as every country has its own cultural roots. By knowing their language you can easily understand their way of thinking and the culture of the people. I believe that it is necessary that heads of mission and the diplomatic corps should also speak the language of that country. They could also promote their own country’s interest in the process.
“I do highly appreciate the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques Center for Translations, but I still call for greater care at the level of knowledge and culture. There is still a need for the translation of scientific, medical and modern knowledge. There are shortages in this particular area.
“We need an integrated system to boost the role of the Arabic language from the heads of state to citizens to take an interest in the development of the language. But to find Saudi companies offering a high salary for those who speak English, while we don’t see a company that values their employee’s Arabic capabilities is very shameful and a disgrace.
“Those companies bring thousands of foreigners who don’t speak Arabic, while they impose conditions on Saudis that they should be fluent in English. This is clearly a sign of defeatism. I do not ask people not to learn English, but we should be proud of our own language.
Do you favor a dialogue on Arabic language, wherein natives and Arabic-speaking experts should be invited?
“Yes, I would agree to have a dialogue between different people with various cultural backgrounds. It is also important to explain that there are some non-Arabs who are able to learn Arabic language. There are so many examples of those either from the West or from the Far East and among those who love the language more than native-speakers do. I do call for such a forum to be attended by people from different cultural backgrounds wherein speakers from abroad and Arabs should use only Arabic as their second language.
“We need that forum for enriching and exchange of culture, civilization and knowledge. In order to sustain it we need the proper cooperation of all concerned authorities. The Custodian of the Holy Mosques Center for Dialogue could create a branch on a local and global level that benefits both parties, Arabs and non-Arabs, based on a clear and systematic agenda.
There are a few foreign non-Arab students studying at Saudi schools. Do you agree that, since they were born here, they should be given the chance to pursue their studies at a Saudi university?
“Yes, absolutely. Students in Saudi schools should be given the chance to pursue higher education in Saudi Arabia's universities based on competitiveness. The best people should be given the chance. As KSU rector, Abdullah Al-Othman, stated: ‘Knowledge and learning have no religion and no geographical frontiers.’ He cited the popular Hadith, ‘Seek knowledge even if you have to go to China’.
“An opportunity to study and learn at the universities should be given to all, provided the competition for seats is purely on the basis of merit. In this context, I do suggest that higher education seats should be open for the qualified candidates and those who have mastered Arabic. This could be part of these qualifications. Arabic language should be the learning medium for our students as they will be able to understand what they are learning.
“It is known that people pick up information more easily when it is taught in their native language. Nevertheless, I strongly encourage our students to learn English but not at the expense of the Arabic language. Any country and civilization will never prosper without using its language.”
