“The United Arab Emirates has led an exceptional experience in comprehensive digital transformation,” asserted His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), at the Jordan Forum for Media and Digital Communication, organised by the Jordanian Ministry of Government Communication.
The Forum was held under the patronage of H.E. Bisher Khasawneh, Prime Minister of Jordan, amid wide Arab and international media coverage. The event was inaugurated by the Minister of Government Communication of Jordan on Tuesday, 21 May 2024.
Representing the ALC at the Forum, H.E. bin Tamim went on to note: “The UAE approaches the matter as a means to make people’s lives easier, adhere to best practices, and provide outstanding services, all in a bid to promote happiness, an objective that the wise leadership holds in the highest regard.”
Culture and the Arabic language are top priorities in the UAE’s digital transformation plans, H.E. explained, noting that this “falls under the wise leadership’s vision to advance and ensure the sustainability of the cultural and creative sectors, in a bid to strengthen their role as part of our ambitious efforts to invest in people, which in turn is a focus of all UAE development strategies.”
“The Arabic language is a leading marker of cultural identity for the Emirati people, and holds a wealth of values, science, knowledge, and creativity,” H.E. bin Tamim continued. “The language is facing major challenges in the modern era, especially with the rapid developments in technology, advances in artificial intelligence, and the evolving channels for acquiring knowledge and science – all of which are challenges that require attention, preparation, and effort.”
“There are undoubtedly many initiatives and projects that serve this goal in various Arab countries,” H.E. said. “There isn’t enough time to discuss all of them, however, it should be noted that the UAE has led an exceptional experience in comprehensive digital transformation, approaching the matter as a means to make people’s lives easier, adhere to best practices, and provide outstanding services. We, at the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, are part of this advanced ecosystem, designed to ensure the sustainability of the cultural and creative sector, drive it forward, and enhance the presence of the Arabic language – the most prominent component of cultural identity.”
The ALC Chairman shed light on a range of the Centre’s projects and initiatives, launched to enhance the presence of the Arabic language and culture in the digital era, most notably, the Poetry Encyclopaedia, Kanz Al Jeel poetry collection, the digital transformation initiative, Spotlight on Rights, BAREC Readability project, the ALC digital Dictionar, and the Poetic Intelligence Lab, among others.
These projects were designed around a set of objectives to enrich the Arabic language with technology and enrich technology with Arabic content, H.E. explained, affirming that the Arabic language is rich in science, knowledge, art, and literature, yet these treasures are not available in a format suitable for the digital era. “Arabic needs to master the language of this digital era, just as the digital era needs the richness of the Arabic language.”
The Jordan Forum for Media and Digital Communication was held in celebration of the silver jubilee of King Abdullah II’s accession to the throne and the 78th anniversary of the independence of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Over the course of two days and eight sessions that brought together 30 Jordanian, Arab, and international speakers, the Forum discussed topics related to the challenges facing Arab media and communication sectors in light of rapid technological and digital advancements. Attendees sought to brainstorm innovative solutions to enhance ethics and freedom in media, keeping pace with advancements in the field of digital media and communication.
The Arabic Language and Global Cultural Development
The first International Scientific Forum, organised by the Language Centre at the Jordan University of Science and Technology, welcomed Dr. Ali bin Tamim as a guest of honour and key participant in the Forum’s activities, which, over the course of two days, included several panel discussions and lectures delivered by experts in the fields of language, literature, translation, and language technology. Participants discussed a range of important topics, including the role of translation in transferring knowledge between cultures, the challenges of teaching Arabic to non-native speakers, and the impact of digital technology on the spread of the Arabic language.
In his opening speech, H.E. bin Tamim applauded the Forum’s efforts to discuss the status and role of the Arabic language in the global cultural system, as well as its future prospects. “This role intersects with our efforts at the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre to advance the presence of the Arabic language and instill it among the new generations, enabling them to benefit from its authentic and exceptional knowledge covering various aspects of life,” he said.
The ALC Chairman participated in a session titled ‘The Role of the Arabic Language in Global Cultural Development: Reality and Aspirations’, where he stressed the importance of continuing efforts to preserve the Arabic language, keep it within its authentic and development-oriented domain, and strengthen its presence in contemporary culture. “This is achievable,” he asserted, “provided that effective strategies are followed, most notably to promote linguistic and literary creativity by supporting writers, poets, and creators to produce outstanding artistic and literary works in Arabic. Equally important is encouraging the use of Arabic in various fields of literature and arts, and supporting the development of technology, software, and applications that enhance the use of Arabic in science, technology, and everyday life.”
Moreover, H.E. bin Tamim stressed the importance of supporting the production of digital content in Arabic, focusing on specialised websites, applications, and other digital platforms., He also called for the development of educational programmes that focus on comprehensive learning and mastery of the Arabic language, including among non-native speakers. He also underlined the need to enhance cultural exchange by organising cultural, literary, and artistic events that promote the Arabic language as an integral part of human heritage.
