Amman: The Ministry of Culture on Sunday organized a significant seminar at its headquarters to commemorate World Arabic Language Day, annually observed on December 18, under the theme "The Future of the Arabic Language in Light of the Growth of Artificial Intelligence Technologies." Minister of Culture Mustafa Rawashdeh emphasized Arabic's status as one of the oldest and most widely spoken languages globally, with over 12 million words, not only as a means of communication but as a repository of history and knowledge, reflecting Arab identity.
According to Jordan News Agency, the seminar featured key figures including Ministry Secretary-General Nidal Al-Ahmad, Professor Abdullah Al-Anbar from the University of Jordan, engineering professor Mohammad Zaki Khader, and Arabic language computing researcher Mamoun Hattab. The event was moderated by Salem Daham, Director of Studies and Publishing at the ministry. Rawashdeh highlighted Arabic's role in conveying the message of Islam and preserving Arab culture through poetry, while noting its historical contributions to global knowledge and its influence on various languages, including Turkish, Persian, and several European languages.
Rawashdeh emphasized the necessity of enhancing Arabic digital content and addressing challenges such as the younger generation's shift towards foreign languages. Al-Ahmad spoke on the importance of adapting to digital advancements, while Al-Anbar underscored the link between language and identity, advocating for initiatives to protect Arabic amid digital changes. Hattab explored the evolving role of language under artificial intelligence, discussing the need for cognitive sovereignty through ownership of language models and data.
Khader reviewed the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, noting the increasing interest in Arabic language learning globally and the need for tools to facilitate this. He stressed bridging the gap between Arabic dialects and standard Arabic using AI and highlighted the importance of expanding Arabic digital content, which currently forms a small fraction of global content.
Daham opened the seminar by acknowledging the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and reiterated Arabic's role in connecting over 400 million speakers across a vast geographic region. He emphasized the language's historical significance in uniting diverse communities within this space.