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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Lebanon tries to retain Arabic in polyglot culture |
| 2010-08-17 |
| [Arab News] Maya Sabti's children were born and raised in Lebanon but they speak only broken Arabic and cringe when presented with an Arabic book to read. "I try to get them interested, but I don't blame them that they're not," said Sabti, whose children are 8 and 10. "Mobile phones, Facebook, movies -- all that's important to them is in English." In Lebanon, where everyday conversations have long been sprinkled with French and English, many fear the new generation is losing its connection to the country's official language: Arabic. The issue has raised enough concern for some civil groups to take action. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 Maybe it's just me, but somehow I doubt Danny Thomas spoke Arabic. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2010-08-17 22:54 |
| #3 Kids don't wanna learn Arabic? Perhaps they're preparing for the future |
| Posted by: Frank G 2010-08-17 21:16 |
| #2 Lebanon's sectarian and ethnic diversity have always made it open to foreign influences. Moreover, it has a huge diaspora with an estimated 8 million people of Lebanese descent living in countries as distant as Brazil and Australia -- many of whom come regularly to Lebanon for visits and often don't speak much Arabic. What a shame that this beautiful country with so many cosmopolitan and beautiful, sophisticated people has been torn apart by islamist neanderthals. Just imagine how lovely the place would be if it were populated solely by Lebanese Christians and seculars. |
| Posted by: lex 2010-08-17 11:04 |
| #1 Arabic is an imported language too. Aramaic was spoken there before and before that Ka'anan. |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2010-08-17 05:09 |