Qatari Forum for Authors Hosts Algerian Arabic Language Scholar

Doha, March 07 (QNA) - The Qatari Forum for Authors hosted today Algerian Professor of Arabic Language from Giresun University - Turkey, Dr. Mahmoud bin Ras, as part of its "Arabic language outside its countries" sessions which are organized in cooperation with Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The session was moderated by Dr. Abdelhak Belabed, Professor of Literary Criticism Studies at Qatar University, and was broadcast on the forum's social networking sites. At the outset of the session, Dr. Mahmoud bin Ras spoke about the study of the Arabic language in Turkey and the challenges it faces, noting that the study of Arabic Language is witnessing a great growth there, saying, "This movement in learning Arabic in this country foretells a bright future in Turkey, especially since it has become the third language after Turkish and English languages at the university level." He pointed out that some Turkish universities have opened entire departments in the fields of humanities and social sciences in the Arabic language, adding that the Turkish reader's interest in Arabic language and literature, which has become great, is driven by the activity of translation from Turkish into Arabic and vice versa. He explained that the Turks accept to learn the Arabic language and consider it part of their culture, along with other political and economic aspects, and they use (5,000) Arabic words daily, pointing out that there are many institutions that teach Arabic at different levels, in addition to being one of the official languages approved in official exams that require a foreign language next to the Turkish language, whether administrative or economic institutions or at the level of Turkish higher education institutions. Dr. Bin Ras indicated that the Arabic language is taught to students in Turkey, starting from the intermediate and secondary levels, and that some of these students benefit from the exchange system by studying in Arabic language institutions in Arab countries to develop their language abilities. On the challenges facing the teaching of the Arabic language in Turkey, especially in light of the forced shift to the distance education system, caused by the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the lecturer said, "If we compare the reality of the Arabic language with other languages in Turkey, and in other countries, It can be said that this language in Turkey is experiencing a beautiful spring, which we must support and enhance." A video of this session entitled "Every year and the Arabic language is fine" was shown to students from Grayson University, and the video included clips of students performing poems in classical Arabic, lyrical musical pieces for students, and a theatrical performance highlighting the students' proficiency in grammar in Arabic. Dr. Mahmoud bin Ras studied at the Merbah Palace University in Algeria, and obtained a doctorate in Arabic and another in theology at the Turkish University of Istanbul, and took many specialized courses from prestigious universities. He has various publications, the latest of which is the establishment of criticism in the Maghreb, specializing in the study of criticism in Arabic for non-Arabic speakers. (QNA)