Cultural seminar at Souk Okaz Highlights Increasing Importance of Arabic Language in Central Asia

Academics from four Central Asian countries declared that Arabic is becoming increasingly prominent in their countries, with growing interest in learning the language. The academics were speaking at a seminar on the subject, held as part of the cultural program for this year’s Souk Okaz, organized by Taif University. 

Dr. Dina Isingan, from Kazakhstan, said Arabic is a tool for cultural and cognitive communication, noting that by memorizing six comments she learned the essence of Okaz. Arabic was important as a language in Kazakhstan because it is the language of the Koran, and because it is “the language of knowledge and culture in the “globalization” that has turned the world into a digital village,” especially since the language helps people to get around, she said. 

Azerbaijan has seen increased interest in learning Arabic as the country has become more immersed into Islamic culture, Dr. Alawia Hosseinova said, a process that covers many social, economic, intellectual and cultural aspects of society. This move towards Islam “represents an important historical event in Central Azerbaijan and Arabic has become a language of communication” in the area, she said. 

People in Tajikistan are keen to learn Arabic, as words and terms from the language make up around 40 percent of the regular lexicon, according to Dr. Askar Salamov, who said that the language was enjoying a renewed presence in the world, amid “disparities” in other international languages.

Dr. Abdultaher Gulbayev from Kyrgyzstan said Arabic has become increasingly prevalent in student programs, including academic and training development programs. The increasing number of Arab tourists visiting the republic has also promoted interest in the language, Dr. Gulbayev added, with official figures showing 8,000 Arab tourists visited last year.