Word Count: 543 Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 9:44 AM
Why You Should Learn Arabic
Arabic is the official language of 22 countries and is the native tongue for over 250 million people around the world. In addition, it's the spiritual language of Islam, which is one of the world's largest religions, encompassing over one billion people.
Whether you want to learn the language for an upcoming trip or because you wish to communicate with a friend or relative, it's much easier to learn the Arabic language than you might think. Arabic is one of the oldest languages in the world, and many of today's languages have their origins in Arabic. It's influenced other languages such as Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili, Kurdish, and many others, so you may have more of a background in the language than you think.
It's also interesting to note that, because of its unique linguistic structure, most people who speak Arabic as their native language are also able to speak nearly all of the other sounds in different languages throughout the world, so it's a great starting point if you plan to learn other languages. However, if you don't have a background in native Arabic, you may find it difficult to pronounce some of the letters used in the language. Don't let this discourage you with practice, you'll begin to understand the sounds and inflections present in Arabic.
Arabic has remained such as important language because of its religious importance to Islam and the Quran. In fact, it has been kept alive for over 1,400 years because of the Islamic culture and civilization. It is easy to see how, throughout its lengthy history, the Arabic language has influenced words and concepts in the English language.
One of the major contributions of the Arabic language was the Arabic numbers the numbers we so commonly use today got their roots in this language and culture. In fact, for many centuries, Arabic was the language for mathematics, culture, and science. Consequently, many of the words common to the English language are Arabic in origin, including the words zero, sugar, coffee, and alcohol.
Another reason you should learn Arabic is to understand the deep and rich history behind this historical language. When you understand why the language was created and how its popularity has spread, you'll gain knowledge and insight into many of the world's other languages as well. The history of the Arabic language is, in many ways, a history of the Middle East a region that is often misunderstood by today's media.
In addition, many countries that speak Arabic are quickly becoming powerhouses in global business, so when you speak Arabic, you'll find that your skill set is in greater demand. Many companies need Arabic speaking employees in order to complete business deals and transactions, so you'll usually be paid very well if you're fluent in Arabic. Speaking Arabic will open many doors for you in industries as varied as finance, education, and translation.
Of course, learning to speak Arabic isn't something that will happen overnight. It takes dedication, practice, and a good learning system to master the language. However, if you can speak any Arabic at all, even less than fluently, you'll be a step ahead of many people in the world.
About the Author
The author writes about Arabic for websites and teaches Arabic numbers to students.
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