Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,
Mr.?Dennis Francis,
At World?Arabic?Language?Day
18 December 2023
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Video link:?
[As Delivered]
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Your Excellency, Dr Abdulaziz Alwasil, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
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Madame Deputy Secretary-General, Ms Amina Mohammed,
As-hab, Al Sa¡¯dah, (Excellencies,)
Al Saidat wa al Sadah, (Ladies and Gentlemen,)
Al Salam Al¡¯kum, (Peace be Upon You.)
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In the spirit of Prophet Muhammad’s teachings, emphasizing that the best acts in Islam are feeding the needy and offering greetings of peace, I extend warm salutations of peace and goodwill to all.
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Rooted in the Arabian Peninsula, the?Arabic?language?has transcended borders ¨C influencing over 390 million people across the Arab world and shaping daily communication.
From the Khaleeji dialects in the Arabian Peninsula, to Morocco and Mauritania,?Arabic?is the harmonic thread that weaves the diverse tapestry of communication across vast lands, and it is articulated in countless voices.
Its influence has left indelible imprints on other?languages ¨C shaping the evolution of Urdu in Pakistan, Somali in the African Horn, and Wolof in West Africa.
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The term “Algebra” ¨C derived from the?Arabic?word “al-jabir” meaning “the reunion of broken parts” ¨C not only has mathematical roots, but also remains embedded in everyday?Arabic?language; even finding expression as a first name.
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The extensive influence of?Arabic?heritage manifests in astronomy with star names like Ain (meaning ¡°eye¡±) and Adib (meaning ¡°the wolf¡±). While luminaries ¨C such as Syrian Arab ibn Al-Nafis in medicine, and the 14th?century traveller Ibn Battutah in politics and social issues ¨C exemplify its profound influence on disciplines we still practice to this day.
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This rich array of contributions across various disciplines attests to the depth and breadth of?Arabic?influence.
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As-hab, Al Sa¡¯dah, (Excellencies,)
Al Saidat wa al Sadah, (Ladies and Gentlemen,)
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The importance of the?Arabic?language?on the global stage is also evident in its status within the United Nations.
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From attaining recognition as one of the six Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ official?languages in 1973 ¨C a 50th?anniversary we commemorated this year ¨C it is without doubt that?Arabic?has continuously evolved and expanded.
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This perpetual dynamism is what adds to the intrinsic beauty of?languages.
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As the modern Egyptian poet Ahmed Shawqi ¨C the Prince of Poets ¨C once said: “He who filled?languages with every charming trait, chose?Arabic?alone to be beauty incarnate.”
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In this spirit, let us celebrate the richness of the?Arabic?language?and its profound impact on all facets of human civilization.
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Wa Shukran.