World Arabic Language Day and the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Chair at the Mediterranean University of Albania.

Prof. Ass. Dr. Arben P. CICI*

Speech by Asoc. Prof. Dr. Arben P. CICI, Director of the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Chair for Arabic Language and Culture and Pro-Rector of Mediterranean University of Albania at the Conference organized on this occasion.

The activity dedicated to the day of the Arabic language and culture is very important. This day is very important because it brings back to memory of December 18, 1973, when the Arabic language became the sixth official language of the United Nations. This act witnessed to the whole world that this language is one of the oldest living languages ​​of humanity and that it has an indispensable role in cultural and civilizing communication with other nations and peoples.

I learned the Arabic language, in my youth, several decades ago and I was amazed by its richness, breadth and depth of expression. I returned back to his beautiful, melodious and rich language, thanks to a personality who is no longer alive today, the academic, thinker and prominent poet from the State of Kuwait, the great philanthropist, and at the same time one of the special personalities and highly appreciated by the UN, UNESCO, and other organizations and renowned universities, Mr. Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain.

Thanks to his dedication and desire to preserve and spread the Arabic language and culture, the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Chair for “Arabic Language and Culture” has been established at the Mediterranean University of Albania 2 years ago.

Moreover, like nowhere else in Albania, we have opened a course in learning Arabic language and culture, a course that is followed with great interest, both by students and professors of the Mediterranean University of Albania who have come here today for this great event.

Our chair serves as a bridge to help spreading Arabic culture, history and tradition among the university community and beyond. By fostering intercultural dialogue, this chair aims to create an open and respectful platform for the exchange of ideas, practices and knowledge that contribute to greater understanding between different cultures.

The Arabic language, as one of the oldest, richest and most widely spoken languages ​​in the world, remains the primary tool for exploring this rich cultural heritage. With a particular emphasis on the importance of its preservation and dissemination, we are helping students and scholars to understand its historical, social and artistic connections in a global context. Our chair aims to provide activities and opportunities that help developing language skills and to highlight the contributions of Arab culture to history, art, philosophy, science and traditions, making this knowledge accessible to all.

Thanks to its rich historical, cultural and spiritual heritage that connects diverse communities across the globe, Arabic language is a powerful tool in building peace. Through the exchange of ideas, values, and narratives that are spread through the Arabic language, people can create mutual understanding, respect, and appreciation for other cultures.

Learning and communicating in Arabic opens doors for dialogue and cooperation, contributing to building a more peaceful and connected world.

Learning to communicate and speak Arabic is a unique window to know the history and past of the mosaic of knowledge and development that Arab scholars spread across the Mediterranean and further towards Europe.

Just like our whole society, the Arabic language and heritage are faced today with the presence of Artificial Intelligence, its role and weight in this shared global journey.

Artificial Intelligence and the Arabic language can create a powerful partnership to preserve and spread this language of historical and cultural importance. Technology based on artificial intelligence can be used to develop tools and applications that help in its learning, automatic translations, creation of educational resources and communication between different communities. For example, language learning applications, educational chatbots and online platforms can make this language more accessible to a wider audience, helping the Arabic language to remain alive and relevant in the digital age.

However, the coexistence of artificial intelligence with the Arabic language also presents various challenges. One of these challenges is the accuracy of automatic translations, as the Arabic language has a unique grammar and structure that can create difficulties for the technology. Challenges also include preserving the different dialects and cultural heritage that are part of the Arabic language in different regions of the world.

Also, sometimes, the use of algorithms can have exceptions and lose the cultural and historical nuances that are present in the Arabic language. But the biggest challenge is the deliberate misuse of AI, which can bring distortions of language, culture, history with a very negative impact on its future and the education of new generations with the truth about facts and history.

However, using artificial intelligence in a careful and innovative way, the accessibility, learning and support for the Arabic language can be increased. Technology can help create platforms that provide the opportunity to learn the Arabic language through videos, applications and personalized lessons. It can also be used to document and preserve cultural works and traditional literature through advanced analysis and digital transformations. With dedication and collaboration between linguistic experts, technology and governments, artificial intelligence can become a powerful tool in supporting the preservation and spread of this language in an increasingly digital world.

Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Chair for “Arabic Language and Culture”, at the Mediterranean University of Albania, in its educational mission, and dissemination of the Arabic language and culture, especially in the context of interaction and relations within the Arab and Mediterranean space, between Arab civilization and culture and European civilization and culture, is using modern technological means of teaching and media communication, not only the official website of the university but also professional social networking platforms.

In conclusion, it is essential to underline the importance of joining forces and engaging in common efforts to support the Arabic language in a global context.

This is not limited to preserving the language at the local level, but extends to international cooperation that aims to spread knowledge about the Arabic language, the heritage and culture it carries in all regions of the world. Through partnerships, educational programs, technology, and intercultural dialogue, we can create a broad network of support that makes the Arabic language a means of communication, education, and cultural exchange for future generations. This effort requires not only institutional and academic support, but also the commitment of communities and individuals, governments and states, and international organizations that believe in the importance of preserving cultural and linguistic identity in this era of globalization.

By joining this common mission, we can pave the way to ensure that the Arabic language remains a bridge, a symbol of shared heritage, and a source of inspiration for international dialogue, peace, and cooperation.

Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Chair for Arabic Language and Culture at the Mediterranean University of Albania is committed to pursuing this important mission.

*Director of the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Chair

for Arabic Language and Culture

Vice-Rector, Mediterranean University of Albania

/Argumentum.al