December 18 is World Arabic Language Day, where the international community takes a moment to appreciate Arabic and its contributions to humanity. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated the day in 2010 in order to “celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity.”
Arabic is an ancient language with a rich history. Did you know:
Many versions of Arabic currently exist. Currently there are 3 in use. Classical, modern and colloquial.
Arabic calligraphy has developed into a highly stylized art form.
English has a number of words that were acquired from Arabic, many of which passed through Romance languages before entering into English.
The letter “x” in algebra, which stands for an unknown value, originated from the Arabic word ‘shay’ meaning “thing.”