International Book Fair.. Sharjah surprises its visitors with a “historical” Arabic dictionary, Sahara Media

As part of the activities of the Sharjah International Book Fair 2024, the “Arabic Language Complex” in the cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates revealed an “unprecedented historical achievement” represented by the printing of 127 volumes of the “Historical Language Dictionary of the Arabic”. Language.”
The Language Academy explained during a press conference held today, Wednesday, in the exhibition’s intellectual seminar hall, that the dictionary, the first of its kind in the Arab world, “documents the development of vocabulary and linguistic meanings throughout the ages and aims to protect linguistic identity and strengthen the connection of generations with the language of their ancestors.”

Sharqi’s support to make the idea a reality

The Arabic Language Academy in the Emirate attributed the incorporation of the idea of ​​the “Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language” on the grassroots to the support of the Emirate of Sharjah, led by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, by “providing the necessary funding and logistical and moral support for all stages of the project.” Thanks to this ongoing care, the dictionary has become a comprehensive linguistic reference book serving researchers and those interested in the Arabic language worldwide.”
The Ruler of Sharjah, Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, said in a speech to the participants of the conference: “The completion of the historical dictionary of the Arabic language and the completion of its printing is a celebration of the Arab and Islamic nations, like the language. is a cultural vessel that carries the history and culture of this nation. This dictionary is a cultural and cognitive reference documenting the history of Arabic words and the development of their meanings, which enriches Arab cultural identity and makes our language accessible to future generations.”
He emphasized, “The dictionary project is an essential step towards strengthening the Arabic language as a comprehensive cultural vessel that documents the knowledge and history of the nation.”

High-level presence… and celebration

The conference activities saw a high-level presence of the most prominent cultural and literary figures of the United Arab Emirates and the Arab countries, several heads and members of writers’ and intellectuals’ unions, and a group of academics and researchers interested in the Arabic language. and history.
The activities included lectures and discussions which lasted for two hours.
A Member of the Board of Trustees of the Academy of the Arabic Language in Sharjah, Muhammad Hassan Khalaf, said: “We at the Academy of the Arabic Language in Sharjah see that the historical dictionary is a cultural achievement that does not serve only one country, but rather a single legacy for all Arabic-speaking countries, and an instrument of cultural unification that proves that Arab cooperation can “Produce meaningful projects whose effects extend for centuries to come.”

For his part, the Secretary General of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, Dr. Muhammad Safi Al Mosteganemi: “The historical dictionary of the Arabic language is the product of a deep scientific and cultural vision that goes beyond linguistic documentation reflecting the ambition of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah to provide a comprehensive reference that documents the stages of development of our language Arabic since From its beginning until today.”
He added: “This dictionary gives living proof to the Arab world that the Arabic language is more than a tool for communication, but rather a container of knowledge and a protector of culture and history. With the support of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, we can turn this dream into reality.”

In turn, said Dr. Muhammad Al-Saudi, general rapporteur of the Jordanian team and university professor, that the historical dictionary of the Arabic language represents “a qualitative leap in the field of linguistic research, as it provides researchers, scholars, and the public with a reliable source that enables them to trace the development of Arabic words and their meanings across different periods.” This achievement did not come easily; “A great effort and cooperation was needed between linguistic institutions from different Arab countries.”

According to the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, the dictionary contains approximately 73,000 linguistic entries, and covers more than 21.5 million words distributed in 127 volumes. The dictionary relies on around 351,000 historical witnesses, based on 11,300 linguistic roots.
The total number of pages in the dictionary, according to the same source, is around 91,000 pages. More than 20 linguistic and academic institutions from different Arab countries participated in its preparation