After years
languishing in the backwaters of academe, Arabic has come into
its own. This newest addition to UCSD’s language program
was introduced in
the fall of 2002 with just one section of about 20 students and has
since mushroomed to the point where a sixth section had to be added
this winter quarter.
Increased national security concerns have created an urgent need
for Arabic translators. This has opened career opportunities ranging
from interpreters for the State Department to foreign correspondents
to developers of Arabic software programs.
Students are taught Modern Standard Arabic, which is the official
written language, and conversation is held in colloquial Egyptian
Arabic, the most common of the five spoken dialects. Arabic is
spoken in 22 countries, so there are many distinct customs and
traditions
to learn.
“
We always point out the differences
in culture,” says lecturer Sonia Ghattas-Soliman, who started
the program. “You never know where the students will be working,
so we want them to be comfortable dealing with the people of any
country. But the emphasis is on language.”
Ghattas-Soliman came from Egypt in the late 1970s for her postdoctoral
work, and subsequently taught Arabic courses at UCSD Extension
for nine years. Lately, she has seen an increased demand for the
language. “After
completing the four levels,” Ghattas-Soliman says, “the
students would ask me, ‘So what now? Do we get level higher
classes?’” She decided to approach the linguistics
department, and they quickly made Arabic a part of their official
course offerings.
Ghattas-Soliman recalls a common Arab expression: “Examine
what is said, not him who speaks.” The Arabic program is
giving students the opportunity to understand both the speaker
and what
is spoken.  
For more information on the
program,
visit http://ling.ucsd.edu/ Language/Arabic/
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