Our Arabic language faces significant challenges that threaten its status in the lives of our youth, with globalization being one of the most prominent of these challenges as foreign cultures have infiltrated most aspects of our daily lives. This has affected the way young people think and communicate, widening the gap between them and their mother tongue noticeably, even in their daily speech on social media platforms.

The Dominance of Foreign Languages

It is clear from observing the realities on these platforms that the use of the Arabic language is declining in the face of the dominance of foreign languages, particularly English, or the hybridization of Arabic with English or French in both the structure of words and their writing. This poses a threat to the identity of our nation, not merely a cultural decline. Our Arabic language is not just a means of communication; it is part of the identity of the individual and society, as established by the Holy Quran in His statement: “And We did not send any messenger except with the language of his people to make [the message] clear for them” (Ibrahim: 4). This indicates that language is not just a means of expressing ideas but is fundamentally a means of expressing cultural and religious identity.

Language and Identity

This connection between language and identity is particularly pronounced in the case of our Arabic language, as it is the language associated with the final Book of Allah. It carries within it meaningful roots that go beyond mere surface meanings of words; thus, it is a tool for understanding the cultural and civilizational heritage. The decline in its use in daily life contributes to a weakening sense of belonging among our youth and threatens their connection to their Islamic identity.

Reasons for Decline

Adoption of English in Education

The most significant reasons for the decline of our language stem from the widespread adoption of English as the primary language of education in the Arab world, to the extent that proficiency in the English language has become a prerequisite for enrollment in some elementary schools! Consequently, many of our youth today believe that learning it is the only path to professional success and personal development.

Influence of Media and Entertainment

This trend is not limited to education; it extends to the media and the entertainment content consumed by youth daily in large quantities. While the number of Arabic speakers continues to increase, interaction with Arabic content online is declining in favor of foreign content, especially that which is presented in English.

Alienation of Arabic Among Its Speakers

As a result, the Arabic language has become estranged among its speakers, particularly those belonging to affluent social classes receiving foreign education. It has become common among our youth to use English words naturally, such as “hi” and “bye” instead of “marhaban” (hello) and “wada’an” (goodbye).

Language Mixing in Communication

This influence is not confined to verbal communication; it also includes text messages on social media, which have increasingly adopted English words. This has reached a point where 42% of youth in Algeria use a mix of the Arabic language with foreign languages in their daily lives, according to a study conducted by researcher Salem Salmin Hamidan in 2023. This has resulted in written phenomena on social media platforms, such as "Arabizi" and "Franco-Arabic."

Imbalance in Educational Systems

This phenomenon reflects the imbalance in the use of languages for educational purposes, and it clearly manifests in some schools in countries that follow educational systems relying on foreign languages. English is taught as a primary language at the expense of the Arabic language, which leads to a decline in the use of Modern Standard Arabic in their daily lives, relegating Arabic to a secondary status in the minds of youth.

Solutions and Efforts

Lack of Engaging Arabic Content

Undoubtedly, the lack of engaging and diverse Arabic content contributes to the spread of this phenomenon, as Arabic content is poor in many disciplines. Consequently, many young people turn to foreign content, predominantly in English.

Preserving the Arabic Language

But what can we do to preserve the Arabic language in the face of these challenges? The answer lies in the concerted efforts of various institutions to encourage the use of Arabic and enhance its status among our youth. We believe these efforts should begin with teaching Arabic in innovative ways that keep pace with the digital age we live in, namely the era of artificial intelligence.

Educational Applications and Platforms

For example, educational applications and platforms directed at youth can be developed, integrating learning and entertainment, such as educational games or platforms for reading Arabic novels online. Projects to support artificial intelligence for the Arabic language have begun, such as a project launched by the UAE's Ministry of Education to develop curricula.

Role of Art and Media

Besides education, art can play an important role in promoting the Arabic language by producing entertaining and cinematic content that respects the value of Arabic. Media can also contribute to creating an environment that encourages the use of Arabic in various fields, with online educational programs serving as one of the most prominent examples that enhance the importance of Arabic in daily life.

Simplifying Arabic for Youth

In this context, we must point to the role of channels like "National Geographic" Arabic in simplifying the Arabic language and promoting its use among children and youth.

 Encouraging Arabic Literacy

Promoting Reading in Arabic

Among other important strategies to preserve our language is encouraging youth to read in Arabic. This can be accomplished through organizing competitions and cultural events in schools and universities that promote reading reputable Arabic books. Encouraging creative production in Arabic can also help revive the language among youth, whether in writing, blogging, or content creation online.

Collective Responsibility

 Efforts from Families and Institutions                               

Preserving our Arabic language is a collective responsibility that requires efforts from families, schools, media, and decision-makers. We must all realize that losing our language means losing a key component of our cultural and religious identity. Learning Arabic is not limited to our daily communication; it is a pathway to a deeper understanding of our culture and identity. Therefore, working to enhance its status in the lives of our youth is a matter of destiny, not just a cultural project.