(Part 1 of 2) By Abdulhannan Tago 

I have been following carefully with great enthusiasm and interest the articles and discussions on Arabic language, appearing in the Kingdom’s local newspapers. 

Let me first salute and join in solidarity with the brothers, who have been defending the language of the Holy Qur’an. Since, I had the privilege to learn the language in written and spoken forms, thanks to Al-Azhar University from where I finished my Arabic course with a major in mass communication way back in 1992.

Hence, I think I have something to share with all of you. As non-Arab expatriate, I was strongly encouraged to participate in this vital subject with a hope that such participation is constructive and useful and, that will leave and create a positive impact on the valued readers of different nationalities, creed and color holding different positions.

At the very outset, I wish to emphasize my views with the facts that will be of great interest for all of you. Before going deep into this subject, I would like to refer to my extra ordinary passion for the Arabic language and the way I defend it from the depiction attempts by some of its users from Arabs when talking to a foreigner like me. 

Some of these people -- I do not mean here a particular person or his nationality -- as soon as he discerned a person as a non-Arab he will use terrible broken language, the way as the laborers talk to each others. In fact, the dialect has no basis whatsoever and not linked to Arabic language, nor is it slang. It is a merely an improvised one by those laborers who may know nothing about Arabic and speak only their own local language.

I confront them directly by using purely Arabic wordings and phrases explaining to them that I studied Arabic language from A to Z, including its grammar and have memorized some poems too.

I told them that I like Arabic and I am proud of it as my mother language, because it is the mother of all great languages, so why do not use it as wonderful lingo?  I also sometimes receive a caller who changes the words as soon he sensed my foreign intonation, and if he of that with abroad education, he will ask me instead “do you speak English? I replied him with due respect and polite way explaining to him that I am in an Arab country and I do respect the language of its people. 

I told him as example any American citizen will never use another language rather than English anywhere in the world, so why not use the Arabic language since we are in an Arab country, at least to show respect to this Arab country! 

I would also like to point out here the reluctance of foreigners and their children to learn Arabic, whether they are Muslims or followers of other religions unlike what is happening in the United States, for example, or in Europe. A foreigner in the first place will try to learn English immediately upon his arrival or the place where he or she has been living.

All family members were not only excited to use English, but also feel that they themselves are more educated people, especially when they speak English.  As their situation in some Arab countries, unfortunately it is completely different. For instance, you may find a colleague who lived with you at work more than 25 years he never try for all the years he spent here to learn a single or two correct Arabic sentences. Not to mention their children who are studying at foreign schools.  Nobody cares to encourage them neither from their parents nor from their school. 

Perhaps this is what has prompted one of the fellow citizens of the Qassim region, who prepares his doctorate theses to choose this subject for consideration. He came to know me through my children government school here in Riyadh. 

He made a lengthy interview with me in the presence of my children as part of his mission to gather information and responses from the few residents who send their children to Saudi government school. 

(This article was originally written in Arabic language and appeared in the Saudi leading economic daily, Al-Eqtisadiah on November 21 last month. See this link below:http://www.aleqt.com/2009/11/21/article_304599.html#send_form