ALA And UNESCO Symposium Highlights Importance Of Historical Dictionaries In Linguistic Heritage

The Arabic Language Academy (ALA) in Sharjah, alongside UNESCO, organised a symposium to emphasise the role of historical linguistic dictionaries. This event celebrated His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi for completing the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language, now part of the UNESCO Library. The occasion also aligned with the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.

Ali Al Haj Al Ali, representing the UAE at UNESCO, inaugurated the event with a speech on behalf of the Arab Group. He commended Sheikh Dr. Sultan's dedication to promoting the Arabic language and highlighted the dictionary's cultural and academic significance. Al Ali described its inclusion in UNESCO as a celebration of Arabic intellectual heritage.

The symposium delved into historical dictionaries' importance across various languages like Arabic, French, Italian, Spanish, and German. Esteemed scholars from Europe and the Arab world participated in this discussion. They included Dr. Amhamed Safi Mosteghanemi from Sharjah Arabic Language Academy and Dr. Paolo Dacicelli from La Crusca in Rome.

Dr. Amhamed Safi Al-Mostghanemi elaborated on the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language's creation and collaborative efforts involved. He stressed its comprehensive documentation of word usage and historical evolution, making it a significant modern reference for Arabic linguistics.

Dr. Dacicelli shared insights into Italy’s historical dictionaries, focusing on their evolving content and role in preserving linguistic history. He explained how these works offer understanding into word origins and transformations over time.

Dr. Sebastian Geuther from Germany reviewed over 30 historical dictionaries, including the Grimm Brothers’ dictionary. He discussed their importance in chronicling classical roots and regional dialects of the German language.

Cultural Relevance Across Languages

Dr. Charlotte Curie traced French historical dictionaries back to the 16th century, highlighting their cultural and political relevance. She noted that efforts like the Diderot Encyclopedia were foundational in documenting French linguistics.

Dr. Laura Gago Gómez concluded by discussing Spain’s ongoing historical dictionary project that traces Spanish from ancient times to today.

Acknowledging Linguistic Achievements

The symposium ended with agreement on recognising the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language as a significant linguistic achievement. Its depth and accuracy establish it as an internationally important reference.

With inputs from WAM