APC engages in Arabic language historical dictionary dialogue

Sharjah 24

19-02-2025

During the meeting, the children discussed the importance of a remarkable new project—the historical dictionary of the Arabic language. This project is a comprehensive effort that documents how Arabic has evolved over time and involved the work of 400 researchers and scholars from across the Arab world, all guided by the Ruler of Sharjah.
Dr. Haidar Waqe Allah led the meeting on behalf of the General Secretariat of the Arab Parliament for Children and encouraged the young members to share their thoughts about the dictionary. Ibtihal Al-Maaref from Morocco highlighted how this dictionary has become famous for being the largest linguistic encyclopedia ever, recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. It consists of 127 printed volumes and more than 20,000 electronic volumes.
Children from different countries shared their perspectives: Zainab Moulay Ahmed from Mauritania emphasized how this dictionary will help preserve the Arabic language for future generations. Hour Brijia from Palestine described the dictionary as a valuable reference that captures the growth of words and their meanings over time. Joya Al Shab from Lebanon pointed out how essential this resource is for poets, writers, and anyone who loves the language.
Razan Al-Baj from Saudi Arabia explained that this dictionary differs from traditional dictionaries because it tracks the history of words along with evidence from literary texts. Talal Dhafer Al-Hababi from Qatar explained how to search within the dictionary, showing how each word is presented alongside its background and meaning changes over the years. Ryan Mohammed Al-Shuraid from Jordan shared his experience using the electronic version, mentioning how easy it is to find words. He demonstrated this by searching for the word 'parliament' and discovering its meaning as a governing body in the country. Another child found that the word 'child' has the same origin in both Arabic and Aramaic, which surprised everyone.
Many children expressed their thoughts on the historical dictionary and how beneficial it is for Arab kids. The meeting concluded with gratitude to all participants and an invitation to explore more about the Arabic language through the Historical Dictionary's website.
After the meeting, Ayman Othman Al-Barout, the Secretary-General of the APC, praised the session, saying it allowed Arab children to express their views on the historical dictionary of their language. He noted that the meeting reflects the parliament's goal of engaging children with important cultural topics while strengthening their connection to the Arabic language. He also thanked His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for his ongoing support of Arabic language initiatives, which positions Sharjah as a cultural center uniting Arab children in the pursuit of knowledge.