Arab Academy of
Damascus ( ar, مجمع اللغة العربية بدمشق) is the oldest academy regulating the
Arabic language
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walte ...
, established in 1918 during the reign of
Faisal I of Syria
Faisal I bin Al-Hussein bin Ali Al-Hashemi ( ar, فيصل الأول بن الحسين بن علي الهاشمي, ''Faysal el-Evvel bin al-Ḥusayn bin Alī el-Hâşimî''; 20 May 1885 – 8 September 1933) was King of the Arab Kingdom of Syria ...
. It is based in
al-Adiliyah Madrasa
Al-Adiliyah Madrasa () is a 13th-century madrasah located in Damascus
)), is an adjective which means "spacious".
, motto =
, image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg
, image_seal = Emblem of Damascus. ...
and is modeled on the language academies of Europe and founded with the explicit reference to the example of the
Académie française.
Arabization was the major mission of this academy after long period of
Ottoman domination and use of
Ottoman Turkish in major parts of the
Arab world
The Arab world ( ar, اَلْعَالَمُ الْعَرَبِيُّ '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, refers to a vast group of countries, mainly located in Western A ...
. Since establishing, it has been operated by notable committees of Arabic language professors, scholars and experts could re-spread the use of Arabic in the state's institutions and daily life of many Arab countries by adapting widely accepted proceedings and records for Arabization.
Directors of this academy were as the following:
*
Muhammad Kurd Ali (1919–1953)
*
Khalil Mardam Bey
Khalil Mardam Bey (1895–1959) ( ar, خليل مردم بك tr, Halil Mardam Bey) was a Syrian poet and critique who is most notable for composing the lyrics of the Syrian National Anthem.
Early life and career
Mardam Bey was born in ...
(1953–1959)
* Prince
Mustafa Shahabi (1959–1968)
* Dr.
Husni Sabh (1968–1986)
* Dr.
Shaker Al-Fahham (1986–2008)
* Dr.
Marwan Mahasne (2008–current)
As of 2011, its library contains some 15,000 volumes and 500 manuscripts.
Resources
Arab Academy of Damascus, From ''Answers''*
Versteegh, Kees. The Arabic Language. New York: Edinburgh UP, 2001. Print. Page 178.
*Rachad Hamzaoui, ''L’Académie Arabe de Damas et le problème de la modernisation de la langue arabe'', Leiden: Brill, 1965.
References
External links
Arab Academy of Damascus
Arabic language regulators
Language regulators
Education in Damascus
1918 establishments in Mandatory Syria
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