Arab Academy of Damascus
Encyclopedia
Arab Academy of Damascus
is the oldest academy regulating the Arabic language
, established in 1918 during the reign of Faisal I of Syria. It is based in al-Adiliyah Madrasa 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
. 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:
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
is the oldest academy regulating the Arabic language
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
, established in 1918 during the reign of Faisal I of Syria. It is based in al-Adiliyah Madrasa and is modeled on the language academies of Europe and founded with the explicit reference to the example of the Académie française
Académie française
L'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
.
Arabization
Arabization
Arabization or Arabisation describes a growing cultural influence on a non-Arab area that gradually changes into one that speaks Arabic and/or incorporates Arab culture...
was the major mission of this academy after long period of Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
domination and use of Ottoman Turkish
Ottoman Turkish language
The Ottoman Turkish language or Ottoman language is the variety of the Turkish language that was used for administrative and literary purposes in the Ottoman Empire. It borrows extensively from Arabic and Persian, and was written in a variant of the Perso-Arabic script...
in major parts of the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
. 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 AliMuhammad Kurd AliMuhammad Kurdali was a notable Syrian scholar, historian and literary critic in the Arabic language. He was the founder director of the Academy of the Arabic Language in Damascus till his death.-Early life:...
(1919–1953) - Khalil Mardam BeyKhalil Mardam BeyKhalil Mardam Bek was a Syrian poet and critique who is most notable for composing the lyrics of the Syrian National Anthem. He was born in Damascus to a well-known family. He is one of the grandsons of the Ottoman general, statesman, and Grand Vizier Lala Kara Mustafa Pasha...
(1953–1959) - Prince Mustafa ShahabiMustafa ShahabiPrince Mustafa Shahabi was a Syrian agronomist, politician, writer and the third elected director of Arab Academy of Damascus .After getting his degree in agriculture from France, he has been promoted during his professional life to the rank of Governor of Aleppo then Lattakia, Ambassador of Syria...
(1959–1968) - Dr. Husni Sabh (1968–1986)
- Dr. Shaker Al-Fahham (1986–2008)
- Dr. Marwan Mahasne (2008–current)
Resources
- Arab Academy of Damascus, From Answers
- Versteegh, Kees. The Arabic Language. New York: Edinburgh UP, 2001. Print. Page 178.