Assistant Lecturer Ghadeer Haider Saeed
Sustainable development is no longer a purely economic concept; rather, it has become a comprehensive framework that connects the economy with culture, education, and identity. In this context, the Arabic language emerges as a fundamental pillar in building a society capable of continuity and renewal. Language is not merely a tool for communication; it is an intellectual and cultural system that preserves human experience and transmits it across generations.
Preserving the Arabic language means preserving the cultural identity of society. Language carries values, customs, and patterns of thought, and it forms the deep link between past and present. When the language weakens in the fields of education, media, and administration, the sense of belonging weakens as well, and the gap between generations widens. Therefore, safeguarding Arabic represents an essential step toward ensuring the sustainability of cultural identity in the face of rapid changes.
The importance of language is also evident in education. Educational experiences indicate that learning in one’s mother tongue enhances comprehension and strengthens critical and analytical thinking skills. Developing scientific curricula in Arabic, updating terminology, and encouraging research in the language contribute to expanding knowledge and making it accessible to broader segments of society. Sustainable development is built upon an educated individual who possesses the tools of thinking in his or her own language and is capable of creativity through it.
In light of digital transformation, the Arabic language faces new challenges, most notably the dominance of foreign content and the weakness of Arabic knowledge production online. Therefore, supporting Arabic digital content and encouraging innovation in applications and software that serve the language are integral to cultural and knowledge sustainability. A language that fails to keep pace with technological progress is threatened with decline, whereas a language that engages with modernity and invests in its tools remains vibrant and dynamic.
Protecting Arabic does not mean isolation or rejecting other languages; rather, it means achieving a conscious balance between openness and preserving cultural specificity. Interaction with global languages is a scientific and cultural necessity, but it should not come at the expense of weakening or marginalizing the national language. A society that takes pride in its language and continues to develop it is better equipped to engage confidently and independently with the world.
In conclusion, protecting the Arabic language is neither a superficial nor an emotional matter; it is a strategic choice tied to the future of coming generations. Every effort made to strengthen the position of Arabic in education, media, and the digital sphere is a long-term investment in building a sustainable society that preserves its roots and shapes its future through awareness and culture.