One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. – William Shakespeare This past year, like the quote above, made the whole world kin in terms of our common experience of hardship. In the United States, the pandemic period has included movement toward and away from inclusivity of diversity. As the number of vaccines increases and…
Having posted Kids & YA book recommendations last month, this month I’d like to share some of my favorite MENA-related fiction and non-fiction selections that I read roughly in the past year. If you want to learn more about MENA and/or participate in a community of readers, check out the MENA Lit Group on goodreads.com…
Here is my latest list of book recommendations for children and young adults, whether for libraries, schools, or homes. These focus on Arabic language and culture (my specialty), but I’ve included bonus Spanish selections at the end. I have read all these books and hope you will enjoy them too! Kids: Salma the Syrian Chef…
Hisham al-Gokh gave a stunning live performance of this poem – see here. When this poem first came out, several years ago, it captured my attention with its simplicity and its brave criticism. He points the finger of blame at authorities in the Arab region, but there is also a note of self-criticism. It’s time…
The winter holiday season is an excellent time for revisiting favorite classics that continue to entertain and intrigue us year after year. One of my all-time favorites from classical Arabic literature is the travel account of Ibn Fadlan. (Especially during this social-distancing time, this selection offers fun reading AND a chance to travel virtually!) Here…
Starting in my student days, I often proofread papers for my colleagues. After completing my PhD, I continued editing for professors, just as friends. They kept telling me that I should be charging more for my time, but I just didn’t have a business mindset yet. Eventually, I recognized the value of my contribution. When…
1640 Harvard College establishes the first Semitic chair (Hebrew, Chaldaic and Syriac) in the United States, adding Arabic between 1654 and 1672. Others followed Harvard’s example, dependent upon the availability of scholars (beginning at Yale in 1700, at Dartmouth and Andover in 1807, and at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1822). Early scholars learned Arabic only…
The letter ع ‘ayn The Arabic Language اللغة العربية Arabic belongs to the Semitic family of languages. Currently spoken languages in this family, besides Arabic, include Modern Hebrew, Amharic, Tigre and Tigrinya, Syriac, several Aramaic dialects, and Maltese. Arabic is spoken by about 422 million people (native and non-native), making it one of the 5…
In the current climate, audio and video sources are on the rise, but reading remains a key skill for language learners. For those learners who already love to read (in any language), extensive reading can be a powerhouse for their progress toward increased proficiency in Arabic. This 2-part series is based on research in language…
In the current climate, audio and video sources are on the rise, but reading remains a key skill for language learners. For those learners who already love to read (in any language), extensive reading can be a powerhouse for their progress toward increased proficiency in Arabic. This 2-part series is based on research in language…
