The Academy of the Arabic language in Cairo: History of creation

Blinov Andrey A.,

Candidate of Philology,

Senior Researcher

Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences

e-mail: progrock1@yandex.ru

This paper studies the history of creation of the Academy of the Arabic Language in Cairo, including all events that surrounded its opening. It details the process of selection of candidates for entering the newly formed Academy and describes the attention of Egyptian public to their appointment. The paper also clarifies the role of King Fuad I in establishing the Academy, who believed that the Arabic language had to meet the trends of modern life, move with the times and keep pace with the development of other languages. Special consideration is given to European orientalists invited to participate in the Academy’s work and especially a scandal involving Dutch Arabist Arest Jan Wensinck. Besides, the paper highlights changes in the quantitative composition of academicians at different stages of Academy existence and peculiarities of its restructuring, which has started from the publication of a corresponding decree in 1982, as well as lists the best representatives of this language regulator in different areas of science.

Keywords: Arabic language, Academy of the Arabic Language in Cairo, Cairo academy, Arab World, language regulation, Egypt, Arest Jan Wensinck, Ahmad Lutfi as-Sayyid, Taha Hussein

References

1. Blinov A.A. Akademiia arabskogo iazyka v Damaske // Vostok. Afro-aziatskie obshchestva: istoriia i sovremennost’. 2018. No. 3. S. 105–118.

2. Reid D. Cairo university and the orientalists // International Journal of Middle East Studies. 1987. Vol. 19 (1). P. 51–76.

3. Rizk Y. Chronicles // Al-Ahram Weekly. 2003. No. 647. URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20030801135912/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/647/chrncls.htm#1 (13.05.2024).

4. Ryad U. The dismissal of A.J. Wensinck from the Royal academy of the Arabic language in Cairo // The Study of Religion and the Training of Muslim Clergy in Europe / eds. W.B. Drees, P. Sjoerd van Koningsveld. Leiden: Leiden University Press, 2008. P. 91–134.

5. Sawaie M. Language Academies // Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics. 2007. Vol. 2. P. 634–642.