Suzanne Talhouk: Don't kill your language

Summary

In this powerful speech, the speaker addresses the diminishing use of Arabic in modern society. They recount a personal experience of linguistic discrimination and argue for the importance of preserving Arabic as a mother tongue, essential for cultural identity and creative expression. The speaker also highlights the need for language protection, citing examples of other nations' efforts and urging the audience to embrace and promote Arabic in daily life and digital communication.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker humorously highlights the irony of being unable to use Arabic in their own country.
• 😔 The speaker expresses frustration and hurt at being judged negatively for speaking Arabic.
• 🤔 The speaker questions the societal pressure to abandon one's native language and culture in the pursuit of modernity.
• 📚 Arabic is considered inadequate for scientific research and professional use, leading to a sense of its obsolescence.
• 🌟 Mastery of one's mother tongue, including Arabic, is essential for creative expression in other languages.
• 📖 The example of Gibran Khalil Gibran is used to illustrate the richness that a mother tongue can bring to creative work.
• 🏛 Language is deeply tied to national identity, and its loss can be equated with the death of a nation.
• 🌐 Developed countries actively protect their languages, viewing them as critical to their cultural and economic strength.
• 🔐 Protecting one's language is portrayed as a necessary step for countries that wish to develop and innovate.
• 💡 The speaker calls for creativity in the Arabic language as a means to revitalize it and make it relevant in modern society.
• 👥 The audience is encouraged to use Arabic actively in daily life and to resist the cultural cringe associated with it.

Q & A

What was the initial interaction between the speaker and the waiter in the restaurant?

The speaker asked the waiter for a menu in Arabic, but the waiter responded strangely and corrected her by saying it's called 'menu' in English and French.

How did the waiter's attitude make the speaker feel?

The waiter's attitude was disgusted, making the speaker feel judged as backward and ignorant for asking for the menu in Arabic.

What did the speaker reflect on after the interaction with the waiter?

The speaker reflected on the right to speak her own language in her own country and the pressure to conform to modernity by abandoning her cultural heritage.

Why does the speaker believe that mastery of the mother tongue is important?

The speaker believes that mastery of the mother tongue is a prerequisite for creative expression in other languages and is essential for personal and cultural identity.

How does the speaker use the example of Gibran Khalil Gibran to illustrate her point?

The speaker uses Gibran Khalil Gibran's writing process as an example to show that his Arabic roots and mother tongue influenced his English writings, preserving his cultural essence.

What is the speaker's view on the importance of language in preserving national identity?

The speaker views language as a critical component of national identity, arguing that developed societies protect their language to maintain their culture and identity.

What is the campaign slogan launched by the speaker's group to preserve the Arabic language?

The campaign slogan is 'I talk to you from the East, but you reply from the West,' which highlights the disconnect between traditional and modern language use.

What is the significance of the phrase 'Don't kill your language!' used in the speaker's campaign?

The phrase 'Don't kill your language!' is significant because it urges people to preserve their language to maintain their cultural identity and avoid cultural erasure.

How does the speaker suggest using creativity to preserve the Arabic language?

The speaker suggests using creativity in the mother tongue by writing novels, producing short films, or any form of creative expression that can help revive and globalize the Arabic language.

What is the speaker's advice regarding the use of Arabic on social media?

The speaker advises against mixing Arabic with Latin characters and numbers on social media, as it leads to a 'virtual language' that is disconnected from the real language and culture.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of using the mother tongue at home with children?

The speaker emphasizes using the mother tongue at home to help children identify with their culture and language from an early age, fostering a strong cultural identity.