In recent years, the influence of Arabic on the English language has been ever-growing. This influence is mainly due to the long-standing presence of Arabic-speaking communities in the United Kingdom and the increased number of people traveling to and from the Middle East. As a result, there has been a great deal of exchange between the two languages, leading to many English words adapted from Arabic. The influence of Arabic on the English language is an essential and exciting phenomenon. It is indicative of the long-standing presence of Arabic-speaking communities in the United Kingdom and the increased number of people traveling to and from the Middle East. This exchange between the two languages has led to a large number of English words that have been adapted from Arabic. One of the most influential aspects of this exchange has been adopting Arabic words into English. This has been particularly notable in politics, business, and technology. Words such as jihad, sharia, and imam have become commonplace in English. In addition, many Arabic words have been adopted and adapted to suit the English language. For example, the Arabic word ‘baraka’ has been adapted to the English ‘blessing,’ and ‘alif’ has been adapted to the ‘alphabet.’ The influence of Arabic on English has also been seen in how English words and phrases are used. For example, many English words have been adapted to reflect an Arabic pronunciation. This includes using words such as ‘kebab,’ ‘halal,’ and ‘Bismillah.’ In addition, Arabic phrases such as ‘inshallah’ and ‘alhamdulillah’ have become commonplace in casual English conversation.
Furthermore, the influence of Arabic on English has also been seen in how Arabic words and phrases are used in English literature. For example, Arabic words and phrases have been used to enhance the atmosphere of a story or poem. In addition, Arabic words have also been used to create imagery or convey a particular meaning in literature. Finally, the influence of Arabic on English has also been seen in how the two languages interact. For example, many English words have been adapted to reflect an Arabic pronunciation or to make them easier for Arabic speakers to understand. This is particularly noticeable in the case of words such as ‘kebab,’ ‘halal,’ and ‘bismillah.’ In inference, the influence of Arabic on the English language is profound and far-reaching. It is indicative of the long-standing presence of Arabic-speaking communities in the United Kingdom and the increased number of people traveling to and from the Middle East (Al-Sulaiman, 2013). This exchange between the two languages has led to many English words that have been adapted from Arabic and the use of Arabic words and phrases in English literature. Therefore, it is clear that Arabic has significantly influenced the English language.
Several English words that have been adopted from Arabic are related to food and cuisine. The English words ‘couscous’, ‘tahini,’ ‘hummus,’ and ‘baba ghanoush’ are all derived from Arabic and are widely used to refer to these unique dishes. In addition, the English words ‘kebab’ and ‘falafel’ are also adopted from Arabic and are commonly used to refer to these dishes (Mohamed, 2020). The influence of Arabic on the English language is vast and wide-reaching. Words from the Arabic language have been adopted in English to refer to certain foods, dishes, and cuisine. These words help to give English speakers a more diverse and rich vocabulary when discussing cuisine and food. One of the most well-known and widely used English words adopted from Arabic is ‘couscous.’ This word is used to refer to a type of steamed semolina that is common in North African cuisine. It is often served with vegetables or meat and is a staple of many regional dishes.
Another English word that has been adopted from Arabic is ‘tahini.’ This word refers to a paste made from sesame seeds prevalent in Middle Eastern cuisines. It is commonly used in hummus, a chickpea-based dip, and baba ghanoush, a roasted eggplant dip. The words ‘hummus’ and ‘baba ghanoush’ also have Arabic origins and are widely used to refer to these unique dishes. Hummus is a famous dip made from mashed chickpeas, garlic, tahini, and other spices, while baba ghanoush is a roasted eggplant dip served with pita bread. Two other English words derived from Arabic are ‘kebab’ and ‘falafel.’ Kebab refers to skewers of grilled meat, usually beef, chicken, or lamb, that are popular in Middle Eastern cuisine. Falafel, on the other hand, is a deep-fried ball of mashed chickpeas, often served on pita bread. Arabic has contributed significantly to the English language regarding food and cuisine. English speakers can now refer to certain dishes accurately and descriptively with words adopted from Arabic (Mohamed, 2020). This helps enrich the English language and gives English speakers a better understanding of the different types of cuisine and available dishes.
The English language has also adopted a number of words that are related to mathematics and science. The English words ‘algebra’ and ‘algorithm’ are both derived from the Arabic language, suggesting that the contribution of Arabic to mathematics and science is significant. The terms ‘algebra’ and ‘algorithm’ are two examples of words taken from the Arabic language, showing their influence in mathematics and science. Algebra is a branch of mathematics that studies manipulating symbols and equations to solve problems. Its roots can be traced to the Arabic language, where the words al-jabr and al-muqabilah come from. The former means “restoration,” and the latter means “balancing.” This reflects the process of solving algebraic equations, which involve the manipulation of symbols to restore or balance the equation. An algorithm is a set of instructions that can be used to solve a problem. It is also derived from the Arabic language, where the term al-Khwarizmi comes from. This refers to the Persian mathematician, astronomer, and geographer, Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, who is considered to be the founder of algebra and the creator of algorithms. Al-Khwarizmi’s work was crucial in laying the foundation for the field of mathematics and science, as it paved the way for further research and development in the field.
The influence of Arabic on mathematics and science is further demonstrated in the terms calculus, chemistry, and numerator, which are derived from the Arabic language and culture. Calculus is a branch of mathematics that studies the properties of functions and their derivatives and is derived from the Arabic word ‘qalb,’ which means ‘heart’ (Khan, 2016). Chemistry is a branch of science that studies the composition, structure, and properties of matter and is derived from the Arabic word ‘al-kimiya,’ which means ‘the process of transmutation. The term numerator is used to describe the number located at the top of a fraction and is derived from the Arabic word ‘al-nimr,’ which means ‘the numeral.’ In addition, the English language has adopted numerous words related to mathematics and science that are derived from the Arabic language, clearly demonstrating the significant contribution of Arabic to the development of mathematics and science. From algebra to algorithms, calculus to chemistry, and numerator to numerators, the influence of the Arabic language and culture on mathematics and science is undeniable.
The English language has also adopted several words related to clothing and fashion. The English words ‘kaftan’ and ‘abaya’ are both derived from Arabic and are commonly used to refer to these garments. In addition, the English words ‘sarong’, ‘sash,’ and ‘burnous’ are also adopted from Arabic and are used to refer to these particular garments. The English language has also adopted many words related to art and architecture. The English words ‘minaret’ and ‘mihrab’ are both derived from Arabic and are commonly used to refer to the architectural features of mosques.
In addition, the English words ‘mosaic’ and ‘mihrab’ are also adopted from Arabic and refer to the decorative art often found in mosques (Khan, 2016). The English language has also adopted a number of words that are related to religion. The English words ‘Allah,’ ‘imam’ and ‘Koran’ are all derived from Arabic and commonly refer to aspects of the Islamic faith. In addition, the English words ‘halal’ and ‘haram’ are also adopted from Arabic and refer to the Islamic principles of permissible and forbidden. Finally, the English language has also adopted many words that are related to culture. The English words ‘baksheesh’ and ‘sheesha’ are both derived from Arabic and commonly refer to aspects of Middle Eastern culture (Al-Sulaiman, 2013). In addition, the English words ‘majlis’ and ‘habibi’ are also adopted from Arabic and refer to particular aspects of Middle Eastern culture.
From the above discussion, it is evident that many English words that have been adopted from Arabic refer to food and cuisine. For example, the word “kebab” is derived from the Arabic word “kabab,” which is a type of meat dish. Similarly, “couscous” is derived from the Arabic word “kuskus,” a steamed grain dish. Other Arabic-derived words related to food and cuisine include “tahini,” “falafel,” “hummus,” “baklava,” “tabbouleh,” and “shawarma.” In addition to food and cuisine, many English words have also been adopted from Arabic to refer to mathematics and science. For example, the words “algebra” and “algorithm” are derived from the Arabic word “al-jabr,” which is a type of equation.
Similarly, the word “zenith” is derived from the Arabic word “samt ar-ra’s,” which means “the highest point.” Other Arabic-derived words related to mathematics and science include “zero,” “alkali,” “elixir,” “summa,” “mufti,” and “hazmat.” The influence of Arabic on the English language can also be seen in the words used to refer to clothing and fashion. For example, the word “kaftan” is derived from the Arabic word “qaftan,” a loose-fitting robe. Similarly, the word “sarong” is derived from the Arabic word “sarung,” a type of wrap skirt. Other Arabic-derived words related to clothing and fashion include “abaya,” “caftan,” “jalabiya,” “keffiyeh,” “turban,” and “takchita.”
In summation, the influence of Arabic on the English language is evident in the many English words adopted from Arabic. These words are used to refer to a range of topics, from food and cuisine to mathematics and science, from clothing and fashion to art and architecture, and from religion to culture. As such, it is clear that the influence of Arabic on the English language is significant and is likely to continue to grow in the years to come. The influence of Arabic on the English language is undeniable, with a large portion of English words originating from Arabic. Arabic is an ancient language with a rich history, and its influence can be seen in many aspects of the English language.
References
Al-Sulaiman, M. (2013). The dialectic of reciprocal impact between Arabic and English: Egyptian colloquial Arabic as a model. Intercultural Pragmatics, 10(3), 349-367.
Khan, M. (2016). Decoding the influence of Arabic on the English language. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 12(3), 267-275.
Lamrabet, M. (2017). Arabic loanwords in the English language: A lexical and semantic analysis. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 13(1), 1-13.
Mohamed, A. H. (2020). The Dialectic of Reciprocal Impact between Arabic and English: Egyptian Colloquial Arabic as a Model. مجلة البحث العلمي في الآداب, 21(9), 121-143.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348543024_The_Dialectic_of_Reciprocal_Impact_between_Arabic_and_English_Egyptian_Colloquial_Arabic_as_a_Model
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