Launch event of the Dialect Laboratory
The Dialect Laboratory is a specialized project at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, dedicated to the analysis and documentation of local dialects through audio and video recordings. The laboratory aims to preserve forms of oral expression as one of the domains of intangible cultural heritage defined in the 2003 Convention, namely: “Oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage.” The laboratory utilizes modern audio and visual recording technologies and is operated by specialized female researchers and experts in linguistics and dialectology. It contributes to the creation of a linguistic archive that reflects the cultural and linguistic diversity of the region and serves as an important scientific resource for researchers and academics.
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Programme
The session explores the concept of Arabic dialects as an integral component of the Arabic language—not as its opposite—highlighting their cultural and historical value in preserving memory and identity.
It also sheds light on their role in enriching the Arabic linguistic landscape and in transmitting oral heritage and human experiences across generations.
Themes
- Arabic dialects as a living extension of Classical Arabic and a bridge connecting the past and the present.
- Dialectal diversity in the Arab world as a form of cultural richness reflecting the variety of environments and human experiences.
- The complementary relationship between Classical Arabic and dialects in daily life, media, and the arts.
- Dialects as mirrors of identity and vessels of oral heritage, folk tales, and proverbs.
- The importance of documenting and studying dialects scientifically as part of efforts to safeguard the Arabic language and enhance its contemporary relevance.
- The significance of establishing an Arabic Dialects Laboratory as a research and documentation platform dedicated to studying, analyzing, and preserving dialects as part of the intangible cultural heritage.
Objectives
The session aims to reinforce awareness that Arabic dialects are not a call for colloquialism nor a deviation from Classical Arabic, but rather one of its living manifestations that embody authenticity and diversity.
It also seeks to encourage dialogue on ways to document and study dialects as a linguistic and cultural asset that enriches the collective Arab identity and supports scientific initiatives to establish specialized laboratories devoted to the study and documentation of Arabic dialects.
