10/03/2025
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10/03/2025
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SOME researchers dedicate their efforts to studying the origins of languages and dialects, exploring which is softer, which is more refined, how languages formed among societies with varying conditions, lifestyles, and environments, and eventually uniting them through a common language or dialect. These researchers have invested countless hours in unraveling this mystery, delving into origins, lineages, and identities”, journalist Hassan Ali Karam wrote for Al-Seyassah daily. “
God created humans in different groups and nations, but these groups needed to communicate with each other through gestures, movements, and perhaps even out of necessity. However, this doesn’t mean that a person should spend their entire life communicating with others only through gestures.
“Therefore, the human need for language is not a luxury but a necessity. By nature, humans are social beings, and relationships can only be built through language, both spoken and written. The clearer and more eloquent the language, the easier it is for people to come together and understand one another.
“Perhaps, in our present time, during an era dominated by technology, many languages, particularly those of underdeveloped and impoverished countries, have been left behind. These languages could not keep pace with the rapid advancements of the modern world, leading to their gradual disappearance, along with the customs and traditions they carried.
“Today, we suffer from the challenges of a rapidly advancing civilization, one that transitions quickly from highly creative and innovative societies to less developed ones. The success and strength of countries do not come from stagnation or traditional ways of thinking, but from the ability to create something from nothing and invent new, groundbreaking ideas. Isn’t this the true essence of creativity, a miracle that benefits humanity?
“From this point, it can be said that our Kuwaiti dialect is no longer purely Kuwaiti, nor is it based solely on classical Arabic. The dialect children learn from their fathers and mothers at home is no longer a simple, traditional language. Instead, it has evolved into a mix that carries terms and expressions that are no longer fully understood even within a single home or family. This change is due, in large part, to the influence of modern linguistic trends introduced through technological platforms like computers and film streaming services.
“In a Kuwaiti home today, multiple languages and dialects coexist. Children are exposed to speech from domestic workers, drivers, and other household members, and every day, they hear a mix of languages that are neither purely Kuwaiti, Arabic, nor foreign. These include languages such as Indian, Sri Lankan, Bengali, and Filipino.
“We interact with a variety of languages and dialects, often not by choice, but out of necessity. This is required to effectively communicate our needs to domestic workers, drivers, and others, as we are a society that depends on foreign labor, both at home and in the marketplace.
“Many researchers have focused on the Kuwaiti dialect, concerned about the influence of foreign dialects, languages, and vocabulary that have been integrated into the traditional language. Notable figures in this effort include the renowned researcher and plastic artist Ayoub Hussein Al-Ayoub (May God have mercy on him), the encyclopedic researcher Hamad Saeedan, Khaled Saud Al-Zaid, and many others dedicated to preserving and studying Kuwaiti heritage.
“We must admit that the Kuwaiti dialect, like any dialect or language, has absorbed many influences, both Arabic and foreign. This is not a flaw, as the Kuwaiti dialect was originally a blend of Arabic, Indian, Persian, and other languages. The early Kuwaitis brought with them their own languages, customs, and cultures, contributing to the richness of the dialect.
“The world now almost speaks one language, which is the language of the computer. Those who lament the loss of the Kuwaiti dialect are, without a doubt, mourning a time that has passed. There is no longer a “pure” Kuwaiti dialect, nor the dialects of the people from Jablah, Sharq, Mirqab, Failaka, or the Bedouins and villagers. Today, there is one global language, backed by a dominant civilization that no force can resist. It is a one global force with one language.
“We are all now part of a language that needs redefinition, perhaps a new name, or an encyclopedia. So what does it matter if the people of “Al-Jablah” say “Shukr” with a kasra on the “shin,” or if the people of the East say “Shukr” with a fatha on the “shin”? “If this bothers you, just look at the language of your children from the current and future generations, and then judge for yourself what has become of the Kuwaiti dialect.”
Hassan Ali Karam
For Alseyassah / Arab Times
