Asian Studies Major, B.A.–Arab Cultures Concentration

专业介绍

As the fifth most widely spoken language in the world, as one of the official languages of the United Nations, and as the religious language of Muslims who make up a quarter of the world’s population, Arabic is a language with a rich literary and cultural heritage and considerable contemporary significance. Speakers of Arabic learn two forms of the language: a formal form, often called Modern Standard Arabic, which is used for official communication such as speeches and most writing; and an informal form that is used primarily in conversation.  Because Arabic is spoken across a culturally and geographically varied region stretching from Western Asia across North Africa, there are many dialects of spoken Arabic. Students in Arabic courses at UNC learn both Modern Standard Arabic and a dialect of spoken Arabic (either Egyptian or Levantine) simultaneously.

The Arab world has a long and rich history that has always intersected with the histories of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Its geopolitical significance in the modern era, as well as the radical transformations that are occurring in the region since the 2011 Arab revolutions, make the study of the Arab world and its cultures key to understanding the world today. Arab Cultures majors study the literature and visual culture of the Arab world, as well as social practices and intellectual debates through rich course offerings in English.