Arabic: Why Is It Important For The Military?

1) Arabic Letters


Why might Arabic be crucial to not only the United States Military but as well as the entire world?
Arabic is a language that is not only written backwards, compared to the English language, but is also written in different letters. This seems extremely difficult for anyone to learn. Not only learning another language, I'm talking about completely taking yourself out of your comfort zone! Talk about exercising your brain!

An article, written in 2008 about why Arabic is important in the military, is posted in New York Times. There are many reasons why it's significant.

2)“ 'Having a soldier who speaks Arabic is a huge asset,' ” Captain Nelson said in an e-mail message from an outpost near Baghdad."

"Figures from the department indicate that only 1.2 percent of the military receives a bonus paid to those who can speak languages judged to be of critical importance for the current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as other areas of strategic concern."

Even though Arabic is not only important, but it offers more pay to soldiers who are willing to learn the challenging language. However, there are some tough areas to pass to fully grasp it. 

"The military has struggled for years to develop a clear objective for language training."



3) Call for Consultants: GRI Certified Training Program quality control in Middle East Arabic Speaking Countries


So why is it essential? In another article, someones on to explain their own opinion about it as as well as facts.

4) "Arabic is becoming an important language when it comes to operating a international business that’s trying to break into foreign markets. Learning Arabic opens up many employment possibilities in a number of different industries such as oil, travel, fiance, and translation to name a few. Arabic speakers have been in very high demand by the CIA and FBI for that ongoing conflicts in Iraqi as well as Afghanistan."




5) LINGUISTS 

Let's now apply this to the United States Military Jobs. People, who are in the military that translate languages, are either called Linguists or Translators. So what do they do? Well according to the U.S. Army they:

• Perform oral interpretations.
• Assist military officers in proving information with translations as well as aiding in certain missions.
• Provide aid to the Public Affairs Office during local media events or translations for newspapers or even pamphlets.
• Assist in locating certain check points around certain areas. 

This is vital for the U.S. Military in certain reports, missions, or even transportation. Even if you don't translate as a job, it's important to be aware of certain phrases you can learn. Examples would be as if you're lost and you're asking a local for directions. The only thing is that you don't understand what they're saying! Simple phrases such as:

1. "How can I get there?"
2. "Do you know where this is?"

There can even be everyday questions you could ask such as:

1. "Where is the nearest restroom?"
2. "Where can I eat?"
3. "Where is the nearest hotel?"
4. "How are you?"
5. "What is your name?

Even learning to speak  a little bit of a language is even courteous! Words and phrases like theses are respond:

1. "Hello!"
2. "Nice to meet you!"
3. "Thank you!"
4. "Goodbye!" 

Learning a language can take you a long way! Think about that next time you get an opportunity to expand your vocabulary in a different way! 








Sources: 1) "A Hotchpotch Hijabi in Italy: Squiggles, Snails, and Tadpoles: The Arabic Alphabet." A Hotchpotch Hijabi in Italy: Squiggles, Snails, and Tadpoles: The Arabic Alphabet.SaritaAgerman 2014.  Web. 13 Feb. 2015.
http://saritaagerman.blogspot.com/2013/07/squiggles-snails-and-tadpoles-arabic.html

2) Bardenwerper, Will. "For Military, Slow Progress in Foreign Language Push."The New York Times. The New York Times, 21 Sept. 2008. Web. 13 Feb. 2015.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/22/washington/22language.html?_r=0

3) "Call for Consultants: GRI Certified Training Program Quality Control in Middle East Arabic Speaking Countries." Call for Consultants: GRI Certified Training Program Quality Control in Middle East Arabic Speaking Countries. Global Reporting Initiative., March 2011. Web. 13 Feb. 2015.
https://www.globalreporting.org/information/news-and-press-center/Pages/Call-for-Consultants-GRI-Certified-Training-Program-quality-control-in-Middle-East-Arabic-Speaking-Countries.aspx

4)  "Importance of Arabic." Importance of Arabic. Sayontan Sinha., May 6, 2014. Web. 13 Feb. 2015.
http://www.importanceoflanguages.com/LearnArabic/arabic-phrases/

5) "Interpreter/Translator." Goarmy.com. U.S. Army., 2015. Web. 13 Feb. 2015.
http://www.goarmy.com/linguist/about/interpreter-translator.html

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