Arab Culture Research Articles

White as a Symbol of Death and Eternity in Darwish’s and Lorca’s Poetry: A Comparative Study

This article investigates the symbolism of white color in the works of the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish and the Spanish Federico Garcia Lorca. The white color is exceptionally employed in their poetry, which is different from its normal symbolism in Arabic and Spanish cultures. In their poetry, the white color is used to symbolize a duality of opposites, death as an end to mortal life and eternity as an infinity phase of afterlife. This paradoxical use of the white color cannot be grasped by readers without considering the poetic context. This color is employed by the two poets to reflect their psychology, feelings, and emotions toward death and eternity. The color white symbolizes death in all forms; the self-death as shown in Darwish’s poem Mural, the death of the other as illustrated in Lament for the Death of a Bullfighter of Lorca, the divine death as in Lorca’s The Martyrdom of Saint Eulalia and the instant death of humans as in Remainder of a Life of Darwish. In addition, the white color is used to symbolize eternity as an afterlife phase. The two poets have exploited the white color to express their interrogation about man’s destiny after death being eternal or not.

Some Effects of Randomly Practiced Translation Strategies on Arabic

Translation has always been considered a sign of existing communication processes between nations. The act of translating from or into a language usually reflects its cultural and economic status. For example, during the middle ages, the Arab World’s cultural and economic situation was witnessing a prosperous era; hence, various nations at that time were highly interested in translating the Arabic culture into their languages and cultures. Nowadays, the Arab World lives its worst times in terms of scientific or technological developments which have resulted in a state of cultural fall back; accordingly, the direction of translation is reversed to make Arabic negatively the target language. However, it should be crystal clear that it is not an intrinsic feature of a language which makes it weak or inferior; on the contrary, an original and elegant language in terms of its cultural heritage may lose its power and superiority as a result of inferior conditions lived by its people. On the other hand, a relatively modern language may become very powerful and influential because of the well-developed status achieved by its natives in various aspects. Arabic, being one of the languages that have lost their superior and influential status, has been influenced by English and other languages in terms of sounds, vocabulary, structures and culture.

Dialektika Islam dan Budaya dalam Pendekatan Teologis-Historis dan Filosofis

The presence of Islam among humans has been going on for more than fourteen centuries. During that time Islam has been contributing to the dynamics of human progress. But Islam is also often contrasted with culture. Islam is considered to have originated from Arab so that Islam is not opened up by other culture. This paper will try to provide a dialectical analysis of answers between Islam and culture through theological, historical and philosophical approaches. That ontologically and epistemologically, Islam is a doctrine that originates from revelation, while culture is the embodiment of work, creativity and taste that originates from human reason. Islam as a religion is presented to humans so that they experience assimilation contact with Arabic culture at first and then with other cultures. But Islam is not synonymous with Arabic culture. The two can still be distinguished, although they cannot be separated. Because comprehending Islam must go through Arabic as the language of revelation and its social context. However, Islam accepts the plurality of cultures so that it can be present and accepted in all human cultures because Islam is presented for all human beings.

The Terms Used For Woman's Veil In The Pre-Islamic (Jahili) Poetry: A Pragmatic Study

The present research intends to investigate the names used for the woman's veil in pre-Islamic poetry (Jahili Poetry) using a pragmatic method to determine the significance of those phrases, how they were passed down through the generations, and how they evolved. The study will be conducted along three axes: the pragmatic approach concept, the status of the veil among Arabs, and the presentation of specific terms and texts relevant to the veil, as well as a "lexical semantic analysis" of those terms. Research findings and suggestions: The poetry of Jahili contains a plethora of tongues for woman's vile. Poets utilized them in various ways based on the conditions of women and their social standing since women can be free, enslaved, urban, nomadic, large, and little. Research on the languages and components of the woman's veil throughout Islamic history should be prioritized. Additionally, the interrelationships between the modern and ancient veil should be investigated, and its importance and cultural and literary qualities should be sought through literary texts of poetry and prose. Overall, the study of pre-Islamic poetry and the veil can significantly impact the teaching of Arabic. By gaining a deeper understanding of the Arabic language's cultural, social, and linguistic aspects, students can better appreciate the historical context and cultural richness of the language. This research can provide important insights into the interrelationships between the modern and ancient veil and can help to deepen students' understanding of the language and its use throughout history.

Islam and Multiculturalism in The Charter of Medina (Socio-Historical Studies)

Multiculturalism becomes an interesting study material when related to the issue of pluralism in the various social life of Muslims. This paper will examine the relationship between Islam and multiculturalism with the consideration that Islam as a doctrinal system derived from God's revelation, sometimes clashes with the development of the socio-cultural context of its adherents. The main problem of this study is how the multiculturalism of the Muslim community in the Prophet is reflected in the Medina Charter. This study aims to map the pattern of multiculturalism in communities in Yathrib city of Medina. The study was conducted with historical methods and socio-cultural approaches. This study found the following patterns of multiculturalism: First, the Muslim community in the period of the Prophet in Medina based on Arab culture, grew up with patterns that were accommodating to forms of racial, religious, and 'ashabiyyah qabailiyyah diversity. Second, the pattern of the Muslim community that developed during the Medina period encouraged the growth of Muslim acculturation of non-Muslim communities to strengthen the integrity and integrity of Madinah society. Third, the pattern of multiculturalism is more evident as the reality of pluralism in Muslim societies is shown by the role of interfaith and racial communities.

Analysis of Textbook “Ilmu Saraf Untuk Pemula” Third Edition Writen by Abu Razin and Ummu Razin (Development Textbook Principles)

This article aimed to analyze the book "Sarf science for beginners third edition by Abu Razin and Ummu Razin" based on the theory of development textbook principles and to find out the strengths and weaknesses of textbook. This research was qualitative method, it is literature research with descriptive analysis method. According to the results of this research, the Sharaf Science book for beginners has been revised and developed twice, based on suggestions and recommendations from teachers and students. The sociocultural principle is a weakness in this textbook because the author paid little attention to this principle, especially in giving examples in the discussion of sarf which aims to understand the Qur'an. Supposedly, giving examples in this book should also represent the themes of Arab culture. There is no appropriate use for this book for learners who is younger than 15 years old since it doesn't address the psychological state of these learners. The principles of psychology, pedagogy, and language are the strengths of this book. There are several striking strengths of this book, including how the author facilitates the ability of students to learn independently, and how teachers are given several videos for free about the explanation and teaching of the book, directly practiced by the author. This textbook still has few typos and a lot of blank spaces on some pages, and it does not explain in detail, for example in the discussion of fi'il mu'tal, the origin of the word and the history of its changes, although the author has provided a video of the learning process on YouTube. How good it would be if the explanation was later included in the book.

The Lived Experiences of Independent Western Classical Chamber Musicians in the United Arab Emirates: A Narrative Inquiry

The research concerns the relationship between Western classical music and Arabian cultures in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as experienced by independent classical chamber musicians. The main research question was: what stories do independent Western classical chamber musicians tell about their lived experiences of practicing and performing Western classical music in the UAE? The real-life problem guiding this research has two parts: i. the problem that Western classical music is not a sustainable profession for performers in the UAE and ii. the gap in the literature on Western classical music in the UAE. The real-life problem the first author experienced in the UAE as a Western musician had the following challenges: practical obstacles related to sourcing fellow musicians who uphold the same standards and music ideals, finding rehearsal venues and creating performance opportunities. These challenges lead to the formation of the research problem.

CHALLENGES OF TRANSLATING COVID-19 TERMINOLOGY INTO ARABIC: A STUDY OF MACHINE TRANSLATION AND LINGUISTIC MEANS

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a plethora of new words and terminology in various languages, including Arabic. This linguistic phenomenon stems from the need to describe and discuss the unique circumstances and developments surrounding the pandemic. This study aims to find out the challenges faced by Arabic translators when incorporating these newly coined terms into the Arabic language and culture. The localization of COVID-19 terminology is a complex and challenging task, but it is essential to ensure that Arabic speakers have access to accurate and up-to-date information about the pandemic. The results indicate that there are linguistic and cultural challenges in the English-Arabic translation of COVID-19 prevention and control terminology. By using a variety of linguistic techniques, Arabic translators can help ensure that these new terms are accurately and effectively localized into Arabic.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0001/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Clinical and prognostic implications of cardiopulmonary exercise stress echocardiography in asymptomatic degenerative mitral regurgitation

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): The Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau. Background Current guidelines recommend intervention in severe degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) in symptomatic patients or asymptomatic patients with left ventricular dilatation or dysfunction. The insidious onset of symptoms may mean patients do not report symptoms. The role of systematic exercise testing for symptoms in MR is not clearly defined. Methods 97 patients with moderate to severe, asymptomatic MR underwent exercise echocardiography combined with cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Predictors of exercise-induced dyspnoea, symptom-free survival and mitral valve intervention were identified. Results 18 (19%) patients developed limiting dyspnoea on exercise. Spontaneous symptom free survival at 24 months was significantly higher in those without exercise-induced symptoms compared to those with exercise-induced symptoms, p <0.0001. The only independent predictors of spontaneous symptoms at 2 years were effective regurgitant orifice area (odds ratio 27.45 (95% CI 1.43 – 528.40), p = 0.03) and exercise-induced symptoms (odds ratio 11.56 (95% CI 1.71 – 78.09), p = 0.01). The only independent predictor of surgery was indexed left ventricular systolic volumes (Odds ratio 1.17 (95% CI 1.04 – 1.30), p = 0.006). Where only patients undergoing surgery due to symptoms were included, the only independent predictor was exercise-induced symptoms (Odds ratio 13.94 (95% CI 1.39 – 140.27), p = 0.025). Conclusion In patients with primary asymptomatic degenerative MR, one fifth develop symptoms on exercise. This predicts subsequent development of spontaneous symptoms and mitral valve intervention due to symptoms.

Determinants of post-operative left ventricular dysfunction in degenerative mitral regurgitation

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): The Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau. Background Chronic degenerative mitral regurgitation leads to volume overload causing left ventricular (LV) enlargement and eventually LV impairment. Current guidelines determining thresholds for intervention are based on LV diameters and ejection fraction. There is sparse data examining the value of LV volumes and newer markers of LV performance on outcomes of surgery in mitral valve prolapse. Purpose Identify the best markers of LV impairment after mitral valve surgery. Methods Prospective, observational study of patients with mitral valve prolapse undergoing mitral valve surgery. Pre-operative LV diameters, volumes, ejection fraction (LVEF), global longitudinal strain (GLS) and myocardial work measured. Post-operative LV impairment defined as LVEF < 50% at 1 year post-surgery. Results Eighty-seven patients included. 13% developed post-operative LV impairment. Patients with post-operative LV dysfunction showed significantly larger indexed LV end-systolic diameters (LVESD), volumes (LVESV), lower LVEF and more abnormal GLS than patients without post-operative LV dysfunction. In multivariate analysis, indexed LVESV (Odds ratio 1.11 (95% CI 1.01 – 1.23), p = 0.039) and GLS (odds ratio 1.46 (95% CI 1 – 2.14), p = 0.054) were the only independent predictors of post-operative LV dysfunction. The optimal cut-off of 36.3 ml/m2 for indexed LVESV had a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 78% for detection of post-operative LV impairment. Conclusion Post-operative LV impairment is common. Indexed LV volumes (36.3ml/m2) provided the best marker of post-operative LV impairment.

Gender representation in animal-related proverbs: Algerian vs. Jordanian Arabic.

This study explores the connotative meanings in animal-related proverbs used to describe the behavior of men and women in Algerian and Jordanian societies. A questionnaire with 46 Algerian and 45 Jordanian animal-related proverbs was distributed to 30 native Arabic speakers enrolled at the University of Jordan. The analysis focused on adapted categories with a gender perspective, including inferiority, weakness, stupidity, ill-nature, objectification, ugliness, positivity, and shrewdness. Both Algerian and Jordanian animal-related proverbs exhibited diverse connotative meanings. Women were predominantly associated with derogatory connotations in both languages, portraying characteristics such as weakness, stupidity, inferiority, cunningness, and trickery. Similar characteristics were present in descriptions of men, but women in Arab cultures were consistently depicted as subordinate and denigrated. Conversely, men were portrayed with authority, control, superiority, and strength over women. Additionally, positive depictions included animals like gazelles, peacocks, partridges, cats, and horses to symbolize the beauty of women. Men's positive characteristics, such as strength, courage, and superiority, were associated with horses, camels, and lions. This study highlights the prevalent connotations in animal-related proverbs used to describe men and women in Algerian and Jordanian societies. It reveals derogatory portrayals of women, reinforcing their subordinate status, while men are depicted with authority and power. However, positive representations emerged, attributing beauty to women and highlighting admirable qualities in men. These findings shed light on the complex dynamics of gender portrayal within cultural proverbs, emphasizing the need for further examination of these linguistic expressions.

Physicians’ professionalism from the patients’ perspective: a qualitative study at a single-family practice in Saudi Arabia

IntroductionProfessionalism is a crucial component of medical practice. It is a culturally sensitive notion that generally consists of behaviors, values, communication, and relationships. This study is a qualitative study exploring physician professionalism from the patients’ perspective.MethodsFocus group discussions with patients attending a family medicine center attached to a tertiary care hospital were carried out using the four gates model of Arabian medical professionalism that is appropriate to Arab culture. Discussions with patients were recorded and transcribed. Data were thematically analyzed using NVivo software.ResultsThree main themes emerged from the data. (1) In dealing with patients, participants expected respect but understood delays in seeing physicians due to their busy schedules. In communication, participants expected to be informed about their health conditions and to have their questions answered. (2) In dealing with tasks, participants expected proper examination and transparency of diagnosis, but some expected the physician to know everything and did not appreciate them seeking outside opinions. They expected to see the same physician at every visit. (3) In physician characteristics preferences, participants preferred friendly smiling physicians. Some cared about the outer appearance of the physician whereas others did not.Discussion/conclusionsThe findings of the study explained only two themes of the four gates model namely dealing with patients and dealing with tasks. Cultural competence and how to benefit from patients’ perceptions to be an ideal physician should be incorporated into the process of physicians’ training.

The World Psychiatry Exchange Program in Iran: a unique academic and personal experience.

The World Psychiatry Exchange Program in Iran is an academic experience we are delighted to share. As two participating early career psychiatrists, a local psychiatry faculty member manager, and the lead founder and international coordinator of the programme, we focus in this article on the unfolding of this new learning experience, the difficulties we encountered and the main lessons learned by the participants: commonalities and differences in training and practice in general adult psychiatry and child psychiatry in Tunisia and Iran, as well as in idioms of distress between the Arab and Persian cultures.

GRAMMATICAL ANALYSIS CONCEPT AND FUNCTION

It is indisputable that (linguistic structure) is the real indication of the text, and in order to indicate a real significance, the interpretation of that interpretation is protected by essay and maqam clues that make us reach certainty of the intention of that text. 
 The researchers decided that the value of Arabic grammar has remained throughout history represented in the analysis of eloquent Arabic texts, and this analysis was practiced by scholars of different disciplines: commentators, commentators of the Sunnah, commentators of poetry, grammarians, and others, it is penetrating into the fabric of Arab culture is hardly devoid of a branch of Arabic, according to an audited researcher.
 To achieve this purpose, I followed in this research a plan based on an introduction, two sections, and a conclusion, as follows: 
 The first topic: grammatical analysis is a basic branch of linguistic analysis.
 The second topic: grammatical analysis, its function, evidence and patterns.
 Conclusion and the most important results.
 One of the most important things that the research decided is that grammatical analysis is one of the most important types of linguistic analysis, because checking grammatical links is an audit of the speaker's intention, in light of the context of the article and the context of the situation.

كلمة العدد (الإنجليزي)

كلمة العدد (الإنجليزي)

Problems in Translating Culturally Specific References in the Holy Quran Surat “Nissaa” as a Case Study

Quranic translations are hard to come by and remain an essential subject for translators and scholars in language translations. Nonetheless, translating the Quran is difficult, considering it has culturally bound terms and other linguistic devices that require understanding both the source and target languages. The current study aims to evaluate Culturally Specific References of the two famous translations of the Holy Quran. The first translation that will be considered is the English version of the Quran translated by Arberry (1986), and the second translation will be that of Khan 1998. The researcher extracted verses from Suran Nissaa from the two versions of the Quran. Using a comparative analysis technique, the researcher determined that both translators failed to correctly render and translate the culturally specific references. From the analysis, it is evident that most of the references needed to be correctly rendered. The study concludes that the cultural nature of the Quran calls for translators to understand the cultural contexts of both Source text and Target text properly. Besides, translators must have a nuanced understanding of Arabic culture and terminologies.

Stages of development of Arabic ( Andalusian literature) literature in Spain

Centers of Arabic culture and literature of the Middle Ages were established in Spain. This is related to the Arab expansion in the Iberian Peninsula, which lasted for almost eight centuries. During this time, the Arabs together with the Berbers, as well as the Arabized local Visigoths, were able to spread the Arabic language and literature in Andalusia. In Spain, centers of Arab culture and literature of the Middle Ages were created. From the eighth century, when the Arabs settled in Spain, the area of Arab culture expanded. Cordova, Granada, Almeria, Valencia and others became its centers in Andalusia (Arabic Spain). In Andalusian literature of the 8th-10th centuries. classical currents prevailed, in which the new style invaded. Prominent representatives of the poetry of this era are Al-Ghazali, Ibn Abd Rabihi, Ibn Hani, Ibn Daraj, Ibn Hazmi. In the Andalusian literature of the eleventh century, local color, original themes and poetic types were established. The rise of Andalusian poetry was soon followed by a decline. Ibn Zaydun, Ibn Abdun, Ibn Hafaja worked in this era.  An important event was the emergence of the original forms of strophic poetry, Muvashshahi and Zajal. From Andalusia it spread to all Arab countries. In turn, he influenced the development of early Provençal poetry. Ibn Kuzman is the greatest representative of the Zajal genre. Ibn Hazm, the author of the seminal treatise "The Dove's Necklace", stands out in prose. It is worth noting the mystic Ibn Tufail, the author of the allegorical philosophical story "Hay Ibn Yaqzan". Since the twelfth century, the Sufi direction has been important in Arab culture, whose outstanding representative is the Andalusian poet and philosopher Ibn al-Arab. He developed Sufi symbolism. Thus, three periods of the development of Arabic literature in Spain are distinguished. The earliest samples of Andalusian literature date from the second half of the eighth century. Thus, the most common genre of poetry is vasfi. It was in the Andalusian literature that strophic poetry - muwashshahi was formed in the ninth century.

COMPOSITION“KING ROGER” KAROL SHIMANOVSKY IN PRESENTING IDEAS BLESSING OF THE FAITH

The idea of worshiping Orthodoxy may have long hindered the recognition of the work in Poland itself, where Catholic religion became a component of national emblematics, although it premiered in Poland at the Warsaw Bolshoi Theater in 1926. But in the reference literature it is noted that “much greater success than in Warsaw was “King Roger” in musical Prague (1932) and later in Palermo in Sicily in 1949, where he was staged at the local Teatro Massimo with the participation of the famous Italian artists, in a re-enactment of Bronislaw Horowicz and under the direction of Mieczyslaw Mezheevsky”. And further the author of the same essay in the “Guide to the Opera” J. Kanski noted: “King Roger is an unusual opera. Unusual was already conceived in the imagination of the composer and masterfully realized by Yaroslav Ivashkevich the concept of libretto, which made the place of the action medieval Sicily, interweaving the atmosphere of austere asceticism of the then Christianity with the colorful and mysterious world of Arabic and Byzantine culture, in the figure of the Pastor, who later transformed into the Greek god Dionysus)”. Later on, Kanysky states a whole list of “oddities” that distanced this work from the general public – and the first in that list is “the strangeness of the music itself”, in which the opera-ballet and cantat-oratorial typological components exhibit a high level of artistry, has direct analogues neither in Polish nor in the world as a whole. J. Kansky’s sentence is as follows: what remains of Shimanovsky’s “work is beautiful and lonely”. Such a summary clearly ignores the Eastern and Central European analogies, since the impulse for K. Shimanovsky’s “Dionysian mysteriousness” can be traced back to O. Borodin’s “Polovtsian Ecstatic” the glorification of “severe asceticism” in “St. Francis of Assisi” by O. Messian, whose spiritual ideas were nourished by the Hesychastic energy of the prayerful ecstasy of the mysteriousness of O. Scriabin. However the recognition of K. Shimanovsky really only took place at the beginning of the third millennium, and the Christian background of the Scriabin ecstatic, which was vigorously discussed in the Odesa press in the 1910’s, along with the mysterious samples of the “Drama of the Spirit” by V. Rebikov – was not extended in the 1920’s – 1930’s, when only the folkloristic national-demonstration innovations of the composer were appreciated. In S. Gelman’s preface to the publication of the score of this work by K. Shimanovsky we find some reflections on its genre meaning, from which it is clear that “King Roger” does not represent a pure operatic discovery, but rather constitutes the border of opera and musical drama, marked, however, equally by elements of oratorial, and even features of the mysterious spectacle. This commentary sees the Wagnerian influence, without noticing at the same time the Eastern European origins of K. Shimanovsky’s score and the outspoken scribbling of the composition born in the Ukrainian South. In general, the work has the features of stage oratory, as we find it in the version of I. Stravinsky’s works, and later by K. Orff.

Bodies for Sale: Sex Tourism in Nabil Ayouch’s Much Loved (2015)

Bodies for Sale: Sex Tourism in Nabil Ayouch’s Much Loved (2015)

(472) The AM-EDITS: A New Tool for Evaluating the Arab Patient and Partner Satisfaction Following Penile Prosthesis Implantation

Abstract Introduction The Modified Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (M-EDITS) is recognized as a useful tool in English language to assess post penile prosthetic implantation (PPI) satisfaction. Nevertheless, a more global questionnaire remains to be introduced for the Arab population, where malleable PPI (MPPI) remains more popular, compared to the inflatable types. Due to the sensitivity of the topic and the conservative nature of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, a scarce body of related research is available. Objective Our primary goal was to develop a validated Arabic version of the M-EDITS adapted to the Arabic culture and introduce it as the AM-EDITS. Our secondary goal was to utilize it to investigate the levels of Arab patient and partner satisfaction after MPPI and its sustainability during and after the first 6 months of surgery. Methods This was a prospective 6-month follow-up study of 120 patients undergoing MPPI at our unit by a single surgeon. Three telephone encounters were conducted for each couple at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months postoperative (PO). For our study, we developed a validated Arabic version of the M-EDITS, coined as the AM-EDITS. The first encounter covered general patient perioperative experience, beginning from preoperative counseling till early after surgery. The second and third encounters focused on patient and partner satisfaction regarding implant utilization. Results The mean ages for the men and their spouses were 54.7±8.4 and 32.9±4.6 years, respectively. Over 82% of the patients in our study showed a decreased level of anxiety after preoperative counseling. 96% of the patients reported a positive experience regarding their early PO days with above half exceeding their expectations. After 3 months, 82.5% of the men were satisfied, describing their erections to be 80% close to natural. Of the 92.5% satisfied wives at 3 months, 78.5% were highly satisfied. Feeling sexually desirable by their husbands was reported in 93.4%. As opposed to the significant rise in men’s overall satisfaction and AM-EDITS index by 11.6% and 5.2 ± 0.8% (P <0.001), respectively after 6 months PO, partners demonstrated a 12.4% and 5.9 ± 0.8 decline (P <0.001), respectively, compared to the 3 months follow up. Conclusions The AM-EDITS may expand the global application of the original M-EDITS. MPPI represents a good quality of life treatment option for middle to low-income countries. Time has a positive effect on the Arab men’s PO satisfaction as opposed to their partners’. These findings should be considered during perioperative counseling of both parties to ensure sustainable satisfaction. Extended studies are necessary to confirm our findings as well as assess long-term PO satisfaction. Disclosure Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: Coloplast