Arabic serves as the lingua franca of Islamic civilization and is crucial for comprehending the societies and peoples of the modern Middle East. As the official language in 26 countries and one of the six official languages of the United Nations, Arabic is spoken by over 313 million people, ranging from Morocco and Western Sahara in the West to Iraq, the Gulf states, and Somalia in the East. Various forms of Arabic are spoken in North Africa, the Levant, Arabia, and the Gulf. As a literary and liturgical language, it is used throughout the Arab world and extends far beyond this region, wielding significant influence across the Islamic world, which encompasses a substantial part of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia.
The Department of Arabic Language and Culture (DALC) seamlessly integrates cutting-edge scholarship in Asia with an excellent teaching and learning environment for undergraduate students. The research faculty at DALC are actively involved in internationally recognized work in the history, literature, linguistics, social anthropology, and politics of the Arab world. Their work, firmly grounded in primary source research and fieldwork, adopts an interdisciplinary approach and transcends traditional subject boundaries.
DALC stands as the sole institute in the Republic of China providing a comprehensive four-year Arabic-learning program. Arabic courses, meticulously crafted and delivered, are designed by the most experienced Arabic language instructors and leading experts in Arabic language and literature in Taiwan. This ensures that students acquire proficiency in reading and communication in Modern Standard Arabic. Arabic majors are strongly encouraged to pursue study abroad opportunities to enhance their Arabic skills and gain proficiency in local dialects. At DALC, students will undertake a diverse array of compulsory and elective courses covering the modern Arab world, Islamic studies (history and religion), Arabic classical and modern literature, as part of the Bachelor’s Degree in Arabic Language and Culture. Additionally, at NCCU, students will have the option to study other Middle Eastern languages, including Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish, in addition to modern European languages.
