TJ“ع" - Arabic Language Day (December 18th)
A tradition that I’ve started some years ago when I’ve learned about this event for the first time, where I would make a post about the Arabic language. Usually, I try to post some tidbits of information about the language along with a shot (or artwork) if possible.
So, as the theme of this year, I’ve picked chess, for a significant influence from Arabic into this game which survives in many languages still. Supposedly, Arabs introduced the game into Europe (brought from India and Persia). Actually, the Arabic name for the game reflects the Indian original name: Chaturanga (Arabic: “šaţranj” شطرنج ).
It is said that the term “checkmate” as well as the name in some languages actually comes from the Arabic phrase: “al-Shaikh mát” (الشيخ مات), which translates to “the sheikh died”. Meanwhile this phrase could also be the origin for the name of the game itself in other languages: Шахматы (Russian), and Schach (German), and many others. However, the Arabic name for the game itself, seems to survive through the bulk of European languages but with some adjustments in spellings that makes it sound or look further away from the original (šaţranj): Ajedrez (Spanish), Xedrez (Portuguese), Scacchi (Italian), Échecs (French). This said, the Irish name of the game, “Ficheall,” is debated and probably the term was used for a different game in ancient Ireland before its usage for the game of chess, but some tried to link it to the same Arabic root as well (I don’t see how this is possible).
As a cultural background, the game of chess was a favorite pastime activity in the court of the Umayyad dynasty (661-750), but on the other hand, it is frowned upon and discouraged by the religious contexts (might be a story for another time).
In the image here you see the letter “ع” depicted by pawns. This letter is the first letter in the word for “Arabic”: عربي.
#Arabic #ArabicLanguage #ArabicLanguageDay #chess #history #language
A tradition that I’ve started some years ago when I’ve learned about this event for the first time, where I would make a post about the Arabic language. Usually, I try to post some tidbits of information about the language along with a shot (or artwork) if possible.
So, as the theme of this year, I’ve picked chess, for a significant influence from Arabic into this game which survives in many languages still. Supposedly, Arabs introduced the game into Europe (brought from India and Persia). Actually, the Arabic name for the game reflects the Indian original name: Chaturanga (Arabic: “šaţranj” شطرنج ).
It is said that the term “checkmate” as well as the name in some languages actually comes from the Arabic phrase: “al-Shaikh mát” (الشيخ مات), which translates to “the sheikh died”. Meanwhile this phrase could also be the origin for the name of the game itself in other languages: Шахматы (Russian), and Schach (German), and many others. However, the Arabic name for the game itself, seems to survive through the bulk of European languages but with some adjustments in spellings that makes it sound or look further away from the original (šaţranj): Ajedrez (Spanish), Xedrez (Portuguese), Scacchi (Italian), Échecs (French). This said, the Irish name of the game, “Ficheall,” is debated and probably the term was used for a different game in ancient Ireland before its usage for the game of chess, but some tried to link it to the same Arabic root as well (I don’t see how this is possible).
As a cultural background, the game of chess was a favorite pastime activity in the court of the Umayyad dynasty (661-750), but on the other hand, it is frowned upon and discouraged by the religious contexts (might be a story for another time).
In the image here you see the letter “ع” depicted by pawns. This letter is the first letter in the word for “Arabic”: عربي.
#Arabic #ArabicLanguage #ArabicLanguageDay #chess #history #language
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