The Arabic Language Learning and Translation Annex

Overview

The Arabic Language Learning and Translation Annex (ALLTA) is designed to serve multiple functions in the programmatic development of the Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies program. ALLTA is to facilitate the program’s goals in creating substantive outreach initiatives with local, national, and international impact. ALLTA is also to serve as the foundation for instituting collaborative efforts in strengthening IU’s language programs, especially in Arabic through the production of pedagogy workshops and on-line tutorials, as well as web-based advanced Arabic grammar, syntax, morphology, and dialectology tutorials. ALLTA is also designed to aid advanced students of Arabic and scholars of the Middle East and Islamic world in developing enhanced skills in the translation of Arabic materials into English.

Dr. Salman Alani (the Associate Director for Arabic Language Resources Development) supervises the Annex, which employs two Graduate Assistants and one Fulbright student. The ALLTA initiative is supported by funds from the Center for American and Global Security, the College of Arts and Sciences, and ARAMCO, which has donated funds for the outreach component of the program.

Purposes

Indiana University offers many of the languages commonly found in the Middle East and Muslim world. While students and researchers need to study the local languages and dialects spoken in different regions, Arabic has been, and in many cases still remains, the lingua franca of the Muslim world, especially in the Middle East and in Muslim religious writings in other regions.

For over forty years IU has offered Arabic through the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures (NELC) and has also been studied in other units such as Linguistics. ALLTA does not seek to teach Modern Standard Arabic, but to provide resources and pedagogical training to augment IU’s continuing efforts in Arabic instruction, and to aid researchers and others in developing specialized skills in advanced Arabic grammar and translation.

Testing and Development

Currently the ALLTA materials are in development. ALLTA staff may access the password-protected ALLTA tutorials website for testing purposes. If you would like to participate in the testing of ALLTA materials, please contact us at meis@indiana.edu for access.