Difference between revisions of "Arab"
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'''Arab''' is a word which refers to an ethnic group as well as a language group. In modern terms, an Arab is anyone of (1) Middle-Eastern descent and (2) has some facility in the [[Arabic language]]. Historically, the term was narrower, referring to only those from [[Arabia]]. There is a tendency among Westerners to regard all Arabs as [[Muslims]], but this is incorrect, as there are lots of [[Christian]] Arabs, as well as other-religioned Arabs: actor [[Danny Thomas]] was a Christian Arab; the [[Coptic Church|Copts]] of [[Egypt]] are Christian Arabs. | '''Arab''' is a word which refers to an ethnic group as well as a language group. In modern terms, an Arab is anyone of (1) Middle-Eastern descent and (2) has some facility in the [[Arabic language]]. Historically, the term was narrower, referring to only those from [[Arabia]]. There is a tendency among Westerners to regard all Arabs as [[Muslims]], but this is incorrect, as there are lots of [[Christian]] Arabs, as well as other-religioned Arabs: actor [[Danny Thomas]] was a Christian Arab; the [[Coptic Church|Copts]] of [[Egypt]] are Christian Arabs. | ||
| − | The [[Arabic language]] is a member of the Semitic stock (which includes Hebrew) of the Afro-Asiatic family of languages, and with the Berberic languages, display remarkable structural similarities | + | The [[Arabic language]] is a member of the Semitic stock (which includes Hebrew) of the Afro-Asiatic family of languages, and with the Berberic languages, display remarkable structural similarities. |
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== See also == | == See also == | ||
Revision as of 03:38, September 13, 2007
Arab is a word which refers to an ethnic group as well as a language group. In modern terms, an Arab is anyone of (1) Middle-Eastern descent and (2) has some facility in the Arabic language. Historically, the term was narrower, referring to only those from Arabia. There is a tendency among Westerners to regard all Arabs as Muslims, but this is incorrect, as there are lots of Christian Arabs, as well as other-religioned Arabs: actor Danny Thomas was a Christian Arab; the Copts of Egypt are Christian Arabs.
The Arabic language is a member of the Semitic stock (which includes Hebrew) of the Afro-Asiatic family of languages, and with the Berberic languages, display remarkable structural similarities.