The events of Sept. 11, 2001, have led many to consider studying the Arabic language.
Though educators have long lamented the fact that American schools don't stress foreign language as much as their overseas counterparts, the United States' recent involvement in the war on terrorism has intensified the efforts of many to create a system for widespread fluency in a second language.
"In times of disaster, or attack, it's in those times that we realize what we don't have," said Ronald C. Warner, chairman of the Department of Modern Languages and Classics. "And what (the United States doesn't) have is a broad-based knowledge of the foreign languages of the world."
Ball State, unlike many larger universities, does not require students to complete a two-year program of study in a foreign language.
"At Ball State we should have an across-the-board, two-year foreign language requirement of any student who wishes to graduate," Warner said. "Most really good universities have that."
Even without the requirement, many students add classes or minors in foreign language to make themselves more marketable in their respective fields upon graduation. Ball State currently offers programs in French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese and the classical languages.
"Since Sept. 11, I've had inquiries from quite a few students at Ball State as to whether or not they can study Arabic here," Warner said.
Due to its use of a different alphabetical script than English, Warner places it at a difficulty level near Chinese and Japanese. To speak Arabic isn't any harder than any other language, Warner said.
Ball State, however, does not offer an Arabic language program and there are not immediate plans to institute one.
Much of the interest in the language is due to its strategic importance, in military operations and other government activities, but Warner sees other, more long-term benefits in Arabic fluency.
"What (knowing Arabic) does is just make Americans more aware of the culture of the Arabic-speaking countries, and the things they believe in, and the things they think," he said. "You can't appreciate something if you don't understand it."
According to the Middle East Studies Association, 58 universities and colleges have what it considers to be substantial programs in Middle Eastern or Islamic studies.
"Plus, the isolation of our continent, the fact that English is spoken throughout the world has an impact" Brecht said, "(Americans) are not a culture that has traditionally valued different languages."
Though Spanish, French and German are historically the most popular foreign languages among American students, Warner saw great importance in knowing other languages like Chinese, Japanese, German, Farsi and Russian, as well as Arabic.
"The world is becoming smaller and smaller, because of globalization, and American companies are becoming more and more involved in foreign interests," Warner said.
Though English is studied throughout the world, Warner said that foreign businesses might relate best to American companies if they have a knowledge of their native language.
"They appreciate someone who has taken the time, studied their language and learned something about them," he said.
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