From Roots to Meaning

Photo: from right to left: U. Amal Boumaaza, U. Maha Houssami, U. Wanying Yang, Dr. Matthew Hayes, Dr Badr A. Badr, U. Saad El Hadi. 

The Arabic Program in Duke University’s Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) marked language, creativity, and student achievement on April 15, 2026, with its annual Arabic Roots and Patterns showcase. Held in collaboration with Duke University Libraries’ Global Studies Department, the event brought together 65 students, faculty, and administrators to present standout work from Arabic 101 through 306, turning the complexity of Arabic morphology into an engaging, interactive experience.

Student posters explored the Arabic root-and-pattern system as a foundation for meaning-making. One group examined the triliteral root س-ل-م (sīn–lām–mīm), associated with peace, wholeness, and safety, as a response to dominant narratives about conflict in the Middle East. “Many Western perceptions of the region are rooted in Orientalism,” the students wrote, noting how concepts of peace, spiritual surrender, and harmony are embedded in both language and culture. Through everyday greetings and idioms, they demonstrated how these meanings resonate in daily life and concluded by calling for more informed and nuanced engagement with Arabic-speaking communities.

Another group focused on the root ح-د-ث (ḥāʾ–dāl–thāʾ), highlighting its range across forms such as حَدَثَ (to happen), تَحَدَّثَ (to speak), and nouns like حَديث (speech) and حادِثَة (incident). Their project emphasized the connection between events and how we speak about them, linking language, meaning, and belief through both everyday usage and a Qur’anic reference.

A signature spring event, the showcase reflects the Arabic Program’s commitment to immersive, student-centered learning and collaborative global education. Two posters are currently on display in Perkins Library’s Global Studies exhibit case through Fall 2026, with a QR code linking to the full collection of fifteen, extending the project’s reach across the Duke community.

Please scan this QR code to look at the students’ posters collection. 

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