The Abu Rummanah Arab Cultural Center in Damascus hosted a cultural event on Monday as part of Book Week, where Syrian researcher and author Asma Razzak presented an extensive reading from five of her works, concluding with the signing of her specialized book on "Linguistic Proofreading," amidst a wide attendance of enthusiasts and students.
The Importance of Linguistic Proofreading
The event highlighted the importance of preserving the integrity of the Arabic language and the role of linguistic proofreading in protecting meaning and enhancing text quality, alongside discussions on the intersection of language and artificial intelligence technologies, and the place of reading in building the individual and society.
Warning Against Total Reliance on Artificial Intelligence
Razzak clarified, while presenting her book on linguistic proofreading which proposed incorporating it into university curricula, that the book goes beyond identifying spelling and grammatical errors to explain the impact of linguistic choices on meaning. She stressed that a difference in a single letter or an inflectional vowel changes the connotation, making proofreading an intellectual process requiring deep contextual understanding rather than mere mechanical application of rules.
Razzak warned against total reliance on automated correction programs and artificial intelligence, emphasizing that they are supportive tools and not substitutes for human expertise, as they fail to grasp contextual nuances. She provided an example of mechanical word substitutions in educational texts that altered meanings and names that should not be tampered with.
Reading Culture and Challenges
In discussing her book "Treasures," she addressed the challenges facing the pursuit of knowledge, particularly for women, citing historical examples of women who established prominent scientific institutions despite social conditions. She also discussed ways to revive reading culture, noting that instilling a love of knowledge in children is achieved through role modeling, daily behavior, and storytelling, not preaching.
The researcher called for not mechanically applying modern linguistic theories to Arabic without considering the accumulated Arabic grammatical and rhetorical achievements. She recommended translating heritage works to convey the accomplishments of Arabic scholars to contemporary researchers, concluding with the importance of dedicating daily time to reading to preserve the language's status as a fundamental pillar of identity.
It is worth noting that Razzak holds Master's and PhD degrees in Linguistics from Damascus University and teaches linguistic proofreading at a private university.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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