Job Discussion Forums

[007]

University of Nizwa, Oman, December 12-15, 2009
Mapping Emergent Arab and Muslim Literatures in English

http://70.40.205.66/2008/conference/home.php

[grahamb]

Now you know where the omitted 3rd person singular s goes.

[isabel]

I do believe the "s" is appropriate in this context.

There is an Arab literature and a Muslim literature- and they are not the same thing. Hence, you have literatures. Just like you can have different cheeses and different waters. Uncountables can be countable in some contexts.

Anyway, I am really looking forward to the conference. I just hope I can find a room in town at the time!

[johnslat]

Dear Isabel,
You're right, of course. Just as with "money" and other non-counts, there are contexts in which a plural is demanded.
Hope you thoroughly enjoy the conference.
Regards,
John

[eclectic]

well Khalil Jibran will get my vote over any "emergent" literatures.

well 007 is nice to have posted this.

007, how is everything?

[Mojoski]

[sandersjayfer]

The following is a quotation from www.gulfnews.com By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
Published: January 04, 2006

This simply demonstrates there is no literature to speak of in the entire Middle East. Just look at the numbers. It isn't too hard to figure out. All my students tell me they are not supposed to read books but the first word of their holy book is "READ" in Arabic.


Public Libraries Director Mansoor Sarhan on Monday said last year, 132 books were published by Bahraini authors in the Kingdom of 700,000 inhabitants, "an impressive figure according to the latest United Nations Development Programme report which puts the average figure at [b]seven books for one million people in the Arab world".[/b]

About one quarter of the books published in Bahrain were on literature, numbering 30, followed by history and translation, which accounted for 22 books. Only 10 books covered religion and six were on politics. The low figure of religious books sharply contrasts with a general trend in the Middle East where publications on politics and culture are taking a backseat to religion.

[desultude]

"This simply demonstrates there is no literature to speak of in the entire Middle East. Just look at the numbers. It isn't too hard to figure out. All my students tell me they are not supposed to read books but the first word of their holy book is "READ" in Arabic."

Exactly what are you defining as the ME? Is it just the Gulf States? Does it include Persia and North Africa? There is a grand literary tradition in much of the "Greater" Middle East- Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, Turkey, etc.

If the subject is Arab and Muslim Literature, there is a rich and deep mother-lode to draw from.

[veiledsentiments]

Yes, but one look at the number of books published in say the English speaking world versus the Arabic speaking world... even factored for population, the number is very very sad.

VS

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Here's a question: What in the blue blazes has happened to 007?

NCTBA

[johnslat]

Dear NCTBA,
Lordy, are you reading my mind (if so, you must be blushing?) That's the very thing I was thinking when I checked this thread earlier today.
Perhaps he's On Her Majesty's Secret Service, out in the field, thwarting evil-doers and romancing voluptuous female agents.
Regards,
John