Culture Can AI save Turkey’s endangered Laz language? With few young speakers and little official support, activists are turning to artificial intelligence to help preserve one of Turkey’s endangered languages: Laz. Turkey
Learning Arabic becomes political act in Israel All the initiatives and events presented on Arabic language Day in the Knesset cannot hide the fact that the Nationality Law has stripped it from its status as an official language in Israel. Israel
Children's books share Sudan's endangered Nobiin with new readers Three Nubian-Sudanese writers have published children's books written in the Nobiin language and using the Old Nubian script. Culture
Turkey’s language activists keep Armenian dialect alive in music, literature Cultural activists are struggling to keep Homshetsi, a western Armenian dialect spoken in northern Turkey, alive through music and literature. Turkey
Berber language heard but not seen in Siwa Oasis The Siwi language, used by Berbers in the Siwa Oasis, is considered endangered by UNESCO, but political obstacles prevent efforts to document and promote it. Egypt
Kurds unite in new effort against linguistic assimilation in Turkey In a rare show of unity, nine Kurdish parties in Turkey have established a joint platform to promote the use of the Kurdish language against what they see as a creeping danger of assimilation. Turkey
Violence still plagues Christians in Iraq Iraq's Christian leaders blame violence and instability for the country's declining Christian and Armenian population. Iraq
Israel's Ethiopian Jews keep ancient language alive in prayer For Israel's Ethiopian immigrants, the liturgical Ge’ez language is a fading memory used only in religious settings. Israel
For Turkey's youngest Jews, ancestral tongue fading away Turkey’s Sephardic Jewish community has mobilized efforts to save the Ladino language from extinction, but after decades of repression, the swell of interest in their heritage language sounds more like a swan song. Countries
New app helps Egypt's Nubians retain traditional tongue Nubi, an app conceived by a young Egyptian entrepreneur, offers a fun way for young Nubians to keep two of their heritage languages alive. Egypt
One man's quest to save the Jewish Iraqi language Oded Amit, who was born in Baghdad and eventually fled to Israel, has taken it upon himself to teach Israelis of Iraqi immigrants the language of their ancestors in order to preserve it. Iraq
Breathing new life into Egypt's Nubian heritage The Egyptian government is working to direct Nubians' attention away from the controversial displacement issue, pouring investments into Nasr al-Nuba village. Egypt
How Circassians maintain identity in changing Golan Many Circassians who lost their homes in Quneitra, Syria, opened their doors to Al-Monitor at nearby Madinat al-Baath, where they recounted their stories. Palestine
Who are the Nawari, Gaza's alienated 'Gypsies'? Palestine's marginalized Nawari community is forced to rely on begging and dancing for income and suffers particular discrimination in highly conservative Gaza, where many look down on Nawaris for their traditions. Palestine
Turkic speakers join forces in Iran's parliament The unprecedented formation of a cross-factional parliamentary group of Turkic speakers stirs controversy in Iran. Iran
Christian minority in Iraq seeks autonomy in post-Mosul Iraq What do Iraqi Christians expect from the post-Islamic State era? Iraq
