The Arabic language

Introduction

ARABIC ranks sixth in the world's league table of languages, with an estimated 186 million native speakers. As the language of the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, it is also widely used throughout the Muslim world. It belongs to the Semitic group of languages which also includes Hebrew and Amharic, the main language of Ethiopia.

marhaban bikom! ( Hi )

There are many Arabic dialects. Classical Arabic – the language of the Qur'an – was originally the dialect of Mecca in what is now Saudi Arabia. An adapted form of this, known as Modern Standard Arabic, is used in books, newspapers, on television and radio, in the mosques, and in conversation between educated Arabs from different countries (for example at international conferences). 

Local dialects vary, and a Moroccan might have difficulty understanding an Iraqi, even though they speak the same language.

Arabic personal names
The components of names - abu, ibn, etc. How they are used and what they mean.

Alternative Arabic Dictionary
This lists the words that respectable dictionaries leave out. Not for anyone who is easily offended.

How to write your name in Arabic
A French site showing 167 first names written in the Arabic script. Includes some English names.

Names of Arabic origin
Mainly refers to place names in Spain, Portugal and the Americas.

Arabic Language Academy
The idea of maintaining linguistic standards, through an Arab equivalent of the French Academy, has been around since the 19th century. Report by ArabicNews. 

http://www.al-bab.com