Abdulrahman al-Awam

Saudi Arabian educator who modernized Arabic language education

Abdulrahman al-Awam (1915-1998) was a Saudi linguist and educator who transformed Arabic language instruction across the Middle East. As founder of the King Saud University's Department of Arabic Language (1957), he developed the first standardized curriculum for teaching Modern Standard Arabic, impacting millions of students regionally.

His textbook Al-Minhaj al-Jadid (1963) became the cornerstone of Arabic education, introducing phonetics and comparative grammar approaches. He established the first Arabic language institute in Jeddah (1970), which trained teachers from 15 Arab countries. His work preserved classical Arabic while adapting it for contemporary use in science and technology.

Al-Awam's innovations included creating the first Arabic language proficiency exams and advocating for women's inclusion in language studies. His 1975 UNESCO report Arabic Language in the Information Age influenced policies in Gulf states. Despite his contributions, his name is less recognized than figures like Nawal El Saadawi in Western discourse.

He pioneered the use of audio-visual materials in language teaching, a radical approach at the time. His legacy is preserved through the Abdulrahman al-Awam Prize for Arabic Language Excellence, awarded annually since 2002. His papers are archived at King Fahd National Library in Riyadh. Though overshadowed by political figures, his educational reforms remain foundational to Arabic literacy programs worldwide.