EIECC Aims & Objectives The general aim of this program is designed to help motivate Muslims who speak English reasonably & fluently to lead in presenting Islam effectively to non-Muslims & spread the message of peace to the entire world. The objectives of the program are such that on completion, participants should have: • an improvement of the cross-cultural Islamic English Communication Competence • learning a very powerful a new model of self-directed learning to continue learning after the workshops in teams • a reasonable knowledge of Islamic terminology & jargon to refute misconceptions • the basic ability to discuss Islamic concepts in English cross-culturally • the ability to give short presentations on Islamic topics of their choice • Ignition of the passion to lead in using English communication skills for presenting Islam

1. Effective Islamic English
Cross-Cultural Communication Skills
LANGUAGE SENSITIVITY
PROF. AHMAD NURIDDIN

2. 90:9
ْ‫ي‬َ‫ن‬ْ‫ي‬َ‫ع‬ ُ‫ه‬َّ‫ل‬ ‫ل‬َ‫ع‬ْ‫َج‬‫ن‬ ْ‫م‬َ‫ل‬َ‫أ‬‫ن‬
‫ْن‬‫ي‬َ‫ت‬َ‫ف‬َ‫ش‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ا‬ً‫ن‬‫ا‬َ‫س‬‫ل‬ َ‫و‬
Have we not made for him a pair of
eyes And a tongue and two lips,

3. ‫ل‬‫ب‬ َّ‫َّل‬‫إ‬ ٍ‫ل‬‫و‬ُ‫س‬َّ‫ر‬ ‫ن‬‫م‬ ‫َا‬‫ن‬ْ‫ل‬َ‫س‬ ْ‫ر‬َ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ َ‫و‬‫ه‬‫م‬ ْ‫و‬َ‫ق‬ ‫ان‬َ‫س‬
And We did not send any apostle
but with the language of his
people
Ibrahim 14:4

4. Agenda
Introductory Remarks
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Presentation
Activity
Assessment
Summary

5. Introductory Remarks
The Program
Facilitators
Today’s Presenter
Professional Information
Path to Islam
Communicating the Message

6. Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will be able to
Communicate using language void of underlying, albeit unintentional, anti-Islamic
meaning
Analyze language (especially in the media) and counteract the use of anti-Islamic
subliminal language
Ask questions and explain basic Islamic concepts without grammatical or
pronunciation interference from speaker’s native language
Understand and clarify the nuances of language in explaining basic Islamic
concepts

7. Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will be able to
Communicate information about Islam with the
awareness of the linguistic influences on the
messages.

8. Presentation:
Basic Communication Model
Source Receiver
Message
Channel
Feedback

9. Basic Communication
Principles – cont’d
Be aware of your communication with yourself and others
Effectively use and interpret verbal messages
Effectively use and interpret nonverbal messages
Listen and respond thoughtfully to others
Appropriately adapt messages to others

10. Language and Thought
Does language influence thought?
Does thought influence language?
Is thought independent of language?

11. Language & Culture
Communication
Culture
Thought
Sapir-Whorf
◦ “A person’s reality is based on his language.”
More recent studies
◦ Delwin Lindsey, Angela Brown
◦ “Words reflect a culture’s interests”

12. The Importance of Linguistic
Accuracy
 United States hospitals alone lose more than $12 billion a year due to poor
communication.
 Different generations not understanding each other
 Long meetings where the employees fade in and out of conversations and
only pick up bits and pieces
 Misunderstanding a person’s meaning
 x204project.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/communication-breakdown

13. Activity: Islam in the Media
The following slides are
examples of reports on
Islam taken from media
sources.
Your comments?

14. Militant Islam
Story
|Thu, 8 Aug 2013
|U.S.
Prosecutors are asking an expert on militant Islam to help them show
that Pfc. Bradley Manning damaged U.S. interests by disclosing
classified information through WikiLeaks …
foxnews.com/us/2013/08/08/naval-officer-who-authored-book-on-
militant-islam-is-sentencing-witness-against

15. CanIslamBeReformed?|Yes,But,However!.(n.d.).Yes,But,However!|Leaningright,leaningleft,YBH!.RetrievedFebruary7,2011,
from http://yesbuthowever.com/can-islam-ever-be-reformed-5000534/
Can Islam Be Reformed?
EDITOR’S NOTE: We receive a lot of unsolicited emails with material
along with a request for publication. We rarely print this
material. However, we found the following piece to be rather
interesting in light of the events currently taking place… It details the
quiet, but real, struggle for moderate Islam from within the faith.

16. Jihadist
Story
|Wed, 26 Mar 2014
|World
A French official says police on the French Riviera found a stash of
explosives in the possession of a suspected jihadist who returned home
from Syria with apparent aims to carry out an attack. An official familiar
with the case said Wednesday …
foxnews.com/world/2014/03/26/french-authorities-find-explosives-in-
france-after-arrest-former-jihadist-

17. The Daily NewsHDN | 1/27/2010 12:00:00 AM
Muslims vs. Islamists
HDN | 1/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Soner Çağaptay
Far from being synonymous, Islam and Islamism are very different. While the
former is a religion, the latter is merely a political, "anti-" ideology that
spews hatred.
LEADING NEWS SOURCE FOR TURKEY AND THE REGION

18. Encyclopedia of Muslim-American History: Volume 1 - Page 60
Edward E. Curtis, IV - 2010 - 628 pages - Preview
“We attended the Mohammedan [Muslim] Church and we had church
every day. The services lasted about thirty or forty minutes. During these
services the congregation would kneel, with their heads bowed to the
floor and pray, ...”

19. Florida Times-Union - Jeff Brumley - Feb 4, 2011
“... labeled by some as a hate group will
speak at a Jacksonville church today in
hopes of creating bonds between the
black Muslims and Christians. ... “

20. http://edition.cnn.com/CNNI/Programs/middle.east/blog/2008/10/how-being-arab-became-
slur.html
“No ma’am, he’s not a
Muslim. He is a decent family
man…”

21. Post-Exercise Remarks
Language used in the media with reference to prophets and scholars
Language used in the name of science in reference to the Creator
Use of subliminal language in the media

22. Post-Exercise Remarks
Areas of Language Awareness
Vocabulary
Structure
Pronunciation & Intonation
Expressions

23. Islamic Terminology in English
Terminology pertinent to other religions
Post-Exercise Remarks
Vocabulary

24. Post-Exercise Remarks
Structure
Most common mistakes occur with the use of prepositions
Other mistakes usually due to first language interference
◦ Examples: Before two days/ Do you know what are the five pillars of Islam/
◦ I pray for Allah vs. I pray to Allah.

25. Post-Exercise Remarks
Pronunciation & Intonation
Be aware of unfamiliar sounds:
◦ [p] / [b] - [f] / [v] - [ch] / [sh] /[s]
◦ Braise vs. Praise – Pray vs. Bray - Vatican – Pentateuch - Satan
Be aware of syllabic stress
◦ E.g. produce / produce - record/ record
◦ blessed - blessed [t]/ learned – learned [ed]

26. Post-Exercise Remarks
Avoid using common English expressions that are contrary to
Islamic beliefs & general cultural sensitivity
E.g. “knock on wood”
“keep your fingers crossed”
“bring home the bacon”
“bear your own cross”
“Play the devil’s advocate”
Expressions

27. Language Sensitivity Exercise
From the media: Your Reaction
“….those fundamentalists want to
impose Shari’a…”

28. “Christians worship on Sundays; Muslims worship on Fridays.”
Expressions: Your Reaction
Language Sensitivity Exercise

29. “Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born in the year 570 AD.”
Language Sensitivity Exercise
In Publications: Your Reaction

30. From the media: Your Reaction
“Moslem Clergymen Meet to
Discuss the Situation …”
Language Sensitivity Exercise

31. “In Islam Jesus, Joseph, Enoch, and Job are accepted as prophets…”
Language Sensitivity Exercise
In Publications: Your Reaction

32. Expression: Your Reaction
That man is a real
philistine.
EICS: Language Sensitivity Exercise

33. That Arab fellow made some
anti-Semitic remarks.
Language Sensitivity Exercise
Expressions: Your Reaction

34. “Muslims believe in the Holy Scriptures,
including the Bible…”
Language Sensitivity Exercise
In Publications: Your Reaction

35. From an Islamic Publication: Your Reaction
“I am grateful to Allah for having read
the manuscript of ____ and being
asked to write an introduction …….
Language Sensitivity Exercise

36. Assessment: Assignment
Find examples in the media of language that shows anti-Islamic bias.
Document it: cite the source
Discuss the terminology
Provide solution/alternative

37. Summary
 Relationship between language and thought
 Clarity and accuracy of language in delivering the
clear message of Islam
 Comprehending and dealing with subliminal
messages (in the media)
 Assessment
 Follow up and application after the session

38. Thank You!