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Since there are more and more refugees that find themselves seeking asylum on foreign soil, there are increased chances that you will meet one of them while in the grocery store or other public areas. Even if you have never experienced it yourself, you may be able to remotely imagine how stressful it can be to uproot yourself and run away from everything you know and be whisked away to another country.
If you are one who wants to make the transition easier for refugees, you may be wondering how to interact with them. What languages do Syrian refugees speak? This is one of the first questions you need to ask to be able to communicate with them and make them feel more at ease in their overall situation. This blog post will shed some light on this topic and help you better understand and talk to the refugees you meet.
What Languages Do Syrian Refugees Speak?
There are many people who came to live in Syria when it was a young civilization. This is why a number of different languages are spoken in the country today. Refugees may speak any one of the languages mentioned below.
Arabic
The official language of the Syrian Arab Republic is Arabic. The language that is used in school textbooks, printed materials, official documents, and books is Traditional Modern Arabic. However, the language that is spoken between people is slightly different. Arabic dialects that are spoken include Mesopotamian Arabic, Levantine Arabic, Najdi Arabic, Bedawi Arabic.Mesopotamian Arabic, Levantine Arabic, Najdi Arabic and Bedawi Arabic.
Kurdish
This is the second-most widely spoken language in Syria. People who live in the Eastern portion of Syria speak Kurdish but also pride themselves in being fluent in Arabic as well.
Syriac
In the olden days, Syriac was one of the prominent Christian languages that were widely spoken. This is the language that was the one that gave Syria its name. It is still widely spoken today.
Armenian
In the 19th and 20th centuries, many Armenians flocked to Syria to permanently migrate and seek a new home. The language is taught in schools in Aleppo, where most of the Armenian Syrians live.
English and French
Foreign languages like English and French are also widely used and spoken. Syrian schools start teaching English beginning the first grade of elementary school and French is taught starting the seventh grade. This is why most Syrians are able to carry a conversation in English quite easily. Another foreign language that is offered in schools is Russian. It is also now being offered in some schools as an alternative to French.
Conclusion
Now that you have some basic knowledge of the languages refugees speak, you may be able to try and talk to them. If you know about any Syrian refugees who have joined your religious organization, workplace, or even parents organization in your children’s school, it may be a good idea to try and make their new home feel more welcoming by trying to talk to them.
Should you want to do what you can to help refugees, come to UOSSM! The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations-USA (UOSSM USA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable, independent, non-government, medical humanitarian organization, incorporated in the state of Texas. Contact us today to donate to the Syrian relief fund and contribute to other initiatives to help!
