ABSTRACT
Arabic was first taught at the University of Edinburgh in 1751, but it was not officially introduced as a regular subject until 1859 when it became an extra subject of study for the Senior Hebrew class. Over the following decades, it was taught by professors of Hebrew (and Semitic languages) until a dedicated lecturer in Arabic was appointed in 1911. Thereafter, it continued to be taught within the framework of Semitic languages until the early 1950s when a Department of Arabic was established, along with Turkish and Persian departments, in response to changing post-war needs. This chapter explores the development of the teaching of Arabic at the University of Edinburgh from the mid-nineteenth century until the early 1950s, looking at its practitioners, curriculum, degree, and student body. Originating from a milieu of religious studies and continental philology that also served staffing needs of imperial administration, it was taught largely by churchmen for much of the period and it was not until the early 1950s that the first native speaker of the language was employed on staff. It further examines the changing character of Arabic teaching at Edinburgh, the programme of study, its approach to spoken Arabic, and other changes within the curriculum that saw it begin to move slowly away from a traditional orientalist construct towards a more area studies model.
