Zahi Hawass Foundation Hosts Lecture on Coptic-Arabic Linguistic Interactions at Prince Taz Palace

In a rich cultural atmosphere, the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities and Heritage hosted a scholarly lecture on Tuesday evening, September 16, 2025, at Prince Taz Palace in Cairo, entitled:

“Coptic and Arabic on One Page: Linguistic Interaction or Cultural Adaptation?”

The lecture was delivered by Dr. Hagar Saad El-Din Mostafa, who holds a PhD in Coptic Heritage Site Management from the Faculty of Archaeology, Ain Shams University, an MA in Heritage Conservation and Site Management (a joint program between Helwan University and Brandenburg University of Technology in Cottbus, Germany), as well as an MA in Coptic Language from the Faculty of Archaeology, Fayoum University.

The discussion explored several key topics, including:

• Arabic influences in Coptic.

• Historical sources showing the use of Arabic in Coptic texts.

• Coptic spelling of Arabic sounds.

• Integration of Arabic words into Coptic grammar.

• Two accounting documents from Fayoum dating to the Fatimid period.

• Arabic names and loanwords in Coptic.

• Code-switching between two or more languages.

The Foundation emphasized that this event is part of its ongoing mission to promote archaeological and cultural awareness across society, strengthen the sense of belonging to Egypt’s rich heritage, and provide a platform for direct dialogue between the public and experts in languages and history.