The sheer quantity of baggage that Arabic has acquired on its travels through the Western consciousness is unique. That the West's complex and intricate relationship with the language is now characterised above all by fear is a special tragedy, argues papyrologist Petra Sijpesteijn in Why Arabic?In this vigorous defence of Arabic and the long tradition of Arabic studies, Sijpesteijn shows what can be gained by engaging with this extraordinarily fertile language and culture, and how insight and understanding can be found in the most unexpected places. Arabic's endless riches continue to surpris