The Positive Impact of Punctuation of Arabic Texts on Non-Arabic and Native Arabic Speaking Students and the Importance of Using the Automated punctuation

Abstract

The Arabic alphabet is characterized as being a unique alphabetical system, saving its learners time and effort. When they master the twenty eight Arabic letters, they can read through approximation and activation of the characteristics that they have already learnt and mastered about the letters. The forthright decoding of the Arabic writing is more clearly reflected when the Arabic texts are punctuated as this punctuation guides the students towards reading correctly and will highlight them the grammatical features and aesthetic characteristics. In contrast, the absence of punctuation will make the text shrouded in some ambiguity and confusion except to those who have previous and broad knowledge of the Arabic language. This research reveals the effects of the absence of punctuation on both native and non-native learners of Arabic.  The research also supports the need to make more effort in punctuating educational books in all academic levels, because it will help to spread the use and the learning of the Classical Arabic among young Arabs as well as the non-native speakers of Arabic. The research also calls for the importance of using automatic punctuation software that has gone through several stages of development and improvement until they reached a level that facilitates the punctuation process.