Arabic Typography - its past and its future

Abstract

The Arabic script has always been defined as very different from Latin-derived scripts. However, they share a common root and through the time the Arabic script was adapted to technological innovations initially designed for Latin scripts. This process caused a transformation of the Arabic script that slowly established an Arabic typography as opposed to the impressive Arabic calligraphy for which the script is known. Arriving in an age of computer technology, it became possible to achieve calligraphic quality in computer generated text. Thus the question was raised whether Arabic typography should follow its own route to a modern script, or that the old rules of calligraphy should play a role in the modern use of the script. Unfortunately the people with opposing views on this matter are not working together to form a synthetic view, but rather try to show their view as the only one. It is therefore to be recommended that these parties work together better.