Abstract

This article discusses Arabic expressions referring to God, such as inshallah, mashallah, and alhamdulillah in the 2014 season of the Arab version of the talent show The Voice. It discusses the question to what extent these expressions are used by the various actors in the show, in particular its four jury members and three presenters, and it tries to explain why they use them and to what purpose. The analysis is set against the background of the question what the relationship is between ‘language’ (in this case, the various varieties of Arabic) and ‘religion’ (in this case, Christianity and Islam). The analysis yielded nearly 40 Arabic expressions referring to God (Allah or Rabb (Lord)) that together showed up more than 600 times in the 10 episodes of the show that were the object of analysis. The conclusion is that the expressions indeed have ‘religious’ roots but that they have at the same time become part and parcel of not necessarily religiously intended speaking styles expressing all kind of feelings, such as astonishment, surprise, disappointment, etc. This conclusion goes well with observations made in earlier research on the questions at stake.

Highlights

  • The originally Dutch show The Voice, created in 2010 by media tycoon John de Mol, in which contestant singers perform before a jury sitting in chairs with their backs toward the candidates, is broadcast in the Arab world as well

  • We trust the same will happen in the MENA region, regardless of cultural differences, as all people love music and have their one unique language to discuss who and what they like the most [on line source].’

  • Meijs states that there are cultural differences and that all people have their unique language to express themselves, and that is exactly what we see in The Arab Voice

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Summary

Introduction

The originally Dutch show The Voice, created in 2010 by media tycoon John de Mol, in which contestant singers perform before a jury sitting in chairs with their backs toward the candidates, is broadcast in the Arab world as well. The Arab variety of this show, in Arabic Ahla Sot (‘Sweetest Voice’), premiered on 14 September 2012 It differs in no aspect from the original Dutch format except that the language of communication is Arabic, both in its dialectal and standard varieties, and the different actors, contestants, jury members, audience, etc. Since the format may be the same and the structure of the show may be determined into the smallest detail, the fact remains that The Arab Voice has its own flavor and that the actors in the show, be they contestants, jury members, presenters, or the audience express their versions of Arabic language and Arab culture.

Arabic and Religion
Questions and Procedures
General Results
Expressions Used by the Members of the Jury and Presenters
Member of the Jury Kadim
Member of the Jury Sherine
Member of the Jury Saber
Member of the Jury Asi
Presenter Kareem
Presenter Aimée
Presenter Nadine
Analysis of the Expressions
Expressions of Praise and Admiration
Expressions of Wishes
Expressions of Confirmation
Expressions Urging an Action
Expressions of Giving Thanks
Expressions of Embarking on a New Activity
Expressions of Beseeching
Conclusions and Discussion
Full Text
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