Abstract
Discussing the role of Spoken varieties within Saudi society exposes a point of tension between those who view these varieties as a threat to Fus‛ħa Arabic and those who value them for their close association with local traditions and culture. The absence of a clear understanding of the concept of diglossia among the general public is at the core of this issue. Thus, one can see that although the use of Spoken varieties is expanding rapidly through new mediums such as “Shilat” (folkloric singing) and “Alqanawat Ash-Shaʕbeyah” (TV channels focusing on folklore), the linguistic campaigns that criticize these varieties remain as strong as ever. In this context, this paper aims to explore the discrepancy between linguistic ideologies within society and the reality of language use on the ground. The data used in this study were collected from questionnaires disseminated among Saudi speakers from both sexes and different age groups. The qualitative and quantitative analyses of the data reveal a number of directions and views that are prevalent within Saudi society regarding the H/L dichotomy. There seems to be a wide consensus about accepting Spoken varieties as a normal component of the linguistic repertoire of speakers, provided that such varieties are used in their predetermined domains. In contrast, any signs of infringement on the functions reserved for Fus‛ħa Arabic are always condemned and denounced. These infringements include the nonstandard use of language in any written form, such as the use of local varieties on internet forums, newspapers, and magazines or on information websites, like Wikipedia. This paper also examines the participants’ views on using Spoken Arabic on social media platforms, and their attitudes towards the influx of recent English borrowings into Spoken Arabic.
Highlights
Fus‛ħa Arabic holds an undeniable presence in the conscience and lives of Arabs all over the world
This paper aims to present a clearer picture of the linguistic situation in Saudi society, especially in the area of language ideologies and attitudes
The aim of this paper is to investigate the discrepancy between the ideological beliefs regarding language in Saudi society and the use of language on the ground
Summary
Fus‛ħa Arabic holds an undeniable presence in the conscience and lives of Arabs all over the world. There are, general notions about how these varieties are viewed within society, including the idea that the (L) varieties are simplified and corrupt forms of the Standard, and that the (H) is always more complex and eloquent (Suleiman, 2004; Versteegh, 2001) It is, difficult to find literature that directly addresses the issue of attitudes towards the existence of (L) varieties or language ideologies within Saudi society. Most of the studies that address Spoken Arabic in Saudi Arabia approach this issue from a dialectological perspective, or with the aim of studying the attitudes of speakers of one variety towards other varieties of Arabic These studies, do not discuss public opinions about the existence of an (L) variety as a whole or the levels of agreement with the calls to limit the influence of (L) within society
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