Varieties Of Arabic Research Articles

Accommodation, translanguaging, and (in)discreteness in the repertoire: A scalar‐chronotopic approach

AbstractA shift from understanding languages as discrete towards understanding them as undifferentiated features in the repertoire has caused disagreements over the reality of linguistic boundaries. In this paper, I show how a middle‐ground approach is achievable by applying the complex workings of a scalar‐chronotopic lens to the discourse of bilingual/multidialectal Bahrainis. I argue that both perspectives on (in)discreteness become relevant in accounting for bi/multilingual subjectivities: at times, Arabic is idealized as a large‐scale code against English, whereas at other times, the intrusiveness of English is backgrounded to show affiliation for one Arabic variety over another. I show accommodation in communication as a spatiotemporally layered process, where the internalized contextual factors within the repertoire may overlap with or take precedence over the immediate context. As such, this paper adds to the question of linguistic discreteness, with implications for our understanding of the repertoire and its utility in bi/multilingual practices and accommodation theory.

Investigating language ideologies and attitudes toward dubbing Disney movies into Arabic

This study analyzes the online discussions surrounding the dubbing of Disney movies into two Arabic varieties: Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and Egyptian Colloquial Arabic (ECA). The objective is to uncover the language ideologies and attitudes taken by Disney Facebook commenters and verbal-guise technique (VGT) participants online. Dubbing Disney movies into these two varieties has sparked numerous debates on social media, particularly on Facebook. The study employed stance-taking to analyze the metalinguistic comments made by Facebook users about the use of these two Arabic varieties in the context of Disney. A VGT experiment was conducted on Disney excerpts to complement the results. The findings provided valuable insights into how Arab social media users’ stances are influenced by their ideologies and attitudes. Lastly, the VGT experiment provided another perspective on how Arabs evaluate MSA and ECA in the context of Disney movies and how they express their indirect language attitudes. The findings showed the differences in language attitudes between Maghreb, Mashreq, and Arab Peninsula countries. The language attitudes of Mashreq and Peninsula countries were closer to each other than to those of the Maghreb countries. Moreover, ECA competes with MSA in prestige and pleasantness. MSA is seen as the thread that connects the Arab World and is admired for its connection with the Arab heritage, religion, and education. However, it is less favored for its rigidity, unintelligibility, and unnaturalness as a spoken variety. Finally, ECA is favored for its simplicity, humor, closeness, familiarity, intimacy, naturalness, and entertainment.

A parallel corpus-based exploration of deflected agreement in Arabic varieties

Agreement in modern Arabic varieties exhibits much variation despite sharing similar features, such as feminine singular (deflected) agreement with plural controllers. The presence of deflected agreement has been attributed both to retention (Bettega and D’Anna 2022) and to a process of loss and reborrowing from Modern Standard Arabic (Al-Sharkawi 2014; Versteegh 1984}. Using evidence from a multi-dialectal parallel corpus, I argue that neither of these accounts adequately explains the variation present in the dialects. This study highlights the need to understand the language-specific changes in modern Arabic varieties and the utility of parallel corpora for exploring morphosemantic variation.

Argument structure hierarchies and alternations in causative and double object constructions

Many varieties of Arabic display a causative construction that adds a causer to the argument structure of the underlying verb. When this verb is transitive, the causative derivative is ditransitive. In the Arabic varieties, these ditransitive causative verbs display a double object alternation fully parallel to the alternation that change of possession verbs like give display. I claim that two current analyses of the double object alternation do not extend naturally to Arabic causative constructions. Rather, the parallels between causative and change of possession ditransitives in Arabic implicate an analysis of change of possession verbs in which the recipient argument (parallel to the external argument of the underlying verb in causative ditransitives) is base generated syntactically superordinate to the theme (parallel to the internal argument of the underlying verb in causative ditransitives). The unifying analysis I propose draws on certain elements of the ‘VP-shell’ analysis of Larson (1988) as well as the ‘neo-constructionist’ approach of Ramchand (2008; 2018) regarding the syntactic instantiation of argument structure. The Arabic variety I take as an exemplar of the Arabic causative construction is Syrian.

Affix Not Clitic‐Based Vowel Shortening in Modern Arabic Varieties

AbstractWord formation in most languages is inextricably linked to a distinction between clitics and affixes. Although famous for its templatic morphological structure, Arabic also contains concatenative formatives some of whose status as clitics or affixes is controversial. It is well known that Arabic varieties exhibit a range of interacting shortening and lengthening processes. Some of the shortening processes have been linked to the clitic/affix distinction in the Arabic literature. In this paper, I discuss two vowel shortening processes, CSS‐Morph and CSS‐Phon, that are often conflated as the same Closed Syllable Shortening process. Based on evidence from 16 modern Arabic varieties, I show that these CSS processes are in fact two independent processes. While CSS‐Morph is a phonological alternation within a morphophonological context, CSS‐Phon is purely phonological. Neither provides evidence to classify any formative as a clitic or indeed differentiate between formatives as suffixes or clitics.

When Agreement isn't Agreement: Deflected Agreement in Najdi Arabic as Aspect

In modern Arabic varieties, subject-verb agreement is complicated by plural nouns which can occur with both plural and singular verbs. These have been called strict and deflected agreement respectively. In some varieties such as Modern Standard Arabic, this deflected agreement is fixed and determined by animacy or other features; however, in other varieties such as Najdi Arabic (central Saudi Arabia), whether strict or deflected agreement occurs is less predictable. Kramer & Winchester (2017) have argued that the selection of verb form corresponds to a difference in meaning, specifically, a herd/clump as opposed to an individuated interpretation, which they locate in the nominal features of the noun. However, based on the results of two experiments, this paper argues for an alternate analysis that this meaning difference originates on the verb and corresponds to a speaker’s mental representation of the event structure. This finding leads to the conclusion that only strict agreement is actually an example of subject-verb agreement, while deflected agreement serves to mark features of the event. This usage of deflected agreement to express event structure, while initially surprising, flows from existing understandings of cognition of number and event semantics.

Comparative Linguistics of Meknasi and Er-Rissani Dialects: Phonological, Morphological, and Socio-Cultural Dimensions in Moroccan Arabic Varieties

Purpose: The study delves into the intricate realm of language and its regional variations, a topic widely explored across multiple linguistic branches, including sociolinguistics, phonetics, socio-cultural, and applied linguistics. Each of these branches brings forth a unique perspective, defining regional variation tailored to its specific theoretical framework. Typically, general descriptions of languages prioritize the standard variety in terms of pronunciation or vocabulary, but this does not necessarily rank it above other varieties. It is pivotal to understand the distinction between regional dialects, which differentiate residents of one region from another, and social dialects that align with specific social groups. Dialect geographers have endeavored to visually represent these linguistic nuances through 'dialect atlases,' employing 'isoglosses' to demarcate the geographical distribution of linguistic features. An exemplar distinction is evident between the Meknes community's use of the word /qal/ and Errachidia Province's use of /gal/. Methodology: To elucidate the methodological framework of this study, a qualitative approach was employed, primarily through interviews, which were chosen based on their high acceptance within the local communities. This approach not only bolstered the reliability of the data gathered but also aligned with the nature of our linguistic inquiry. Findings: The study finds that examining the broader linguistic practices of the Meknasi and Er-Rissani populations, especially in social interactions, offers insights into the underlying reasons for these linguistic disparities. Crucially, factors such as ethnic background, an individual's social and familial lineage, and the surrounding environment play significant roles in shaping linguistic choices, be it in Amazigh, Arabic, or southern Arabic dialects. This study further underscores the influence of modern and traditional environments on word selection.

Improving the Performance of Arabic Information Retrieval Systems: The Issue of Resolving Word Sense Disambiguation

This study aimed at assessing the performance and efficacy of the retrieval information (IR) systems implemented in three widely used search engines (Google, Bing, and Yahoo), specifically with regard to the challenge of word sense disambiguation in Arabic texts. Such a challenge has been confirmed to negatively influence the retrieval of the most relevant documents. Therefore, we extended the paradigm of using computational methods and natural language processing (NLP) tools, primarily tailored for processing English texts, to explore morphosyntactic as well as lexical issues disturbing the accuracy of Arabic IR systems. Findings revealed striking disparities in the efficacy of IR systems integrated into these search engines, which can be attributed to four principal challenges: (a) the intricate morpho-syntactic structures inherent in Arabic; (b) the idiosyncratic orthographical system of the Arabic script; (c) the multifaceted semantic flexibility of certain lexical elements; and (d) the intriguing diaglossic nature of Arabic, allowing for the coexistence of multiple linguistic varieties within a single discourse situation. Drawing from these findings, a series of solutions rooted in supervised machine learning techniques, including clustering models and adaptations based on geographic locations, are proposed. Moreover, the study advocates for the capacity of search engines to interpret queries across all Arabic varieties, encompassing vernacular dialects. Furthermore, the importance of search engines accommodating queries irrespective of the specific language adopted by users is underscored. While the research primarily centers on Arabic, its implications resonate beyond this language alone. By applying computational methodologies originally designed for English to Arabic, the study not only addresses the challenges specific to Arabic IR systems but also contributes valuable insights that transcend linguistic boundaries. Through a comparative lens, issues like word sense disambiguation between Arabic and English are juxtaposed, extracting lessons that can inform advancements in information retrieval for both languages.

Cognate Object Constructions in Najdi Arabic: An HPSG Approach

Cognate object constructions (COCs) are known for their idiosyncratic properties in that they consist of an intransitive verb that takes an NP whose head is a verbal noun that is semantically and morphologically cognate to the verb. In Arabic literature, this topic is considered one of the understudied linguistic phenomena. Therefore, this paper attempts to contribute to the ongoing linguistic research by exploring COCs in one of the Arabic varieties, namely Najdi Arabic (NA). This paper illustrates the main properties that are shared by all COCs in NA. It also provides a theory-neutral description of the syntactico-semantic properties of one of the COC types, namely the particular event COC. In addition, it offers an analysis of the common core properties of all COCs and the syntactico-semantic properties of particular event COCs using the approach of Head-driven Phrase Structure Grammar (HPSG).

Deconstructing verbal and nonverbal accommodation in Arabic cross-dialectal communication

Aims and objectives: This study examines language accommodation in cross-dialectal encounters. It demonstrates how speakers of different Arabic varieties use (non)accommodation strategies that include both verbal and embodied actions. Approach: The study uses qualitative data from Arabic cross-dialectal communication. In the course of their interactions, participants draw on linguistic and nonlinguistic resources to achieve either convergent or divergent accommodation. Using the theoretical frameworks of discourse analysis (DA) and communication accommodation theory (CAT), the study investigates natural conversations for insight into qualities of Arabic cross-dialectal communication. Data and analysis: The data were collected in the United States. In this study, the participants originate from four major geographical areas in the Arab world, including the Maghreb, Egypt and Sudan, the Levant, and the Gulf. Findings/conclusions: The analysis demonstrates that successful accommodation requires a verbal and nonverbal collaborative construction of meaning to achieve co-participation. Participants linguistically converge while they display a shared Arab identity. The data also show that when a sense of shared Arabness is deemphasized and the positive social image to a group’s variety is violated, divergence as a nonaccommodative strategy is used. Originality: This is the first study that demonstrates how different modes of accommodation are expressed, not only through speech but also through embodied actions. The study shows that accommodation as a process is not complete at the verbal level; it must be orchestrated at multiple semiotic levels, including nonverbal ones. Significance/implications: Scholars have paid less attention to nonverbal accommodation. This study seeks to bridge this gap by analyzing both verbal and nonverbal accommodation, whether convergent or divergent, in Arabic cross-dialectal communication. It shows how speakers of different dialects use accommodation to signal intergroup relations and negotiate different social identities.

The Syntax of Wh-Interrogatives in Hijazi Arabic: A Non-Transformational Approach

Unbounded dependencies are structures where two elements that typically co-occur appear far from one another in spite of the syntactic dependency between them. Wh-interrogatives are one of the mostly investigated types of unbounded dependencies cross-linguistically. To contribute to the ongoing linguistic research in wh-interrogatives, the current paper attempts to explore them in one of the Arabic varieties: Hijazi Arabic (HA). The paper primarily focuses on how to account for the constructions of HA wh-interrogatives using one of the prominent non-transformational theories in generative syntax: Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar (HPSG). The analysis proposed herein also sheds light on the word order used in HA. The paper concludes that there are two constraints to which wh-interrogatives in HA are subject.

Acoustic Analysis of Iraqi Arabic Simple Vowels

Objectives: The study aimed at mapping IBA simple vowels as they are produced by Iraqi speakers. The study also aimed to identify the effect of gender on the pronunciation of Iraqi Arabic simple vowels. The study attempted to compare between the vowel chart proposed in this study and other Iraqi and Arabic vowel charts proposed in the literature. Methods: A quantitative method was adopted in this study. Thus, 10 Iraqis were asked to read stimuli, and their voices were recorded using high quality smart phones. The recordings were analyzed via PRAAT, and the frequencies obtained were descriptively and statistically processed. Results: The chart showed a clear tense-lax dichotomy where each short vowel has a long counterpart except for /ee/. Moreover, the results showed significant differences in vowel formants based on gender variable. Female speakers tend to produce vowels at higher levels, while males tend to produce vowels in more front positions. The results also revealed differences between Iraqi variant in one hand, and Maslawi and other Arabic varieties on the other hand. Conclusions: Iraqi speakers showed a good ability to map vowels in distinct places. Biological differences in male and female vocal apparatuses are behind differences in the pronunciation of vowels. It is recommended that the vowel chart offered here can be used as a reference for teachers of English pronunciation at various levels as it indicates to difficulties Iraqi EFL leaners encounter in the pronunciation of English vowels that are mostly resulting from L1 transfer.

Ruʾūs al-Jibāl Arabic in Context: A Proposal for an Expanded Typology of Southeastern Arabian Dialects

Abstract This paper seeks to clearly outline the features that distinguish Ruʾūs al-Jibāl Arabic (also called Šiḥḥī Arabic, Musandam Arabic) spoken on the Omani peninsula from surrounding dialects. Comparison with nearby Arabic varieties yields a few areal features (in segmental phonology) that establish a dialect continuum from the coasts of northern Oman to Musandam. A large number of phonological similarities between Ruʾūs al-Jibāl Arabic and Dhofari Arabic are then documented here for the first time. This robust but discontinuous link re-frames many of the peculiarities of Ruʾūs al-Jibāl Arabic as vestiges of a coastal southern Arabian dialect group. This finding fits a wellknown ancient pattern of northward population movements out of south Arabia, and allows for a more effective delineation of innovations unique to Ruʾūs al-Jibāl . It also offers a direction forward for an expanded framework for the classification of the Arabic dialects of southeastern Arabia, incorporating Oman's peripheries at Dhofar and Musandam.

The discursive tensions of Darija in Morocco's online news articles: A diachronic corpus-assisted approach

In keeping with a diachronic corpus-assisted discourse approach, this study explores the way Darija, the colloquial Arabic variety in Morocco, has been discursively constructed in online news articles over a ten-year timespan. To this end, a specialized corpus of over one million words was compiled from the news website Hespress. The study integrates the analysis of collocational frequencies and contextual examination of concordances, interrogating the links of the discourses encircling Darija with major sociopolitical events. Notwithstanding the local deep-seated linguistic rivalries and the prevailing standard-language ideology, the findings suggest that Darija during this period adopts a joint discourse of resistance with Amazighiya (Berber) against the Arabophone ideology, arguing for a consolidated constituency of Moroccanness, fundamental to the maintenance and (re)production of the country’s cultural identity. Such findings shed light on language as a site of struggle, in which issues of social and institutional inequities are negotiated between contested ideologies.

When a Dual Marker Acts as a Paucal Marker: The Case of the Dual -e:n in Northern Rural Jordanian Arabic

In this research paper, based on an acceptability judgment task, it is demonstrated that dual morphology can denote paucity in northern rural Jordanian Arabic (NRJA), asserting on Blanc and Brustad’s observation that some Arabic varieties have pseudo-dual (or unspecified dual), i.e., it may refer to numbers above two. It is shown that the dual morpheme -e:n in this dialect does not only refer to an exact (dual) number, but also to an approximative (paucal) number. This implies that the paucal category, which typically evolves from the plural category in natural languages, may likewise develop from the dual category. On this basis, the paucal is peculiar in Arabic, as it can be derived by (1) plural morphology as in Standard Arabic or (2) dual morphology, as in NRJA. In addition, the paper shows how the morphosyntax of the dual in NRJA yields either dual or paucal reading. Adopting Harbour’s number theory where the components of a number system are predicted by a set of bivalent number features under the number head #0, I show that the bivalent feature [±minimal] in the morphosyntax of the dual in NRJA is crucial to derive its two interpretations: [+minimal] yields the exact (dual) reading, whereas [-minimal] yields the approximative (paucal) reading. This analysis is expected to have intralingual usefulness. Specifically, it could be employed to plausibly derive the paucal category that is based on the dual category in other Arabic varieties, as descriptively reported in Blanc and Brustad’s studies. Furthermore, the observation that the dual category is the source of the paucal category has cross-linguistic implications. Particularly, it implies that the paucal category does not necessarily require the plural category to be derived in a language. Additionally, this observation asserts that languages tend to use lower numerals to assign a paucal reading to them, as is the case in French (e.g., deux ou trois).

A tale of two tool(kit)s: from canonical antonymy to non-canonical opposition in the Qur’anic discourse

Abstract A number of discourse functions of canonical antonyms have been quantified and classified in English and across languages, each of which is associated with typical syntactic frames. Taking such a classification of canonical antonymy as an analytical toolkit, (Davies, Matt. 2012. A new approach to oppositions in discourse: the role of syntactic frames in the triggering of noncanonical oppositions. Journal of English Linguistics 40(1). 41–73) quantified and qualified the role of these frames in triggering non-canonical oppositions in English news discourse. Synergizing the provisional typologies of canonical antonymy (Hassanein, Hamada. 2018. Discourse functions of opposition in Classical Arabic: The case in ḥadīth genre. Lingua 201. 18–44; Jones, Steven. 2002. Antonymy: A corpus-based perspective. London and New York: Routledge.) and non-canonical opposition (Davies, Matt. 2012. A new approach to oppositions in discourse: the role of syntactic frames in the triggering of noncanonical oppositions. Journal of English Linguistics 40(1). 41–73), this study has sought to develop a dynamic toolkit for the quantitative and qualitative analyses of non-canonical opposition across Arabic varieties and potentially other languages. The toolkit was tested quantitatively and qualitatively against a dataset of 2125 non-canonical oppositional pairs collected from the Qur’an with reference to the Qur’anic Arabic Corpus. Results showed that the syntactic frames which house a wide range of co-occurring canonical antonyms also house a wider range of non-canonical oppositions in binary and trinary representations of abstract and concrete entities. The role of syntactic frames in the triggering of non-canonical oppositions is quantitatively and qualitatively significant for locating and explicating the ideological repercussions of oppositions towards Qur’an interpretation. It is concluded that a synergy of typologies results in a replicable pathway for analysis.

Tense-aspect constructions in Jish Arabic: Morphological, syntactic, and semantic features

This paper aims to examine the present and past tense-aspect constructions in Jish Arabic, an undocumented Arabic variety of Upper Galilee (Israel), and delineate their morphological, syntactic, and semantic features. Nine such constructions are identified, and the structure of each construction is discussed. In addition, using the Natural Semantic Metalanguage approach (NSM), an explication (a definition using simple words) of the meaning of each construction is presented. In discussing the Jish Arabic constructions, a comparison is made with their English counterparts, which are chosen as a familiar point of reference. The comparison with English does not make the explications prone to Anglocentrism, as the explications are built via a simple, universal language. This language ensures their translatability into Jish Arabic and their verification by native Jish Arabic speakers. In addition, it makes their meanings accessible to non-specialists, as the explications can be translated into any language. This study can be seen as a contribution to the field of theoretical linguistics, particularly descriptive linguistics, as it documents the tense-aspect constructions of an undocumented variety. In addition, it can be seen as a contribution to the field of applied linguistics, especially as it compares these constructions to their English counterparts. It is hoped that this paper will stimulate the investigation of tense-aspect constructions in other non-standard Arabic varieties, most of which are undocumented.

Prosodic words are the domain of emphasis spread: evidence from Northern Rural Jordanian Arabic

Abstract This article, which reports on an experimental study based on data obtained from 86 native speakers of Northern Rural Jordanian Arabic (NRJA), offers empirical evidence that emphasis spread can apply bidirectionally across word edges when they are prosodically word internal. In other words, emphasis can spread from one word to a neighboring (plain) word when the two words form one prosodic word (ω). In order to support this hypothesis, we examine simple construct-state nominals (i.e., nominals consisting of two members), which are widely assumed to behave prosodically as one word in Arabic grammar (see, e.g., Borer, Hagit. 1999. Deconstructing the construct. In Kyle Johnson & Ian Roberts (eds.), Beyond principles and parameters, 3–89. Dordrecht: Kluwer). A simple construct state nominal is mapped onto one ω, as proposed in the current article. Additionally, this article examines instances of construct state nominals in which two words could be members of a ω by cliticization. In this case, a weak form (e.g., a reduced functional word such as an auxiliary verb) is attached to the ω of a lexical word, as an enclitic. The article shows that emphasis spreads across word edges within the ω mapped from a simple construct state nominal or a word along with its enclitics. In so doing, it provides evidence that the domain of emphasis spread is larger than the syllable, morpheme, or single-word form, as proposed by other studies for other Arabic varieties.

EXPLORING THE ACQUISITION OF SPOKEN ARABIC VARIETIES: INSIGHTS FROM NOAM CHOMSKY’S GENETIC-COGNITIVE THEORY

This study investigates the implications and implementation of cognitive genetic theory in acquiring various spoken Arabic varieties, drawing upon Noam Chomsky's cognitive genetic perspective. The research focuses on MTs Al-Irsyad Tengaran in Batu City, chosen due to its majority population of Yemeni Arab descendants known as Jeme'eh. The study explores the impact of this demographic on the Arabic language used for communication, which displays slight differences from general Arabic usage. Employing qualitative descriptive research methodology, data is collected through interviews, observations, and documentation. The analysis follows the Miles and Huberman techniques, encompassing data collection, reduction, presentation, and conclusion. Findings reveal four spoken Arabic varieties among the students: word variety (11 instances), phrases (5 instances), sentences (3 instances), and clauses (1 instance). Importantly, students acquire these language variations incidentally, relying solely on their cognitive abilities and Language Acquisition Device (LAD). These results align with Chomsky's cognitive genetic theory, which suggests that children can acquire language without explicit instruction. This research contributes to the development of psycholinguistic science, enhances practical understanding of speech patterns, provides a valuable reference for future researchers, and enriches readers' knowledge, particularly within Noam Chomsky's cognitive genetics.

Linguistic Variation, Social Meaning and Covert Prestige in a Northern Moroccan Arabic Variety

This paper addresses how gender and age, as macro-sociological factors, influence variation and change in the Northern Moroccan Arabic variety of Ouezzane, and how social meaning plays a role in this variation. To do so, it examines the high degree of variability in the realization of two phonetic variables, the voiceless alveolar plosive /t/ and the voiceless uvular plosive /q/, in a corpus of semi-scripted interviews with 20 local informants. The data for the study was gathered during several fieldwork campaigns carried out between 2014 and 2021. The analysis combines quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative comparisons are drawn across gender and three age categories (under 30, between 30 and 50, and over 50) to search for gender and/or age markers, while the data are qualitatively analyzed with regard to the increase in the use of certain allophones, attrition and loss of other variants, and metalinguistic comments made by informants on those traits. These two methods make it possible to identify how the phonetic variables analyzed contribute to the construction of various identities, such as an “older person” identity, as well as self-affiliation with particular social groups, such as “artisans” or “rural women”, from which other groups, such as male university graduates, are keen to distance themselves.