Arabic Sociolinguistics

Reem Bassiouney is Professor of Linguistics in the Department of Applied Linguistics at the American University in Cairo. Her academic books include, Functions of code-switching in Egypt (2006), Arabic Sociolinguistics (2008), Arabic and the Media (2010), Arabic Language and Linguistics 2012 (co-ed). Her research and publications focus on topics in Arabic sociolingusitics, including code-switching, language and gender, leveling, register, language policy and discourse analysis. She is also an award winning novelist.

• List of charts, maps and tables; List of abbreviations; Conventions used in this bookIntroduction 1. Diglossia and dialect groups in the Arab world 1.1 Diglossia 1.1.1 An overview of the study of diglossia 1.1.2 Theories that explain diglossia in terms of levels 1.1.3 The idea of Educated Spoken Arabic1.2 Dialects/varieties in the Arab world 1.2.1 The concept of prestige as different from that of standard 1.2.2 Groups of dialects in the Arab world1.3 Conclusion2. Code-switching 2.1 Introduction2.2 Problem of terminology: code-switching and code-mixing2.3 Code-switching and diglossia2.4 The study of constraints on code-switching in relation to the Arab world 2.4.1 Structural constraints on classic code-switching 2.4.2 Structural constraints on diglossic switching2.5 Motivations for code-switching 2.5.1 Motivations and discourse functions of classic code-switching 2.5.2 Motivations and discourse functions of diglossic switching2.6 A holistic approach to code-switching 2.6.1 Translanguaging and the challenge of two grammatical systems 2.6.2 Motivations for switching in light of a social construct approach to language2.7 Conclusion3. Language variation and change 3.1 Introduction3.2 Language variation and change 3.2.1 Social class approach 3.2.2 Social networks approach 3.2.3 Third wave approach to variation studies: community of practice3.3 Methodology3.4 Sociolinguistic variables3.4.1 Ethnicity 3.4.2 Religion 3.4.3 Urbanisation 3.4.4 Social class 3.4.5 Other factors3.5 Levelling3.6 Conclusion to sections 3.1–3.53.7 Variation and the social approaches to sociolinguistics 3.7.1 Meaning, indexes and stance 3.7.2 Stance as the mediator between form and meaning 3.7.3 Studies that adopt a novel approach, method or data in Arabic sociolinguistics 3.7.4 Discussion and conclusion4. Arabic and gender 4.1 Introduction4.2 Approaches to language and gender 4.2.1 The deficit theory and Lakoff’s contribution to the study of language and gender 4.2.2 The dominance theory 4.2.3 The difference theory 4.2.4 Community of practice theory: third wave approach to variation studies4.3 Women in the Arab world: framing and background information 4.3.1 Diversity in education 4.3.2 Diversity in urbanisation 4.3.3 Economic diversity 4.3.4 Diversity in traditions and religious practices 4.3.5 Honour and modesty4.4 Politeness in relation to gender4.5 ‘Mister master’: names, status and identity 4.5.1 Names and why they are hidden4.6 When a chicken crows like a cock: women narrators4.7 Language variation and change in relation to gender4.7.1 An overview of studies on language variation in relation to gender 4.7.2 An overview of linguistic variation in relation to gender in the Arab world4.8 Projection of identity in the speech of educated men and women in Egypt: evidence from talk shows 4.8.1 Description of data 4.8.2 Categorising the data 4.8.3 Detailed description of the data 4.8.4 Conclusion4.9 The symbolic use of language4.10 Gender universals re-examined4.11 Conclusion5. Language policy and politics 5.1 The power of language5.2 What is language policy? 5.2.1 Language ideologies 5.2.2 Language practices 5.2.3 Language planning5.3 Nation and state 5.3.1 The relation between nation and language 5.3.2 The Arab nation5.4 Countries with SA as the official language5.5 French versus British patterns of colonisation and their relation to language policies 5.5.1 French patterns of colonisation 5.5.2 British patterns of colonisation5.6 Language policies in other parts of the Arab world5.7 The role of language academies in the Arab world5.8 SA, politics and the aching nation: a case study5.9 Linguistic rights and political rights5.10 English and globalisation5.11 Conclusion6. A critical approach to Arabic sociolinguistics 6.1 Critical sociolinguistics 6.1.1 Problems with sociolinguistic research6.2 The binary approach to sociolinguistics: a methodological challenge 6.2.1 The inaccuracy of the binary approach to linguistic variation 6.2.2 The confusion surrounding standard in Arabic 6.2.3 The correlation of independent variables to linguistic ones6.3 The native speaker6.4 Power, legitimacy and the social approach to language6.5 The neutral linguist6.6 Principles of methodological approaches in critical sociolinguistics6.7 Western hegemony of the field of sociolinguistics6.8 ConclusionGeneral conclusion Bibliography; Index