Sociolinguistics, Afroasiatic (Hamito-Semitic) Languages, Dialectology & Linguistic Geography

Arabic in the City

Name: Arabic in the City
Author: Edited by Catherine Miller
ISBN: 9780203933367

by Edited by Catherine Miller, Enam Al-Wer, Dominique Caubet, Janet C.E Watson

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Overview

Filling a gap in the literature currently available on the topic, this edited collection is the first examination of the interplay between urbanization, language variation and language change in fifteen major Arab cities.

The Arab world presents very different types and degrees of urbanization, from well established old capital-cities such as Cairo to new emerging capital-cities such as Amman or Nouakchott, these in turn embedded in different types of national construction. It is these urban settings which raise questions concerning the dynamics of homogenization/differentiation and the processes of standardization due to the coexistence of competing linguistic models. Topics investigated include:

History of settlement
The linguistic impact of migration
The emergence of new urban vernaculars
Dialect convergence and divergence
Code-switching, youth language and new urban culture
Arabic in the Diaspora
Arabic among non-Arab groups.

Containing a broad selection of case studies from across the Arab world and featuring contributions from leading urban sociolinguistics and dialectologists, this book presents a fresh approach to our understanding of the interaction between language, society and space. As such, the book will appeal to the linguist as well as to the social scientist in general.

Synopsis

Filling A Gap In The Literature Currently Available On The Topic, This Edited Collection Is The First Examination Of The Interplay Between Urbanization, Language Variation And Language Change In Fifteen Major Arab Cities. The Arab World Presents Very Different Types And Degrees Of Urbanization, From Well Established Old Capital-cities Such As Cairo To New Emerging Capital-cities Such As Amman Or Nouakchott, These In Turn Embedded In Different Types Of National Construction. It Is These Urban Settings Which Raise Questions Concerning The Dynamics Of Homogenization/differentiation And The Processes Of Standardization Due To The Coexistence Of Competing Linguistic Models. Arabic Urban Vernaculars : Development And Changes / Catherine Miller -- Migration, Urbanization And Language Change. The (r)urbanisation Of Mauritania : Historical Context And Contemporary Developments / Catherine Taine Cheikh -- The Formation Of The Dialect Of Amman : From Chaos To Order / Enam Al-wer -- Urbanization And Dialect Change : The Arabic Dialect Of Tripoli (libya) / Christophe Pereira -- Becoming Casablancan : Fessis In Casablanca As A Case Study / Atiqa Hachimi -- Two Cases Of Moroccan Arabic In The Diaspora / Angeles Vicente -- Urban Vernaculars : Convergence And Divergence. Greetings In Beirut : Social Distribution And Attitudes Towards Different Formulae / Marie Aymee Germanos -- Linguistic Levelling In San'ani Arabic As Reflected In A Popular Radio Serial / Janet Watson -- The Urban And Suburban Modes : Patterns Of Linguistic Variation And Change In Damascus / Hanadi Ismail -- Segmental And Prosodic Aspects Of Ksar El Kebir's Neo-urban Variety / Mohamed Embarki -- The Use Of Kashkasha/kaskasa And Alternative Means Among Educated Urban Saudi Speakers / Munira Al-azraki -- Multilingualism, Codeswitching And New Urban Cultures. Close Encounters Of A Different Kind : Two Types Of Insertion In Nigerian Arabic Codeswitching / Jonathan Owens -- Development And Linguistic Change In Moroccan Arabic-french Codeswitching / Karima Ziamari -- The Language Of Cairos' Young University Students / Sherin Rizk -- Rap And Rappers In Nouakchott, (mauritania) / Aline Tauzin -- Uses And Attitudes Towards Hassaniyya Language Among Nouakchotts Negro-mauritanian Population / Alassane Dia. Edited By Catherine Miller ... [et Al.] Includes Bibliographical References And Index.