This socio-linguistic study throws new light on variation and the defining of register in Arabic political discourse. The research is based on three dialects (Egyptian, Iraqi and Libyan) and on political speeches delivered by Gamal Abdunnasir, Saddam Hussein and Muammar Al Gadhdhafi.

First Published in 1997. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Beyond Lexical Variation in Modern Standard Arabic presents several aspects concerning Modern Standard Arabic. It analyzes the different forms of lexical variation, and the causes for these variations. This starting point led to many other vital issues related to the present state of the Arabic Language such as language planning, native speakers' identity and fears and most importantly the relationship between the different Arabic varieties: Classical, Modern Standard, and dialects. The book analyzes lexical variation comprehensively and provides deep insights on the present state of the language with some speculations on its future.

The written and spoken forms of Arabic have been traditionally viewed as separate forms of the language that rarely overlap in writing, but this book will examine the recently emerged concept of ‘mixed’ writing that combines both written and spoken forms. This book takes a close look at different examples of mixed Arabic writing in modern (twentieth to twenty-firstt century) print and online literature, offering an analysis of this type of mixing alongside a dynamic model for analysing mixed Arabic writing, and the motivations for producing this type of writing. This book further introduces the ground-breaking concept of the seven writing styles for Arabic, ranging from Classical Arabic to ChatSpeak, whilst also offering an overview of early Arabic literacy and children’s literature. Primarily aimed at Arabic researchers and teachers in linguistics, sociolinguistics, identity studies, politics and Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language, this book would also be informative for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying Arabic as foreign language, Arabic linguistics and dialectology.

The handbook The Semitic Languages offers a comprehensive reference tool for Semitic Linguistics in its broad sense. It is not restricted to comparative Grammar, although it covers also comparative aspects, including classification. By comprising a chapter on typology and sections with sociolinguistic focus and language contact, the conception of the book aims at a rather complete, unbiased description of the state of the art in Semitics. Articles on individual languages and dialects give basic facts as location, numbers of speakers, scripts, numbers of extant texts and their nature, attestation where appropriate, and salient features of the grammar and lexicon of the respective variety. The handbook is the most comprehensive treatment of the Semitic language family since many decades.

This book reassesses theoretical approaches to diglossia and code-switching in the light of empirical data from Egypt. The work is based on a corpus of monologues that includes political speeches, mosque sermons and university lectures. Part one is a detailed analysis of the systems of negation, deixis, and mood marking in Modern Standard Arabic and Egyptian Colloquial Arabic, with an emphasis on the occurrence and frequency of composite structures in empirical data. This analysis provides the basis for an extensive reassessment of theoretical approaches to code-switching in part two; this reappraisal in turn leads to a thorough analysis of the function of code switching in the Egyptian speech community, and of the factors which influence code choice, such as role of the speaker, audience, and subject matter.

This volume is the first published collection of papers on the impact of diglossia and dialectal variations on language and literacy acquisition, impairment, and education. The authors are pioneering in this field and are leading researchers with substantial experience in conducting research in this area. A wide range of areas and languages are covered, including the US, South Africa, Israel, and various European countries. The chapters present novel data and insights regarding the role of dialectal variations on language and literacy, from a wide range of countries and perspectives. These insights have significant theoretical and practical implications. A majority of literacy learners worldwide are taught to read and write in a language variety or a dialect that is not the same as their spoken language. Not only is this the global norm, but it is probably also the greatest obstacle to literacy learning. This volume is the first published collection of papers on the role of dialect in language and literacy acquisition, impairment, and education in a variety of languages and situations across Europe, the Middle East, North America, Africa, and Asia.The authors are pioneers in this field.