Gunvor Mejdell, Mixed Styles in Spoken Arabic in Egypt, Vol. 48.
Journal name: Acta Orientalia
Original article title: Gunvor Mejdell, Mixed Styles in Spoken Arabic in Egypt. Somewhere between Order and Chaos. Studies in Semitic Languages and Linguistics. Vol. 48.
ACTA ORIENTALIA is a journal focused on the study of Oriental languages, history, archaeology, and religions from ancient times to the present. The journal includes articles reviewed by a senior scholar in the relevant field.
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Acta Orientalia:
(Founded in 1922 and published annually)
Full text available for: Gunvor Mejdell, Mixed Styles in Spoken Arabic in Egypt. Somewhere between Order and Chaos. Studies in Semitic Languages and Linguistics. Vol. 48.
Year: 2008 | Doi: 10.5617/ao.7387
Copyright (license): CC BY 4.0
Summary of article contents:
Introduction
Gunvor Mejdell's monograph, "Mixed Styles in Spoken Arabic in Egypt," is a significant empirical investigation into the linguistic behavior of speakers within specific academic genres. This study is rooted in the concept of diglossia—a term established by Charles A. Ferguson—which highlights the complexities of language variation and sociolects in Arabic. Mejdell's work builds upon previous studies that have critiqued traditional categorical views of diglossia, examining how speakers navigate between various linguistic levels during public presentations.
Diglossic Continuum in Arabic
One key concept explored in Mejdell’s work is the 'diglossic continuum,' which refers to the range of styles that speakers employ based on the context of their speech. The study dissects how speakers of Arabic adjust their language in academic settings to find a balance between standard Arabic (fusha) and colloquial Arabic (ammiyya). Mejdell identifies and analyzes several linguistic variables including complementizers, demonstratives, negations, relative phrases, and pronoun suffixation. Through detailed analysis, she reveals that speakers employ a variety of forms that indicate varying levels of familiarity, formality, and perceived appropriateness in their communication, suggesting a nuanced interplay between the high and low varieties of Arabic.
Saliency and Style Markers
Another important concept is the distinction between 'markers' and 'indicators' in sociolinguistics, as defined by Labov. Markers are linguistic features that carry social evaluation and awareness, while indicators are structural features without perceived significance. Mejdell uses this framework to examine the saliency of certain linguistic variables in the context of the presentations analyzed. She finds that certain forms of negation and demonstratives are avoided in more formal settings, which aligns with broader societal attitudes towards language use. The study demonstrates how linguistic choices reflect both personal and contextual interpretations of formality, revealing the dynamic nature of language in academic discourse.
Conclusion
Mejdell's investigation into the linguistic behaviors in extemporaneous academic discourse showcases the complexity of language use within Arabic-speaking communities. By employing a rigorous methodological framework and a focus on significant linguistic variables, she challenges assumptions about uniformity in speech across similar contexts. Her findings underscore the fluidity of language and the importance of context in determining speech patterns, ultimately contributing valuable insights to the field of Arabic linguistics. The depth of analysis in her study not only enhances our understanding of diglossia but also demonstrates the ongoing evolution of language as speakers navigate different genres and social settings.
FAQ section (important questions/answers):
What is the primary focus of Gunvor Mejdell's monograph?
Mejdell's monograph empirically investigates language use in panel presentations at public seminars, analyzing how speakers utilize different linguistic forms based on their educational backgrounds and the social context of their discussions.
How does the concept of diglossia relate to Mejdell's study?
Mejdell builds on the diglossia framework, particularly Charles A. Ferguson's work, suggesting a 'diglossic continuum' to describe the variation and complexity of linguistic forms used by speakers in different social and educational contexts.
What types of linguistic features are analyzed in the study?
The study examines variable grammatical features including complementizers, demonstratives, negations, relative phrases, and pronoun suffixation, focusing on their frequencies and social significance in the speakers' discourse.
What methodology did Mejdell employ in her analysis?
Mejdell used systematic transcription of seminar presentations, followed by interviews with speakers regarding their linguistic choices, contextualizing their language use as reflecting a compromise between formal and colloquial Arabic.
What conclusions does Mejdell reach about speaker variation in language use?
Mejdell concludes that speakers respond differently to similar contexts, revealing variations in their linguistic choices based on their perceptions of formality, which can result in distinct 'subgenres' of academic discourse.
Glossary definitions and references:
Oriental and Historical glossary list for “Gunvor Mejdell, Mixed Styles in Spoken Arabic in Egypt, Vol. 48.”. This list explains important keywords that occur in this article and links it to the glossary for a better understanding of that concept in the context of History, Linguistics, Religion, Philosophy, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism etc.
1) Language:
Language is central to the book's analysis, as it focuses on various forms of language use, especially in the context of Arabic diglossia. The study differentiates between Standard Arabic and Egyptian Arabic and explores the interplay between these forms in academic settings.
2) Book:
The term 'book' refers to the publications being reviewed, including Gunvor Mejdell's monograph and the collection Approaches to Arabic Linguistics. Both books are critiqued for their contributions to the academic field, addressing various linguistic phenomena in the Arabic language.
3) Linguistics:
Linguistics is the academic discipline concerned with the study of language. The reviews focus on linguistic analyses, such as diglossia and sociodialectal variation in Arabic, employing theoretical frameworks and empirical data to understand the complexities of language use.
4) Education:
Education is relevant as it contextualizes the sociolinguistic variations observed in the studies. Mejdell's work, for example, includes interviews with speakers about their educational backgrounds, which influenced their use of different language forms in public academic settings.
5) Speech:
Speech is a primary subject of analysis in Mejdell's study. The research examines extemporaneous academic monologues and panel presentations, focusing on the variability in speech forms and the factors influencing the speakers' choices of linguistic variants.
6) Egypt:
Egypt is the geographical and cultural context for Mejdell's study. The research focuses on spoken Arabic in Egypt, specifically in academic panel presentations and literary seminars, to investigate the interaction between Egyptian Arabic and Standard Arabic.
7) Discussion:
Discussion refers to the analyses and dialogues in the reviewed works. Mejdell's study involves academic panel discussions and literary seminars as data sources, analyzing how speakers use different linguistic forms in these settings.
8) Perception:
Perception is crucial in the sociolinguistic analysis, particularly in how speakers and listeners perceive and are aware of certain linguistic features. Mejdell's study discusses the concept of 'saliency' to understand which linguistic forms are consciously monitored and used.
9) Literature:
Literature is referenced in the context of previous studies and theoretical frameworks that inform the current analysis. Mejdell's work builds on and critiques existing literature on Arab linguistic variation, citing works by Ferguson, Blanc, Badawi, and others.
10) Rainbow:
The term 'rainbow' is used metaphorically by Badawi in his model of sociodialectal variation in Arabic. He describes the continuum of Arabic language levels as being akin to 'the colours of the rainbow,' where each level transitions smoothly into the next.
11) Student:
[see source text or glossary: Student]
12) Colour (Color):
Colour is metaphorically used to describe the continuum of language levels in Arabic. Badawi’s sociodialectal model suggests that transitions between different language levels are like 'the colours of the rainbow,' indicating smooth gradations rather than abrupt changes.
13) Praise:
Praise is given to the editors of Approaches to Arabic Linguistics for their meticulous work and to Gunvor Mejdell for her thorough and insightful sociolinguistic study, which has been recognized as exemplary and well-researched despite the complexity of the subject matter.
14) Lalla:
[see source text or glossary: Lalla]
15) Sound:
[see source text or glossary: Sound]
16) Anna:
[see source text or glossary: Anna]
17) Hada:
[see source text or glossary: Hada]
18) Fear:
Fear, in this context, refers to the absence of concerns regarding legal repercussions. The book reviews highlight that the works were published without fear of legal action, emphasizing the freedom of academic expression.
19) Poem:
[see source text or glossary: Poem]
20) Hour:
Hour is relevant in the description of Mejdell's data recordings. Each of the academic and literary seminar recordings used in her empirical investigation is approximately one hour long, providing substantial material for linguistic analysis.
21) Mud:
Mood in the grammatical sense is discussed regarding the complexity of using Standard Arabic forms. Mejdell points out that speakers find Egyptian Arabic pronominal suffixes more appealing due to their simplicity compared to the mood functions required in Standard Arabic.