English as a Lingua Franca: Evolution of Arab Linguistic and Cultural Identity

English as a Lingua Franca: Evolution of ArabLinguistic Identity

23 January, 2012Foundation Program

Qatar Universityby Ozgur Pala

What?

• Dominance of English has challenged Gulf Arabs’ self-perceptions about their language and culture.

• No study has investigated how English as a lingua franca (ELF) affects and shapes cultural and linguistic identity of locals in Qatar.

• This research study replicates Seppala’s study (2011) conducted in China.

Overview

• Historical Perspective• Research Questions and Aim • Respondents • Methods of Data Collection • Conclusions and Implications• Limitations• Future Research

Qatar

• Ottoman Rule until 1916• British Protectorate between 1916-1971 • Strategic location = trade routes to India • Rich gas reserves• Incredible pace of economic growth

English in Qatar

• Geographical location = close contact with other languages and cultures

• Positive attitudes towards English = integration of English into public schools

• Globalization & economic growth = foreigners • Grand scale investments in education (in English)• English dominates every sphere of Qatari life • Arabic challenged & relegated• Concerns about Arabic L & Arab cultural identity

Research Questions

1. Has the increasing need for and use of English affected the Qataris, their linguistic and cultural identity?

2. Have the Qatari university students’ attitudes towards Arab (and Western) culture and Arabic language changed with increased knowledge of English and the Western culture(s)?

Aim

• The aim of the study is exploring: – how has ELF changed respondents’ attitudes

towards Arabic and Arab culture.– how those attitudes shape their cultural identity

as modern, educated Qatari Arabs.

Methods of Data Collection

• Questionnaire – online– 29 Qs, some semi-open

• follow-up Q such as “if yes, how?”, “if yes/no, why?”

– given one week to complete– 95 respondents – Arabic translation of some difficult concepts– not possible to leave and resume– Answers are personal, no help from classmates or

friends

Methods of Data Collection

• Interview– 2 weeks after the Q– A’s from whole class discussion and selected

respondents– Qs in advance; additional explanations provided– dictionary allowed – took 2 weeks

Methods of Data Collection

• Interview – semi-structured – Most Qs repeated in different ways– some Qs skipped according to previous answers – free conversation style– Qs moved from simple and personal to complex and

impersonal – No pre-set categories. Tried to include all

representative answers. No numbers/percentages used while analyzing open-ended Qs.

1. How old are you?

17 18 19 20 21 24 N/A0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

2. What is your sex?

020406080

100

3. Where were you born?

020406080

4. What is your mother language?

Arabic Other0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

5. What other languages (other than Arabic) do you speak fluently?

English Farsi Urdu Bengali Balooshi 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

6. & 7. What is your father’s/mother’s most recent degree?

Elementary School

High School BA MA PhD0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

8. Which other members of your immediate family speak English fluently?

Father Mother Sister Brother No one0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

9. How many years have you studied the English language?

1-3 years 4-6 years 7-9 years 10-12 years0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

10. & 11. Do you think that every non-Arabic speaker who lives in Qatar should/need learn and

speak Arabic?

Yes No Skipped0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70SHOULDNEED TO

10. Do you think that everyone who lives in Qatar should learn and speak Arabic?

Yes, because…

We learn/speak E; they should learn/speak A

Q is an Arabic country

A is good for finding jobs, friends

Some ppl don’t understand E

Easy communication with locals

A is the official L in Qatar

5

10

11

13

17

21

10. Do you think that everyone who lives in Qatar should learn and speak Arabic?

No, because…

Everyone has own their own NL

Up to people's choice

E is more important than Arabic

A isn't needed for communication

Arabic is difficult

E is common language

3

4

9

15

17

19

12. Do you think that all Arabs should speak Classical Arabic (الفصحى) ?

Yes No Skipped0

10

20

30

40

50

60

12. Do you think that all Arabs should speak Classical (الفصحى) Arabic?

Yes, because…

Classical A will unite all Arabs

Preserving (original) A is a must

Classical A is the L of Quran

9

19

25

12. Do you think that all Arabs should speak Classical (الفصحى) Arabic?

No, because…

Different dialects of A represent different identities

CA is for education only

CA isn't used in daily life/not practical

CA is boring

CA is difficult

5

25

30

35

55

13. Do you think that people living in Arabic-speaking countries should learn Arabic?

14. Do you think that all Arabs should learn the English language?

Yes No Skipped0

102030405060708090

Should learn ArabicShould learn English

15. Do you feel that the Arabic language is an important part of the Arab culture?

Yes No Skipped0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

15. Do you feel that the Arabic language is an important part of the Arab culture?

Yes, because…

Arabic words carry A culture

Customs, traditions conveyed with A

A is the L of Quran; Arabs are Muslims

15

35

42

16. The increasing use of the English language in Qatar has changed the cultural identity

( الثقافية ?of Qataris. Do you agree (الهوية

Yes No Skipped0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

17. In what areas do you feel the influence of English most in Qatar?

Education Business All areas Banking Sports Skipped0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

18. Do you think that learning English language has affected your cultural identity?

Yes No Skipped0

10

20

30

40

50

60

19 & 20 Studying the English language and culture has changed your opinion about the

Western/Arab culture, people and the way of life.

Yes, positively Yes, negatively No Skipped 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

WESTERN

ARAB

21. Do you think that learning English in Qatar today is very important?

Yes Not sure No Skipped 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

22. In what ways do you think being fluent in English will affect your future?

Career Education Communication Travelling Skipped 0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

23. When you travel outside Qatar, which L’s do you use to communicate there?

English Arabic Other Skipped0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

24. What would you say your way of life ( الحياة ?is (طريقة

Arabic A mixture of Western and

Arabic

Hard to say Western Skipped0

10

20

30

40

50

60

25. Which culture/way of life do you find more attractive, the Arab or the Western?

Arab Western Equally appealing Skipped0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

26. Would you say you are the same as, or different from, most Qatari Arab people in terms of your way of life, likes, dislikes, dreams, etc.?

Same Different0

10

20

30

40

50

60

27. How do you feel about the introduction of Western customs (celebrating B-days,

decorating a X-mas tree) into the Arab way of life?

Very Good Good Doesn’t Matter

Bad Very Bad Skipped 0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

28. Why?

• Bad:

Most Western traditions are against Islamic principles

Western traditons are part of Christianity

Blind imitation is wrong

14

19

29

28. Why?

• Good:

Every culture/religion has their celebrations

Some Western traditons are interesting

Some of these traditions increase our knowledge about the West

2

3

4

28. And 29 Compare yourself to your grandparents and parents. Would you say your life/identity is very

different from their life/identity?

Yes No Skipped0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80Your LifeYour Identity

28. If yes, how?

Differences:

Way of thinking

Clothing

Availability of different kinds of food

Availability of education

Availability of jobs

Availability of technology

11

14

17

25

30

37

INTERVIEW Qs & As

1. What does being Arab mean to you?

closed society

respect for elders

being proud

less opportunities for women

strict rules/attitudes

different way of thinking

different way of clothing

speaking Arabic

Islamic culture and being Muslim

7

10

15

18

21

23

25

30

50

2. In your opinion, what does ‘Arab identity’ comprise of?

dependence of family/relatives

being conservative

importance of having a good reputation

strong family relationships

having a great history

hospitality

Islamic traditions and customs

Arabic language

Islam

9

12

18

24

29

35

45

59

87

3. In your opinion, what does ‘Western identity’ comprise of?

straighforwardness in words

colonialism

weak/lack of family relationships

women enjoy more freedom

immoral acts/behaviors

independence/individuality

freedom to do whatever one wants

Christianity

6

12

14

16

19

20

24

32

4. What do you consider to be the biggest differences between the Arab and the

Western peoples and cultures?

level of education

generosity & hospitality

language

clothing

mentality

customs and traditions

religion

32

35

61

63

75

79

87

Arab culture and identity

1. Before you knew any English, how did you feel about being Arab?

– Proud of being an Arab and speaking Arabic language.

2. Did the meaning of being Arab change in any way for you while you were growing up?

– The older they get the more proud they become. Recent political tensions between the West and the Arab world made them more proud.

3. Do you think your ideas about the Arab culture and Arabness differ from those of your parents? What do you think causes the difference?– Yes, it differs a lot. – Parents know more about the past– Life is different: more opportunities for education,

more money, – The way Arabs raise children has changed

dramatically because of the financial power and opportunities money brought to the Gulf.

Western culture(s) and the English language

1. Before you were taught any English, did you have some idea about the English speaking, or the Western world? If so, what was it based on, i.e. where had you learned about it? – TV, movies, schools, travelling

Positive Negative

sociable, individualistic, hardworking, more straightforward, punctual, cultured and educated, care about environment,

some morals/behaviors, ideas about Arabs and Islam, no good relations with parents

2. Do you feel that learning English at school gave you a better idea about the Western world? – Yes. Easier to understand them with English.

3. Do you think your ideas about the Western culture(s) differ from those of your parents? Why do you think that is?

– Yes, different. New generation knows more about how Western people think. Therefore, they are more flexible with them.

4. Do you think that the pressure to learn English has somehow affected the Arab culture and/or the cultural identity of the Arabs? – Christmas trees, Christmas gifts, birthday

celebrations, Valentine’s Day, etc. are becoming part of everyday culture.

– These customs are portrayed as very attractive. – Most Arab children and teenagers find Western

ideas, customs and ways of life very cool and they imitate it more and more.

– Many Arab children can’t read/speak proper Arabic.

The relationship and the influences between the Arab and the Western cultures and identities

1. How would you describe the relationship between Qatar and the Western world?

– Stronger than any other culture or country in the region

– Distance needed– Commercial relations OK

2. Do you find globalization & internationalization to be positive or negative things for the

Qatari/Arab culture and people?

• Negative: many non-Islamic and non-Arab ideas, customs are candy-coated. One high-school teacher defined globalization as Amrekat al aa’lem: To make the whole world American.

• Positive: Al Jazeera Arabic all over the world. More people are exposed to Arabic and Islam.

Conclusions• Great pressure to learn English.• Although mostly positive, contradictory attitudes

towards English.• Anti-colonialism discourse not very prominent.• English is seen as an instrument towards better jobs and

more money. “Necessity may overpower attitude” (Edwards, 1985: 146).

• Positive views about freedom and independence = may implicate that young Qataris are already viewing their identity & culture partly through Western values.

Conclusions• Struggle with defining cultural identity through the

benefits of globalization, while trying to preserve Arabic and traditional Arab/Muslim values. – attracted to the ideas (freedom & independence) and

products (luxury items) of the West feel– alarmed about/criticize the gradual diminishing of Arabic &

Arab culture and loose family bonds or ‘perceived’ free sexual relations

• Reservations about the processes of globalization & internationalization.

Conclusions and Implications

• Generational gap is obvious.• While there is great pressure to learn new ways to

function in a global world, there is also pressure to represent/preserve the profound Arab/Muslim culture.

• Central cultural structures are being dismantled. Fragmentation of linguistic cultural identity = Identity-crisis

Limitations

• Respondents: conducted with only females. (The study will be done with males at the same place next semester and the results will be added to the present study.)

• Sampling: how representative are the respondents of the locals?

• Researcher’s presence: effect on the authenticity of the situation and the genuineness of the answers

• Language problems: numerous grammar and spelling errors• Terms used: offering a sufficient explanation of the term

cultural identity.• Analysis: Was difficult to tally semi-open Qs

• Thank you for your attendance.•Please feel free to ask questions.•Please e-mail me if you have any

questions: [email protected]

References• Abuhamdia, Z. (1988). “Speech Diversity and Language Unity: Arabic as an

Integrating Factor.” The Politics of Arab Integration. Eds. Giacomo Luciani and Ghassan Salame. New York, NY: Croom Helm. 33-53.

• Ahmed, M. (2010). We Arabs Are Killing Arabic. Emirates 7/24. Retrieved from: http://www.emirates247.com/columns/analysis/we-arabs-are-killing-arabic-2010-08-01-1.273429

• Al Buainain, Hassan & Madani, (2011). Use of English by Graduates of Qatar University in the Workplace: A Quantitative Analysis. Arab World English Journal. 2 (1): 140-185.

• Al Sharekh A. & Springborg, R. (eds) (2008), Popular Culture and Political Identity in the Arab Gulf States. London, Saqi.

• Charise, A. (2007). More English, Less Islam? An Overview of English Language Functions in the Arabian/Persian Gulf. Retrieved from:

• Edwards, J. (1985). Language, Society and Identity. Worcester: Billing & Sons Ltd.

References• Glasser, Susan B. “Qatar Reshapes its Schools, Putting English Over

Islam.” Washington Post Sunday February 2, 2003: A20.• Hundley, T. (2010) Is Arabic A Dying Language. Global Post.

Retrieved from http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/middle-east/100216/arabic-endangered-language

• Peel, Richard. (2004). “The Internet and Language Use: A Case Study in the United Arab Emirates. International Journal on Multicultural Societies 6 (1): 146-58.

• Seppälä, M. (2011). The Effects of the English Language on the Cultural Identity of Chinese University Students. Retrieved from: https://jyx.jyu.fi/dspace/bitstream/handle/123456789/26616/URN%3ANBN%3Afi%3Ajyu-201103011836.pdf?sequence=1