A history of the Arabic language and the origin of non-dominant varieties of Arabic
Name
History_Arabic_Language_Origin_Non-dominant_Varieties_Arabic.pdf
Description
visibility:open
Size
903.76 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (CRC64NVME)
YcRJFc/uUJU=
Resource type
Book chapter
Creator (person)
Aboelezz, Mariam
Date published
2016
Abstract
To comprehend how Arabic became a pluricentric language, we need to navigate through its rich history. In this paper, I focus on three stages in the development of Arabic: Classical Arabic, Middle Arabic and Modern Arabic. I explain how the fate of Arabic was permanently sealed in the Classical period with the emergence of Islam and the subsequent Islamic conquests. At the peak of the Islamic empire, the codification of Arabic preserved it as a dominant written language. However, the indigenous languages that Arabic had displaced in new regions, gave way to non-dominant regional varieties. These varieties continued to diverge from the codified variety during the Middle period, giving rise to diglossia in Arabic. I conclude with a review of the modern period and the Arabic revival efforts, which marked the creation of Modern Standard Arabic while the colonially influenced non-dominant varieties drifted further still.
Series name
à–sterreichisches Deutsch - Sprache der Gegenwart
Book title
Pluricentric Languages Across Continents: Features and Usage
Editor
Muhr, Rudolf
Fonyuy, Kelen Ernesta
Ibrahim, Zeinab
Miller, Corey
Publisher
Peter Lang
Place of publication
New York, NY, USA
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Rights statement
In Copyright