User:Qwezxcrty/sandbox

Introduction

Arabic is a language characterised by a great variation in the ways it is spoken, which depends on a great number of variables.

2. List of the main variables in how Arabic is spoken

Note that these are hard to separate.

2.1 Regional dialects

Probably the biggest single variable.

2.1.1 Broad regional differences

2.1.1.1 North African

2.1.1.2 Levantine

2.1.1.3 Iraqi

2.1.1.4 Gulf

2.1.1.5 Periphery

2.1.2 National differences

The modern nation-state in Arab countries has a centralizing effect.

Prestige dialects within countries: Damascene in Syria (the qaaf becoming a hamza for example)

Keep the list of the Arabics of different countries.

2.1.3 “Micro-regional” differences

Cannot possibly provide an exhaustive list

Substantial differences within regions.

Examples: Fes in Morocco; Aleppo in Syria; Adeni/Taiz vs Hadramawt vs Sanaa vs… in Yemen.

2.2 Diglossic variety: Fus7a

Not an either/or: various situations calling for various levels of ‘formality’, calling on the speaker to incorporate what they perceive to be the elements of MSA.

Noting also that this is one of many sources of ‘prestige’ in the language.

2.3 Bedouin vs. settled

2.4 Urban vs. rural

a few notes on the impact of urbanization in Arab countries on the language.

refer back also to idea of prestige dialects (Cairene vs Sa3iid, Damascus vs everywhere, etc., Fes in Morocco?)

2.5 Ethnicity

2.6 Religion

2.7 Social class

2.8 Gender

“Women’s Arabic” Yemen and elsewhere;

Gender differences in what is considered more prestigious: women tending towards more prestigious/educated speech, greater tendency in men towards more colloquial speech.

3. Dynamics of language change

Code-switching

Accomodation

Koinization

“Educated Standard Arabic”

Centralization

4. Specific variations in dialects

(existing content)

4.1 Morphology and syntax

4.2 Phonetics