Exploring Attitudes, Identity, and Linguistic Variation among Arabic Speakers: Insights from Acoustic Landscapes

Abstract

This study endeavors to delve into the diverse attitudes held by Arabic speakers towards dialects, language utilization, and pronunciation, while concurrently analyzing the impact of social identity on their language conduct. Adopting a qualitative research framework, the study employed open-ended questions to gather comprehensive data from a representative subset of proficient Arabic speakers. A broad spectrum of participants offered valuable insights into their attitudes toward dialects, perceptions regarding the imperative nature of attaining flawless Arabic proficiency, levels of linguistic adaptability, self-assurance in spoken Arabic, as well as the compelling influence of their social identities on pronunciation. The analysis of the gathered responses revealed appreciation among participants for the richness of dialectical diversity, which they perceived as a formidable strength. Paradoxically, these individuals also experienced considerable pressure to achieve an elusive standard of perfect Arabic proficiency, driven by the demanding expectations of work and social spheres. Additionally, participants exhibited some degree of flexibility in their approach to language use, manifesting varying levels of confidence in their Arabic speaking abilities. Significantly, the study uncovered a correlation between social identity and pronunciation patterns, illuminating how one's identity exerts a tangible influence on their linguistic articulation.

Lexical and Phonological Levelling in the Speech of Qassimi Arabic Speakers

“…The data indicated that the SA group, composed of individuals who lived in regions outside of Qassim, engaged in higher levels of levelling when compared with their QA group counterparts. These findings correlate with current research that views regional differences across Saudi Arabia as a factor that can influence a speaker's attitudes and linguistic strategies (Alshehri & AlShabeb, 2023).…”