Urdubic as a Lingua Franca in the Arab Countries of the Persian Gulf

Abstract

A new lingua franca, Urdubic, is emerging in the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf. Its linguistic composition is defined by the reduced and simplified forms of Arabic and Urdu. The paper examines linguistic, social, and historical aspects of its sociolinguistic make-up. Recurrent patterns of mutual migration between Arabs and Indians have played a pivotal role in the development of this lingua franca. Today, it appears to permeate the very homes of the Arabs. The examples of linguistic features (combinations of Urdu and Arabic) of the pidgin mentioned in the current study show that Urban Arabic is accepting foreign influences. This influx of foreign languages has alarmed those Arabs who want to preserve the purity of Arabic. How long Urdubic is going to survive amid Arabs’ efforts to save Arabic from such foreign influences? The paper concludes with speculations about the future of Urdubic.