Intra-lingual code alternation in Arabic: The conversational impact of diglossia

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to investigate which varieties of Arabic educated speakers of both genders use when conversing with one another in informal conversational settings. The study specifically investigates the types of diglossic code-switches used, and the pragmatic functions of these various diglossic code-switches. It then investigates the informants' diglossic code-switching behavior and reasons for diglossic code-switching. The research was conducted using informants from Jordan, Iraq, Morocco, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Different groups of informants were arranged so that all combinations of informants within same-gender dyads were examined, with one female pair (one informant from each country) and one similar male pair from each applicable country. After the data were collected, salient portions of the audio-taped conversations were then transcribed and analyzed. It was observed that not once did subjects of this study use Classical Arabic as a linguistic medium during their taped conversations. Rather than relying primarily on CA or MSA, the informants employed a variety of accommodation strategies when conversing with one another, including the use of ESA, switching between ESA and the colloquial, and switching between colloquials. © 2014 Academy Publisher Manufactured In Finland.