MESA Banner
Structuring Arabic inter-dialectal Communication: pan-Arab popularity and media
Abstract
This study is a part of a data-driven PhD dissertation that examines The Voice, the pan-Arab singing competition, as the case study. The study answers the questions: 1. “What are the linguistic features and patterns employed in Arabic inter-dialectal communication of The Voice? 2. How are these features and patterns employed and deployed in order to structure an intelligible popular pan-Arab media show? Communication instances in the show are analysed and discussed from the dimensions of polylingualism, crossing, community of practice, theory of practice, receptive multilingualism, and media semiotics. The study provides explanation on the meanings and indexicalities of these features on their micro level as well as the social and cultural meanings and values of these features and patterns in their totality on the macro level. The discussion further presents an understanding of the shared knowledge among Arabs that enables inter-dialectal communication and that are deployed by the producers of The Voice in order to structure a pan-Arab media that appeals to all the superdiverse elements that converge on the show in order to guarantee commercial profit. The analysis and the discussion show that a different meaning of pan-Arabism is being restructured in the show. Pan-Arabism, as it appears in the show, does not depend on a unified linguistic code shared by one nation that shares the same history, religion, and culture. As projected in the show, Pan-Arabism plays on the diversity of the idea of Arabness and who is an Arabic. This idea is rather presented by a recognition and awareness of the individuality of different and distinct Arab identities that is seen in their distinct national dialects. National dialects are acknowledged to exist and celebrated, and are taught and practiced as if they are foreign languages. Crossing to use features of each other’s national dialects as seen in the show is, on one hand, to welcome and recognize the individuality of this dialect. On the other hand, it marks the crosser as a foreign and alien who is trying to appeal to the people of this dialect. However, the Egyptian features are the most commonly shared and accessible linguistic resource. It is not the unifying code nor the lingua franca, but it is the linguistic resource where Arabs feel they have a right to and the knowledge of how to access its resources.
Discipline
Sociology
Geographic Area
Arab States
Sub Area
Arabic