Abstract
This study investigates language attitudes in an elite university in Egypt, addressing all codes spoken in the community: Fusha (Classical Arabic/Modern Standard Arabic), Egyptian Arabic, English and Egyptian Arabic-English code-switching. Some attitudinal research in the region has been conducted (e.g. Bentahila, 1983; Chakrani, 2011; Lawson & Sachdev, 2000), though most neglects to position the discourse community in larger society and uses limited methodological approaches. In this study, attitudes are interpreted with attention to prevailing language ideologies, including the notion of a standard language, tension between modernity and tradition and language as symbolic capitol. Overt and covert attitudes in terms of both status and solidarity were discerned through a questionnaire, a matched-guise study and group interviews. The discourse community was found to be close-knit, with members viewing themselves as distinct from the rest of Egyptian society. Participants all had a strong command of English, though they varied in Fusha proficiency. Mixed attitudes toward Fusha emerged, in terms of both prestige and importance for maintaining Egyptian/Arab identity. Egyptian Arabic ranked low for status traits, though the variety was ascribed covert prestige in terms of solidarity for males. English was viewed positively as a language of both status and solidarity. Though overt attitudes toward code-switching were ambivalent, covert attitudes toward code-switching were generally positive, a novel finding. This study offers a paradigm for detailed analysis of the language attitudes of a community. Further, it demonstrates the growing favor of English as a language of economic power and explores code-switching as a prestigious in-group language that allows negotiation of modern and traditional identities amongst the privileged classes in Egypt.
Degree Name
MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Graduation Date
6-1-2014
Submission Date
May 2014
First Advisor
Bassiouney, Reem
Committee Member 1
Fredricks, Lori
Committee Member 2
Plumlee, Marilyn
Extent
110 p.
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Library of Congress Subject Heading 1
Language planning -- Egypt.
Library of Congress Subject Heading 2
Code switching (Linguistics) -- Egypt.
Rights
The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval
Approval has been obtained for this item
Recommended Citation
APA Citation
Reigh, E.
(2014).Language attitudes in an Egyptian discourse community [Master's Thesis, the American University in Cairo]. AUC Knowledge Fountain.
https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/1163
MLA Citation
Reigh, Emily. Language attitudes in an Egyptian discourse community. 2014. American University in Cairo, Master's Thesis. AUC Knowledge Fountain.
https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/1163