Denison: Language Attitudes Toward Arabic Code Switching

The Global Studies Seminar welcomes Hanada Al-Masri, assistant professor of modern languages at Denison, presenting "Language Attitudes Towards Arabic Code Switching." In this talk, Dr. Al-Masri presents the results of a study that she conducted in Jordan over the past two summers to examine individual speakers' perceptions of their linguistic choices. Recently, the variety commonly used by educated Jordanian speakers in their daily communication exhibits linguistic features of the two Arabic varieties: Modern Standard Arabic and vernacular spoken Arabic. Both varieties represent shared history, shared culture, and shared identity; yet, they are ascribed to different social, economic, and pragmatic values depending on their context. Al-Masri's talk will explore Jordanian speakers' attitudes towards their own linguistic choices, their perception of other speakers' code switching between the two varieties, the functions they ascribe to each variety and how their language attitudes are reflected through their language behavior in everyday interactions. In addition, she will share some implications about the current situation of the Arabic language and the ongoing debate about MSA and spoken Arabic. Denison University's Global Studies Seminars are interdisciplinary intellectual forums to discuss and debate academic and policy issues of global importance.