Do you Speak ‘Arabizi?
Many westerners have been speaking ‘Arabizi for years - long before it became popular amongst the ‘Arab youth. We tend to do so because we are not fluent in the ‘Arabic language - not because we desire status.
In a country like America, a non-’Arab with the ability to speak the language (fluently) is somewhat raised in the eyes of the people. This person is often asked to teach, translate scholarly works, etc. After reading a few articles online, I see that it’s the other way around in ‘Arab countries. Here are some excerpts I found on-line…
********
Catchword: ‘Arabizi
Quotation: The banter is a form of speech that mixes ‘Arabic with English. It is widely used among Jordan’s Western-educated elites, drawing ire from language purists and exposing a widening social and economic gap in the small kingdom. Dubbed by some “Arabizi”— a slang term for Arabic and “Inglizi,” or English in Arabic — it is also a means of expression for many young Jordanians who have been educated abroad and do not share Jordan’s conservative values.
~ Source: “In Jordan, the young and hip speak “Arabizi.”
~ Author: Ibon Villelabeitia, Amman, Jordan
Eamonn Fitzgerald shares an example of ‘Arabizi: An ‘Arab youth says, “Give me an allo alligator. OK, habibi?”
What does he mean? No idea? Actually, he’s saying, “Give me a call later. Will you, darling?”
Middle-Eastern linguists see a connection between the growing use of ‘Arabizi and the global Anglo-American pop culture that is flooding the Arab world. “Some young people look down on the Arabic language. They think it is old and that English represents life and desires,” Haitham Sarhan, a linguist and professor at Jordan University, told Gulf News. “If this trend continues Arabic could be in danger.”
Moosa Shteiwi, a sociology professor at the University of Jordan and director of Jordan’s Centre for Social Research, added that the use of ‘Arabizi has become a status symbol among middle- and upper-class Jordanians. “It’s an expression of class position.” For many, this is one more sign of the intellectual crisis in Arab countries, which was outlined in a controversial United Nations Arab Human Development report.
Eamonn Fitzgerald asks, “So, does this mean that language can divide people, instead of uniting them, or does it mean that the Arab world is opening up to new ideas?”
********
‘Arabizi is also spoken in Saudi ‘Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and Lebanon.