I Speak Better Arabic: Arabic Native Speakers’ Perception Of Arabic Dialects

Author

Mahmoud Sayed Abdel-Fattah Abdel-Rahman, University of Mississippi

Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in Modern Languages

Department

Modern Languages

First Advisor

Allison Burkette

Second Advisor

Luca D'Anna

Third Advisor

Vance Schaefer

Relational Format

dissertation/thesis

Abstract

A limited number of studies in the field of perceptual dialectology covered the Arab World. This is a perceptual dialectology study that aims at investigating Arabic native speakers’ perception of Arabic dialect areas. This study utilized a questionnaire that is based on Preston’s (1999) techniques for investigating perceptual dialectology. This questionnaire consisted of two parts. The first part includes a detailed map of the Arab world and participants are asked to identify as many dialect areas of Arabic as they could. The second part of the questionnaire investigates Arabic native speakers’ perception of different Arabic dialects in terms of where they are spoken, how different they are from the dialect they speak, how correct, how pleasant and how close to, or distant from, Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) they believe they are. Results of this study give us an idea about Arabic native speakers’ perception of different dialect areas of Arabic. However, this study had some limitations that might have affected the results. Future research is highly encouraged to address these limitations which would contribute to a clearer picture of Arabic native speakers’ perception of Arabic dialects.

Recommended Citation

Abdel-Rahman, Mahmoud Sayed Abdel-Fattah, "I Speak Better Arabic: Arabic Native Speakers’ Perception Of Arabic Dialects" (2016). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 891.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/891

Concentration/Emphasis

Emphasis: Linguistics