Journal Review 3

Journal Review 

June 2014, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 75-99

Language Use and Language Attitudes among the Muslim Arabs of Vancouver/ Canada: A Sociolinguistic Study

Prof. Bader S. Dweik1Mohammed Y. Nofal1 and Rahmeh S. Qawasmeh1

Reviewed by

Ahmad Zakki Fuadi 

The journal was a study about  language use and language attitudes among the Muslim Arabs who live in Vancouver/Canada. A sample of (70) Muslim Arabs has been selected on grounds of convenience. The selected participants represent different age groups, gender and educational background. Four assistants who live in Vancouver have helped the researchers to distribute the questionnaire. Those assistants who have inside knowledge of the community have been chosen in line with Milroy and Milroy (1978), Al-Khatib (2001) who advocate approaching the subjects through a third party. The main instrument used in this study is a sociolinguistic questionnaire that comprises three different sections: demographic background, language use of Arabic and English in different domains and language attitudes. Results show that Arabic and English are used side by side in different domains. They also point out that the Muslim Arabs of Vancouver are proud oftheir Arabic identity and their Arabic language and culture and that Arabic is still being maintained among the second generation of Muslim Arabs in Vancouver. It also indicates that English symbolizes their Canadian identity and is considered a good instrument for achieving their educational and financial aspirations.

The type of research method used is Observation by "Social Network".  The weakness of observational research is that all this data can be collected, but in reality, because it is a concentrated and focused group that cannot be generalized.  This means that whatever conclusions are drawn from this study, it may not apply to the entire population, but only to this small sample of people.

The researchers have designed a sociolinguistic questionnaire based on Fishman (1964 & 1966), Dweik (2000), Freed and Collentine (2004) and Al-Khatib and Al-Ali (2005). (See Appendix). Yet, they have made some changes to suit the current study. The questionnaire consists of three sections: The first section focuses on collecting demographic data about their background. The second section aims to find out the use of English and Arabic in seven different domains: home, school, neighborhood, workplace, religion, media and self-expression. Each domain is followed by four options: Arabic, English, Both, Other language. The third section consists of their attitudes towards Arabic and English. Thirteen statements are included in each part followed by five options: 

1- Strongly agree 2- Agree 3- Neutral 4- Disagree 5- Strongly disagree 

The researchers have piloted the questionnaire before distributing it to a small sample similar to the original one. One hundred copies have been sent to the respondents via e-mail, including the cover letter that explained the purpose of the study. However, only seventy have been filled out and returned.

Finnaly we found that Data obtained indicate that the second generation of Muslim Arabs of Vancouver has been using Arabic and they are proud of their Arabic identity and their Arabic language and culture. Moreover, the Muslim Arabs of Vancouver use Arabic and English, each of which is used in specific domains and under different circumstances; Arabic is used in the interaction between family members and relatives. It is also used in religious activities and supplications after praying; in Arabic schools; in media; in inner speech and in domains outside workplaces. Yet, English mostly used in the domain of work. Furthermore, the Muslim Arabs of Vancouver have positive attitudes towards both languages. Their attitudes towards Arabic and English are positive.