IS KUWAIT TV DIGLOSSIC? A SOCIOLINGUISTIC INVESTIGATION

Diglossia is a sociolinguistic term refers to the use of two varieties of one language in a given community; one is regarded as the high variety and the other as a low variety. This paper is a qualitative study thatinvestigates diglossia in various Kuwaiti TV stations. It attempts to mainly see if the two varieties are used differently whenever there is a change of topic in TV programs. Topics investigated include news, programs discussing political issues, cooking, sports, religion, and fashion. The researchers made sure that all programs chosen for investigation are presented by Kuwaitis. Data collected for this study relied mainly on observations and videotaping which took five months duration. Data was then phonetically transcribed and qualitatively analyzed.Speech extracts indicating the use of either H or L variety are demonstrated where necessary. The analysis showed that diglossia extensively exists in all the Kuwaiti TVchannels under investigation. Such a study may, to some extent, draw some generalizations about diglossia in Kuwait due to the fact that these channels present a variety of diglossic behaviors in different settings by different Kuwaiti speakers

A Consonant Shift in Kuwaitis’ Speech: Challenging the Bedouin Vs Sedentary hypothesis The case of [ʧ]

In light of sociolinguist phonological change, the following study investigates the shift of [ʧ] to [k] sound in the speech of Kuwaitis and argues against the Bedouin/ Sedentary distinction. The main hypothesis is twofold: first the shift seems to be driven not by the differences between the sedentary and Bedouin varieties, but by the widespread of the English language as a prestige form and by the recent change of Kuwaitis’ lifestyle; second, the shift is not totally in the direction of [k], but rather in the direction of a lexical replacement by either English loanwords, classical Arabic, or other Arab dialects. To test this hypothesis, 130 informants were informally interviewed. 503 tokens were collected and were examined across gender, age, level of education. Their speech was phonetically transcribed and accordingly was quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed. Results indicate that the [ʧ] variant is undergoing change and that the social parameters and the significant social changes, that Kuwait has undergone recently, have triggered this linguistic shift

Egyptian and kuwaiti arabic in contact: the case of kuwaiti /k, tʃ / and /θ/

Studies of dialect  have recently attracted the interest of sociolinguists who are trying to seek  answers as to how and why mutually intelligible linguistic varieties may influence one another when they  come into contact, and more importantly the linguistic outcomes of such c ontact. These studies show  that it is very unlikely that adult immigrants can fully and accurately acquire a non - native variety.  Chambers (1992) argues that the acquisition of a second dialect is governed by a number of linguistic rules. In a previous stu dy (Dashti 199 7 ), the author examined the acquisition of three  phonological variables , namely,  (q)  ( ʤ ) and ( ð)  of Kuwaiti Arabic together with their variants by Egyptian  Arabs whose native Arabic variety is Egyptian Arabic. It was suggested then, that the  acquisition of both  the variable (k) and the variable (θ) in the speech of Egyptian Arabs are also worth investigating in future  research.  This study aimed at investigating the acquisition of the Kuwaiti variables (k) and  (θ) and their  variants by Egyptian acquirers in the light of Chambers ’ principles. 40 subjects were interviewed and 40  hours of tape - recorded conversation were collected, phonetically transcribed and then statistically  analysed. Analysis showed that both variables were complex and difficul t to acquire by Egyptians. On the  other hand, marriage, gender, and length of stay were insignificant .Los estudios sobre  los dialectos han atraído recientemente el interés de los sociolingüistas que están tratando de buscar respuestas a cómo y por qué variedades lingüísticas mutuamente inteligibles  pueden influirse entre sí  al entrar en contacto, y más importante  aún a  los resultados lingüísticos de tal  contacto. Estos estudios muestran que es muy poco probable que los inmigrantes adultos puedan  adquirir completamente  una variedad no nativa. Chambers (1992) sostiene que la adquisición de un segundo dialecto se rige por una serie de reglas  lingüísticas. En un estudio anterior (Dashti 199 7 ), el autor examina la adquisición de tres variables  fonológicas , a saber, (q) (ʤ) y (d) de l árabe k uwait í árabe , junto con sus variantes , por  parte de árabes  egipcios cuya  variedad nativa árabe es el árabe egipcio. Se sugirió entonces que la adquisición tanto de la  variable (k)  como de la variable (θ) en el  habla de los árabes de Egipto  podían ser objeto de estudio en futuras investigaciones. Este  traba jo tiene el objetivo de investigar la adquisición de las variables  kuwaitíes (k) y (θ) y sus variantes por los  hablantes de Egipto a la luz de los principios de Chambers. 40  sujetos fueron entrevistados y se recogieron 40 horas de conversación grabada, que fueron  fonéticamente transcritas y luego  analizadas estadísticamente. El análisis mostró que ambas variables  eran complejas y difíciles de adquirir por los egipcios. Por otro lado, el matrimonio, el sexo, y la duración de la estancia eran consideradas insignificantes

A Change of a Consonant Status: the Bedouinisation of the [j] Sound in the Speech of Kuwaitis: A Case Study

In light of sociolinguist phonological change, the following study investigates the [j] sound in the speech of Kuwaitis as the predominant form and characterizes the sedentary population which is made up of both the indigenous and non-indigenous group; while [ʤ] is the realisation of the Bedouins who are also a part of the indigenous population. Although [ʤ] is the classical variant, it has, for some time, been regarded by Kuwaitis as the stigmatized form and the [j] as the one that carries prestige. This study examines the change of status of [j] and [ʤ] in the speech of Kuwaitis. The main hypothesis is that [j] no longer carries prestige. To test this hypothesis, 40 Kuwaitis of different gender, ages, educational background, and social networks were spontaneously chosen to be interviewed. Their speech was phonetically transcribed and accordingly was quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed. Results indicate that the [j] variant is undergoing change of status and that the social parameters and the significant political and social changes, that Kuwait has undergone recently, have triggered this linguistic shift