Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal: Journal of Language, Identity and Education

ISSN: 1534-8458

eISSN: 1532-7701

Open access status: Hybrid

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/15348458.2022.2070849

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group

Abstract: 
The United Arab Emirates have long been in contact with English. Its economy requires high rates of migration, resulting in large numbers of migrants who impact the local linguistic ecology. English acts as lingua franca and occurs in several forms, as labour is recruited from nations having experienced British or American influences. Arabic is used at home by Emiratis and Arab expatriates. However, it faces pressure from English both in education and at home, where shifts towards English occur. This study focusses on the interaction and competition between English and Arabic among university students. Qualitative results from a mixed methods survey suggest that while Arabic gets high solidarity ratings for "cultural identity," English rates higher for "individual identity." Status measures tend to align in both languages. Gender and citizenship had little effect, unlike self-assessed proficiency in both languages. Overall, English and Arabic are competitive in some areas, but also complementary.

Harvard Citation style: Leimgruber, J., Al-Issa, A., Lorenz, E. and Siemund, P. (2022) Managing and Investing in Hybrid Identities in the Globalized United Arab Emirates, Journal of Language, Identity and Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/15348458.2022.2070849

APA Citation style: Leimgruber, J., Al-Issa, A., Lorenz, E., & Siemund, P. (2022). Managing and Investing in Hybrid Identities in the Globalized United Arab Emirates. Journal of Language, Identity and Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/15348458.2022.2070849