Mapping perceptions of linguistic variation in Qassim, Saudi Arabia, using GIS technology

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-30
Author(s):  
Yousef Al-Rojaie
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Linguistic Variation ◽  
Gis Mapping ◽  
Gis Technology ◽  
Urban Centers ◽  
Perceptual Dialectology ◽  
Arabic Speakers ◽  
Regional Dialects ◽  
Mapping Software ◽  
Najdi Arabic

AbstractThis study explores perceptions held by speakers of Qassimi Arabic (a variety of Najdi Arabic, spoken in central Saudi Arabia) about linguistic variation in their own dialect, and the sociocultural evaluations associated with their perceptions. Drawing on perceptual dialectology research methods, respondents completed the draw-a-map and labeling tasks. The maps were collected and then analyzed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping software to aggregate, query, and create a composite heat map. Findings indicate that Qassimi speakers perceive regional variation to be associated with urban centers, particularly Buraydah and Unayzah, which were identified as the most salient dialect areas. Analysis of the labeled maps generated six categories of evaluative comments: drawl, influences from other regional dialects, heavy accent, old vocabulary, fast, and affrication. These findings point to the need for further exploration of the underlying ideologies and social values that Arabic speakers have about their own dialects and other dialects in Arabic-speaking communities.

Perceptual mapping of linguistic variation in Saudi Arabic dialects

2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 471-517
Author(s):  
Yousef Al-Rojaie
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Linguistic Diversity ◽  
Linguistic Variation ◽  
Gis Mapping ◽  
Social Evaluation ◽  
Perceptual Dialectology ◽  
Regional Dialect ◽  
Arabic Dialects ◽  
Composite Maps ◽  
Saudi Arabic

Abstract This article provides a perceptual dialectology account of linguistic diversity in Saudi Arabia. Using the map-drawing and labeling task, the study examined the perceptions and ideologies of 674 speakers of Saudi Arabic dialects about the perceived boundaries of regional dialect varieties, as well as their social evaluation of and beliefs about the dialects. The analysis of the results as displayed in composite maps using a Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping program revealed that respondents identified five major dialect areas as having the most distinct features: the Najdi, Hijazi, southern, eastern, and northern regions. Ten categories of respondents’ labels emerged out of the qualitative analysis: style, influence, Bedouin/urban, fast, open/closed, vowel lengthening, unique vocabulary, alternation of /k/ and /g/, attraction, and social media. The present findings show the salience of certain linguistic and social features that respondents associate with certain dialect areas. Such perceptions can ultimately guide and enhance future descriptions and analyses of actual linguistic variation in Saudi Arabia.

scholarly journals Apology Strategies in Qassimi Arabic

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1535
Author(s):  
Lina I. Alrshoudi
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Speech Acts ◽  
Speech Act ◽  
Illocutionary Force ◽  
Arabic Speakers ◽  
Najdi Arabic ◽  
Taking Responsibility ◽  
Explicit Expressions

This study aims to discover what types of apology strategies are utilized by Qassimi speakers. To achieve this, the data were collected by observations (n=34) where apology speech acts were produced. All the participants (n= 53) are Qassimi Arabic speakers (a variety of Najdi Arabic spoken in central Saudi Arabia) as their L1. The data were analyzed according to Blum-Kulka’s framework of apology strategies. The findings showed that Qassimi Arabic speakers used a range of apology strategies. Principally, they used a combination of illocutionary force indicating devices (IFIDs) and explanations of the reason for their apology. Besides, a range of alternative apology strategies was also evident; namely, using explicit expressions (only IFIDs), denying/taking responsibility, offering repair, and the promise of forbearance. Moreover, another novel apology strategy was also evident that has not been addressed previously in the literature; namely, where a victim apologies to an interlocutor who has offended them. These strategies differed in their popularity among the participants. The present study makes several noteworthy contributions to the field of pragmatics in general and the speech act of apology in particular.

scholarly journals Perception of Threat and Psychological Impact of COVID-19 among Expatriates in Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6650
Author(s):  
Majed A. Algarni ◽  
Mohammad S. Alzahrani ◽  
Yasser Alatawi ◽  
Raghad A. Alasmari ◽  
Hashem O. Alsaab ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Perceived Threat ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychological Burden ◽  
Arabic Speakers ◽  
Perception Of Threat

In the first few months of the pandemic, Makkah region reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases among all regions in Saudi Arabia. More than 80% of these reported cases were non-Saudi residents. In this study, we evaluated the perceived threat from and psychological impact of COVID-19 among non-Saudi residents of Makkah region. This was a cross-sectional analysis of data collected using a standardized self-report questionnaire. A total of 292 expatriates were included in the study, the majority of whom were non-Arabic speakers. The prevalence of self-reported depression was nearly 40%, anxiety was 32%, and stress was 43%. The findings indicated variability in the prevalence of psychological symptoms among expatriates from different ethnic backgrounds. Additionally, work environment and perceived threat were strong predictors of psychological disorders. This suggested that the perceived threat from and psychological burden of COVID-19 among non-Saudis in Makkah region is substantial. Future research should investigate the reasons behind these variations in the psychological impact of the pandemic among different ethnic groups.

scholarly journals When perception isn't reality: Accent identification and perceptual dialectology in French

2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZOË BOUGHTON
Keyword(s):  
Time Lag ◽  
Linguistic Variation ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Social Stereotypes ◽  
Perceptual Dialectology ◽  
Regional Background ◽  
Mental Mapping ◽  
Authentic Voice ◽  
Accent Identification ◽  
North Western

This article examines levelling and diversity in northern urban French pronunciation through the optic of folk (= non-linguists') perceptions of variation. These perceptions are investigated by the identification of authentic voice samples (rather than other instruments widely used in perceptual dialectology such as mental mapping): respondents from the Pays de la Loire region of north-western France heard extracts of scripted speech from Nancy and Rennes, and were asked to identify the speakers' regional background and say whether they were of urban or rural origin. The results of this test show that while some difference between the two speaker location groups was accurately perceived, the informants also formed some inaccurate judgements, partly based on social stereotypes. Overall there is some confirmation of accent levelling, and of general social psychological tendencies such as stereotyping, annexation and time-lag in perceptions of regional–social linguistic variation.

The Ancient Dād in Southwest Saudi Arabia

Arabica ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Munira Al-Azraqi
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
The Other ◽  
Arabic Speakers ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The One

AbstractAl-dād is a unique sound in Arabic. It is believed that this sound is what makes Arabic a distinguished language. However, its description has confused the linguists for long time. Some modern linguists believe that al-dād described by the ancient linguists is not used in the present time. On the other hand, Arabic speakers may not know that the sound they use for the classical pronunciation of al-dād is not the one described by the ancient Arab linguists. This study records the existence of a sound that has the features of al-dād as described by the ancient Arab linguists. It is used among some speakers in Southwest Saudi Arabia.

The verb in northern Najdi Arabic

1979 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 467-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter F. Abboud
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Phonological Features ◽  
Najdi Arabic ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Object Pronouns

The dialects spoken in the Najd of Saudi Arabia have striking features which not only are unknown or unreported in other dialects but also retain some characteristics of the 'Arabiyya and of ancient dialects of the peninsula reported by the Arab grammarians. On both these counts, they are of paramount importance for synchronic, comparative and historical dialectology. Yet little is known of them and published materials remain scanty. It is the purpose of this article to describe in some detail the morphology of the verb, i.e., the stem, the subject markers and the object pronouns, and in the process, present phonological features and processes, in a dialect spoken in the North of the Najd, specifically that of Hāyil. This is an important town on the edge of the Jabal Shammar mountains just south of the Nafud, and some 350 miles to the north-west of Riyādh. Although the dialect manifests features which are typically Najdi, in the sense that investigation shows them to exist in other dialects of the Najd, it also possesses peculiarities all its own.

scholarly journals Flooding Model as the Analysis of the Sea Level Increase as a Result of Global Warming in Coastal Area in Lampung

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 109
Author(s):  
Agung Kurniawan
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Shuttle Radar Topography Mission ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Gis Mapping ◽  
Flood Inundation ◽  
Mapping Software ◽  
Level Increase ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Elevation Model

The melting of ice layers, as a direct impact on global warming, is indicated from a lesser thickness of ice layers is specifically causing an increase on the sea level. Lampung, as a province that has an ecosistem of regional coast, can be estimated to submerge. Flood modelling can be done to know the estimated flood range. The model of the flooded region is taken from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission(SRTM) data, which is nomalized to get the visualisation of Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The purpose of this research is to know the estimated region of provincial coast of Lampung that is going to be flooded because of the raising of sea surface. This research uses flood inundation technique that uses one of the GIS mapping software. The result can be used as consideration to achieve policy in the building of regional coast. The regions that are flooded based on the scenario of the raising of two and three meter surface sea level are East Lampung Regency, West Lampung Regency, South Lampung Regency, Tanggamus Regency, Pesawaran Regency, and Bandar Lampung.

scholarly journals Some Characteristics of Syllable Structure in Qassimi Arabic (QA): An Optimality Theoretic Framework

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 193
Author(s):  
Metab Alhoody ◽  
Mohammad Aljutaily
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Central Region ◽  
Optimality Theory ◽  
Syllable Structure ◽  
Consonant Clusters ◽  
North Central Region ◽  
North Central ◽  
The North ◽  
Najdi Arabic

The paper investigates the syllable structures of Qassimi Arabic (QA), which is a sub-dialect of Najdi Arabic (NA) and is spoken in the north-central region of Saudi Arabia, particularly in the Qassim Region. Within the framework of Optimality Theory (OT), we show how the well-formed syllable is derived from the interaction of constraints. We show how the OT captures some of the major processes for structuring the syllables of QA, such as syncope, epenthesis, and geminate. The analysis revealed that onsetless syllables are prohibited in QA. The dialect allows word-initial consonant clusters, which is a result of the syncope process. Coda clusters also occur in QA that must obey the Sonority Sequencing Principle (SSP); otherwise, epenthesis presents to repair the violation. As for the geminates, QA permits geminates medially and finally, but not initially. The data revealed that QA demonstrates seven fundamental syllable structures grouped into three categories: light syllables, as in CV; heavy syllables, as in CVV and CVC; and super heavy syllables, as in CVVC, CVCC, CCVVC and CVVCC.

Classroom input to accelerate feature reassembly of English generics

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-214
Author(s):  
Mary Abumelha
Keyword(s):  
Forced Choice ◽  
Choice Task ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Bare Plural ◽  
Arabic Speakers ◽  
Najdi Arabic ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Forced Choice Task ◽  
Repetition Task

This is an experimental study on the effect of explicit and implicit classroom input on the acquisition of English generics by L1-Najdi Arabic speakers. Following a feature-based contrastive analysis, acquisition difficulties are predicted with indefinite singular and bare plural contexts. The experiment included fifty-four students divided into two experimental groups and one uninstructed control group. One experimental group received implicit input by using genre analysis of texts reinforced with generic noun phrases (NPs), and the other group received explicit grammatical ‘focus on form’ on generics. Two instruments were used: a forced choice task and a sentence repetition task conducted as pre-tests, post-tests and delayed post-tests. The results showed a significant increase in the total scores of both experimental groups, but a long-term effect was only found with the explicit group. The forced choice task showed significant improvement in the explicit group’s accuracy on generic indefinite singular and bare plural contexts and long-term improvement on the bare plural. The explicit group’s results on the repetition task show temporary improvement in the generic indefinite singular post-test. In general, the results suggest that explicit input is more effective than implicit input. Implications on acquisition difficulties and instruction are discussed.

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