Indexical meanings of the realization of /sˤ/ ص as [s] س in spoken and written Jordanian Arabic: a language change in progress?

Aseel Zibin; Sumaya Daoud; Abdel Rahman Mitib Altakhaineh

doi:10.1515/flin-2024-2003

Article

Indexical meanings of the realization of /sˤ/ ص as [s] س in spoken and written Jordanian Arabic: a language change in progress?

Aseel Zibin , Sumaya Daoud and Abdel Rahman Mitib Altakhaineh

Published/Copyright: February 7, 2024

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From the journal Folia Linguistica Volume 58 Issue 2

Abstract

This study examines how the phonetic realisation of the phoneme /sˤ/ and its orthographic form ص is surfacing as the variant [s] in speaking and as س in writing in Ammani Arabic (AA), which is a variety of Jordanian Arabic (JA), and how this relates to language variation. We look at instances where certain Ammani Arabic speakers, particularly females, pronounce and write words containing /sˤ/ ص as [s] س, despite both /sˤ/ and /s/ being phonemes in JA in general and in AA in particular. We used a quantitative corpus-based approach, where we obtained written data from Facebook, and elicited spoken tokens and qualitative data through interviews. Our findings reveal that females in our two corpora [spoken and written] use and prefer [s] and س more than males, and our interviews revealed that female interviewees also prefer this pronunciation and writing. We suggest that the use of [s] س instead of [sˤ] ص by females can be seen as a direct index for femininity within their community of practice, and that this pronunciation/writing can indirectly index female gender in daily conversations and on social media websites, based on orders of indexicality (Silverstein, Michael. 2003. Indexical order and the dialectics of sociolinguistic life. Language & Communication 23. 193–229).

Keywords: sociolinguistics; language variation; gender; orders of indexicality; Jordanian Arabic

Corresponding author: Abdel Rahman Mitib Altakhaineh, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan, E-mail: a.altakhaineh@ju.edu.jo

Appendix 1

Consent for taking part in the interviews to yield phonetic tokens

You are being asked to take part in a research study. Before you decide to participate in this study, it is essential that you understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. This research is a linguistic analysis of language used by university students. If you agree to take part, you will be engaged in an interview in which you will be asked questions about your life at the University of Jordan. The session will last for approximately 25 min and it will be recorded. Your participation in this study is voluntary. You may decline to answer any or all questions and you may terminate your involvement at any time if you choose.

Participant data will be kept confidential. If you have any questions about the study or regarding your rights as a research participant, or for any other reasons in relation to your participation, please contact the first author at: a.zabin@ju.edu.jo.

I have read and I understand the provided information and have had the opportunity to ask questions. I understand that my participation is voluntary and that I am free to withdraw at any time, without giving a reason and without cost. I understand that I will be given a copy of this consent form. I voluntarily agree to take part in this study.

Participant’s signature _____________________________________ Date _______________

Appendix 2

Consent for taking part in the qualitative interviews

You are being asked to take part in a research study. Before you decide to participate in this study, it is essential that you understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. This research is a sociolinguistic analysis of male and female speech in Jordan. If you agree to take part, you will be engaged in an interview in which you will be asked questions about the differences between male and female speech, and the factors that may influence their linguistic behaviour. The session will last for approximately 20 min and it will be recorded. Your participation in this study is voluntary. You may decline to answer any or all questions and you may terminate your involvement at any time if you choose.

Participant’s signature _____________________________________ Date _______________

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Received: 2023-09-03

Accepted: 2024-01-14

Published Online: 2024-02-07

Published in Print: 2024-08-27

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/flin-2024-2003

Keywords for this article

sociolinguistics; language variation; gender; orders of indexicality; Jordanian Arabic