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Language attitudes and language practices of the Lebanese community in the UK

  • Zeina Eid EMAIL logo and Julia Sallabank
Published/Copyright: May 7, 2021

Abstract

The number of Lebanese immigrants in the UK has dramatically increased in recent years, motivated by socio-political and economic pressures and in pursuit of academic excellence. This is one of the first studies to explore the attitudes of Lebanese parents and British-Lebanese children towards Arabic (Lebanese Arabic [LA] and Modern Standard Arabic [MSA]) in the UK. The data were collected from semi-structured interviews with 24 parents and 15 children, participant observation and field notes. Results indicate that Lebanese parents and children believe that HL maintenance can foster a sense of Lebaneseness, and help children access the highly valued socio-cultural significance of LA. MSA is regarded in high esteem, but Muslim children appreciate MSA more for its “pride” value than for instrumental “profit” purposes. This illustrates that the notions of “pride” and “profit” are not clear-cut in a linguistic market where multilingualism is undervalued and European foreign languages outweigh Arabic varieties, even MSA despite its global significance. For HL speakers, the “pride” value of the HL in family, culture and religion may outweigh both profit incentives and hegemonic language ideologies.


Corresponding author: Zeina Eid, Roehampton University, London, UK, E-mail:

Table 1:

Parents’ profiles.

Pseudony ms Method used Gender L1 Abilities in English Abilities in French Years in UK Education Employment Pseudony ms of participant children
Souha Observation F LA Proficient Proficient 20+ University degree Linguist Nida; Hala; Heba
Kamii Observation M LA Proficient Functional 30 University degree Business Nida; Hala; Heba
Maryam Interview F LA Proficient Proficient 20+ University degree Teacher Faten; Jad
Said Interview M LA Proficient Minimal 20+ University degree Business Faten; Jad
Amai Interview F LA Proficient Functional 20+ University degree Embassy employee Yasmina
Amani Interview F LA Proficient Functional 20+ University degree Artist Roula
Najwa Interview F LA Proficient Proficient 20+ University degree Embassy employee Reem
Layla Interview F LA Proficient Proficient 20+ Proficient University lecturer Jamil
Mina Interview F Polish Minimal None 13 Senior School Housewife Sara; Elisa
Tarek Interview M LA Proficient Functional 20+ Senior School Shop owner Sara; Elisa
Dima Interview F LA Proficient Proficient 16 University degree Engineeringg Omar
Lana Interview F LA Proficient Proficient 18 University degree Marketing Talal
Lulu Interview F LA Function al Functional 20+ Senior School Housewife Jalal
Samar Interview F LA Proficient Proficient 20+ University degree Interprete r Tala
Joud Interview M LA Proficient Functional 19 University degree Doctor Liyana
Rania Interview F LA Proficient Functional 18 University degree Business
Amer Interview M LA Proficient Functional 30+ University degree Engineer Nadim; Malek; May
Youmna Observation F LA Proficient Proficient 20+ University degree Linguist Nadim; Malek; May
Salim Observation M LA Function al Minimal 20+ Senior School Shop owner Adel; Wassim; Aya
Fadia Observation F LA Function al Functional 20+ University degree Housewife Adel; Wassim; Aya
Muncera Interview F LA Function al Functional 17 University degree Beautician
Maha Interview F LA Proficient Proficient 18 University degree Teacher Samir
Souhad Interview F LA Function al Proficient 18 College degree Housewife Rayyan
Rana Interview F LA Proficient Proficient 15 University degree Chemical engineering Nay
Appendix 2
Table 2:

Children’s profiles.

Pseudonym Gender Age Place of birth L1 Method used
Nida F 13 UK LA Observation
Hala F 11 UK LA Observation
Heba F 8 UK LA Observation
Jad M 14 UK LA Interview
Faten F 16 UK LA Interview
Yasmina F 16 UK LA Interview
Reern F 15 UK LA Interview
Roula F 12 UK LA Interview
Jamil M 16 UK LA Interview
Omar M 14 UK LA Interview
Talal M 15 UK LA Interview
Jalal M 13 Dubai LA Interview
Tala F 14 UK LA Interview
Liyana F 15 UK LA Interview
Nadim M 16 UK LA Observation
Malck M 15 UK LA Observation
May F 11 UK LA Observation
Adel M 16 UK LA Observation
Wassim M 14 UK LA Observation
Aya F 10 Lebanon LA Observation
Samir M 15 UK LA Interview
Rayyan M 10 UK LA Interview
Sara F 15 Poland Polish+LA Interview
Elisa F 13 UK Polish+LA Interview
Nay F 16 UK LA Interview

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Received: 2020-05-18
Accepted: 2020-12-18
Published Online: 2021-05-07
Published in Print: 2021-05-26

© 2021 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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