Between accomodation and resistance: Upper Egyptian migrants in Cairo

Abstract

This article analyzes processes of dialectal accommodation among Upper Egyptian migrants in Cairo-Egypt. Rural and provincial migration have played an important role in the demographic growth of the capital from the mid-nineteenth century up to the 1970s. Although migration is today receding, the social and cultural integration of the migrants is far from being completed, and it has raised a number of socioeconomic challenges. Due to underdevelopment, poverty, and religious traditionalism, Upper Egypt is often described as a problematic area, and this perception reflects on the relationship between Cairene and Upper Egyptian migrants. Cairene Arabic and Upper Egyptian varieties are linguistically quite distinct and they do not have the same status, Cairene being a national prestige variety. Based on data recorded among seven adult speakers, this article analyzes the realization of 21 features, taking into account not only Cairo and Upper Egyptian variants but also the influence of fus̥ḥā (Classical Arabic). It shows that the degree of accommodation to Cairo Arabic among the first migrant generation varies according to type of linguistic features (phonological, morphological, lexical), as well as type of interaction/topics and individual personal profile.