Browsing by Author "Alhtobaiti, Arwa Awadh T."

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The Spread of English in Saudi Arabia: A Study of University Students’ Attitudes and Language Use
(UNSW University, 2024-02-20) Alhtobaiti, Arwa Awadh T.; Hatoss, Aniko
The growing status of English in many polities around the world has sparked heated debates revolving around the impact of the spread of English on language ecology and cultural patterns in the host communities. While imperialism theorists (e.g., Phillipson, 2008; Skutnabb-Kangas, 2000) view the spread of English as inimical to linguistic diversity and as an agent that triggers and perpetuates inequalities in power and resources, other scholars (e.g., Blommaert, 2006 Canagarajah, 2013) argue that English is not necessarily dehumanising or oppressive to indigenous languages and cultures as its speakers can appropriate it and use it to their advantage, while maintaining their indigenous languages and cultures. In the light of these debates, this study seeks to provide a holistic understanding of the spread of English in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) using both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. It attempts to explore the growing role of English in KSA and how it impacts the language ecology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly with regard to Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and Colloquial Arabic (CA). The study also aims at uncovering the pervasive language ideologies and understanding how the neoliberal ideology, which casts English as an essential resource for KSA’s socio-economic development, contributes to the rapid spread of English, on the one hand, and a possible loss of MSA vitality, on the other. A total of 424 Saudi university students from the cities of Taif, Jeddah, and Riyadh participated in this study, which relied on three instruments: an online sociolinguistic survey, focus group discussions, and semi-structured interviews. The findings of the study indicate that English has a strong presence in almost all language use situations. Colloquial Arabic was also present in all facets of Saudi life, while Modern Standard Arabic was mostly limited to formal and religious domains. Translator/ greetingThe majority of the participants conveyed a strong desire to learn English, not only for instrumental and integrative purposes, but also because there was a sense that the individual they aspire to become in the future is someone who is fluent in English. That is, they did not see English as a communicative tool that was constrained by time and space, but as a resource that would be essential for higher social status and better career opportunities. The study sheds light on the cultural and linguistic impact of English on Saudi society. While many participants felt confident in their ability to preserve local values despite an increasing exposure to English, almost half of them believed that English could weaken Saudi identity, raising questions about the role of language in identity formation. The data also showed that while some participants believed that Arabic would remain important, most feared the negative impact of English on their Arabic proficiency, a concern shared by many about the state of Arabic in Saudi Arabia and its mastery among younger generations. This suggests a potential diglossic situation where English overshadows Arabic in prestigious domains. This study argues that the spread of English is likely to maintain its momentum in view of the rapid increase in EMI programs in KSA as well as the state’s efforts to internationalise its higher education system. This study suggests integrating CA into school curricula to help enhance students’ literacy in MSA, as well as developing an integrated language policy in which the use of English, MSA, and CA is encouraged in all key domains in society. This policy can be put into effect through the implementation of translanguaging pedagogy, therefore fostering the concurrent use and acquisition of English, MSA, and CA. This policy will likely mitigate the undesirable effects of the spread of English and ensure that the impact of the local and translocal factors on Saudis’ language uses and norms does not exacerbate the shifting language ecologies within Saudi society.
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