Perceptions of Two Urban Saudi Dialects: The Emergence of New Saudi koiné

Abstract

This research examines the attitudes and perceptions of two social groups, Hijazis and Najdis, toward each other's dialects. It also sheds light on the underlying ideologies that shaped these views. The Hijazi and Najdi dialects are the main linguistic variants in Saudi Arabia; these dialects have significant historical, social, and political significance. Another objective of this research is to investigate the existence of a new Saudi koiné, which may be considered a national dialect. The participants were asked to complete an online survey that included both open-ended and closed ended questions in order to get their explicit attitudes regarding these dialects and the new koiné. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were conducted in order to provide a more comprehensive insight into the participants' perspectives. A total of 50 individuals participated in this study. Their ages ranged from 18 to 50 years old, and the distribution of participants between groups was balanced. The investigation indicates that Najdis perceive Hijazi as 'impure' and 'soft/effeminate' and have voiced some unfavourable feelings towards it. In contrast, Hijazi openly stated their admiration for the Najdi dialect, describing it as aesthetically pleasing, authentic, and symbolic of Saudi identity. Additionally, the data demonstrated a substantial correlation between the perception of the dialect and the perception of the speakers of that dialect. The data at hand suggests the existence of a koiné, which participants commonly named the 'white dialect'. Although participants believe this white dialect is still in its early phase, both groups agreed that the Najdi has the most significant influence. The study's findings provide valuable insights into language attitudes and views about the Saudi linguistic landscape.