Exploring the Impact of Different Social Factors on the Use of English Social-Media- Related Terms Among Al-Qunfudhah Arabic Speakers and their Attitude Towards These Terms

Abstract

Speakers’ linguistic choices play a crucial role in identifying who they are. Several studies have documented how speakers speak and utilise language differently and what accounts for this variation. However, previous studies have not dealt with how different monolingual Arabic speakers and users of social media platforms might have a tendency to use English social- media-related terms or their Arabic equivalents. Therefore, this study set out to examine the influence of Al-Qunfudhah Arabic speakers’ age and gender in the frequent use of English social-media-related terms. It also aimed to investigate Al-Qunfudhah Arabic speakers’ attitudes towards these terms. In this cross-sectional study, 115 participants filled out an online questionnaire. On a 5-point scale, the participants rated how frequently they use the English terms and their Arabic equivalents. The attitudes were measured explicitly, using an open- ended question, and implicitly, using the matched-guise technique. The quantitative data were analysed descriptively (using means and percentages) and inferentially (using paired or independent sample t-tests) as appropriate. Thematic analysis was performed for the qualitative data. The analysis of social factor effects revealed a significant age difference in the frequent use of English social-media-related terms but not significant in terms of gender. These informal terms are more regularly used by younger speakers in Al-Qunfudhah and become a marker of youth social group, as indicated by the perception results. It also highlighted that these words are salient in daily conversations and informal settings. The participants’ attitudes were reflected in the reasons they provided for the widespread use of the terms under study. Based on their viewpoints, the widespread use of these terms was attributed to their association with social media platforms, ease and practicality, youths’ language, and globalisation. In contrast, other opinions saw the widespread use of these terms as a kind of insufficient appreciation of the language of Arabic speakers. Thus, it is evident from the findings that the regular use of English social-media-related terms is part of Al-Qunfudhah’s younger speakers’ social identity, which can contribute to a better understanding of lexical variation in the language used in Al-Qunfudhah province.