Literary Arabic between Diglossia and Bilingualism

(Ibrahim Mahmoud Kayed)

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Abstract

The study has considered literary Arabic and the impact of diglossia and bilingualism on it. It initially dwelt upon the controversy among scholars in the field over the delimitations of the concepts of diglossia and bilingualism. The study then dealt with the phenomenon of diglossia, how it endangers literary Arabic and how it negatively affects language, the society and the individual through the creation of conflicting social groups. Diglossia negatively affects efforts to unite the society and its members; it is the symbol of social conflict in he society; it negatively affects the individual’s character, in his thinking about and understanding life. Diglossia further attempts to replace literary Arabic. Moreover, the study deals with bilingualism and attempts to define it. It points out the important kinds of bilingualism and the causes of their emergence. It shows how bilingualism harms the society and the individual by creating a hesitant character, lacking in creativity. Bilingualism also attempts to destroy lilerany Arabic and replace it. The study has concluded that both diglossia and bilingualism are the inveterate enemies of literary Arabic; they try to annihilate it. They create a weak, hesitant, indecisive anxious individual, with limited horizons. Additionally, they constitute the direct cause of destroying creativity and scientific productivity. It is therefore imperative to protect lilerany Arabic from the dangers of diglossia and bilingualism through taking the necessary measures to foster it and to give it due emphasis. Literary Arabic should be simplified and made more appealing to the younger generations. Educational institutions and mass media should also give it due emphasis. Current educational concepts should be utilized to promote literary Arabic. Arabic teachers should be adequately qualified. It is finally suggested that the teaching of foreign languages should be delayed until after age ten, a time at which Arab children have initially mastered their mother tongue – Arabic.
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