Language Choice and Language Use in an Arab Canadian Multilingual Community (Quebec-Canada): A Sociolinguistic Study

Type of resource
Author/collaborator
Title
Language Choice and Language Use in an Arab Canadian Multilingual Community (Quebec-Canada): A Sociolinguistic Study
Abstract
The author investigates language choices among Arabs living in Quebec, the factors involved in their use of Arabic, English and French, and their attitudes towards these languages. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, the author selected a sample of 100 Arab respondents who reside in Quebec, covering different age ranges, gender, educational background, occupation and residency. The instruments of the study were a community profile based on open ended interviews and a sociolinguistic questionnaire. The author's results show that Arabs living in Quebec freely use their Arabic language in the domain of home and with family members, and in worship places and when listening to the radio. In addition, they use English and French in Governmental offices and formal applications and in educational institutions. The author's results also showed that the Arabs of Quebec mix these languages in the domain of neighborhood, with friends, and media. Such a choice and use reveal the positive attitudes that the Arabs of Quebec have towards Arabic, English and French. As for the French language, the author's results showed that French is the dominant and most prestigious language among the respondents. It is used in governmental offices and in filling formal applications and education. English language is considered a global language by which the respondents' Canadian identity is fully expressed. The author suggests several ideas for further research, such as conducting similar studies on Arabs in Canada from a different perspective such as formal and functional constraints determining and restricting language choice.
Type
Master's Thesis
University
Middle East University
Place
Amman, Jordan
Date
2014
# of Pages
xii-105p.
Language
en
Citation
Qawar, Hanadi Ali. “Language Choice and Language Use in an Arab Canadian Multilingual Community (Quebec-Canada): A Sociolinguistic Study.” Master’s Thesis, Middle East University, 2014.
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