Language, Ideology and Sociopolitical Change in the Arabic-speaking World: A Study of the Discourse of Arabic Language Academies

by Chaoqun Lian

Overview

This book offers a critical interpretation of how the meta-linguistic LPLP discourse of major Arabic language academies from the turn of the twentieth century until the present day continuously ‘burden’ language with extra-linguistic, sociopolitical meanings, making it a proxy for the protracted courses of national identity negotiation, counter-peripheralisation in the modern world-system and modernisation. Integrating theories of language symbolism, language indexicality, LPLP, habitus, banal nationalism, world-system and perspectives of Critical Discourse Analysis, the book develops our understanding of the phenomenon and mechanism of the entanglement between language, ideology and sociopolitical change in the Arabic-speaking world and beyond.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781474449953
Publisher:	Edinburgh University Press
Publication date:	05/30/2022
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.55(d)

About the Author

Chaoqun Lian is Assistant Professor in Arabic Linguistics in the Department of Arabic Language and Culture at Peking University.

Table of Contents

Figures and Tables; Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. The Arabic Language Academy Phenomenon The Arabic Language Academy Phenomenon Is Pan-Arab Arabic Language Academies between Pan-Arab and Territorial-State Nationalisms Arabic Language Academies, Territoriality and Sovereignty Arabic Language Academies, Coloniality and Peripherality The Arabic Language Academy Phenomenon Is a Form of Language Planning and Language Policy The Arabic Language Academy Phenomenon Is Symbolic The Arabic Language Academy Phenomenon Is Discursive 3. Arabic Diglossia and Arab Nationalisms Diglossia as a Sociolinguistic Problem in Western Academia Diglossia as a Problem in the Arabic Language Academy Discourse Fuṣḥā and ʿĀmmiyya as Organisms Fuṣḥā and ʿĀmmiyya as Instruments and Resources Fuṣḥā and ʿĀmmiyya as National Symbols Eliminating Arabic Diglossia Arabic Diglossia, Pan-Arab Nationalism and Territorial-State Nationalisms 4. Arabi(ci)sation and Counter-Peripheralisation Introduction: Arabi(ci)sation and Peripherality Inter-Language Relations and Arabi(ci)sation Conceptualising Arabi(ci)sation in the Discourse of Arabic Language Academies Inalienability between Arabic and the Arab People Domination, Subordination and Equilibrium in Inter-Language Relations Corpus and Status Arabicisation in the Discourse of Arabic Language Academies Corpus Arabicisation: Compounding Status Arabicisation: Language-in-Education Conclusion: Arabi(ci)sation as Symbolic Resistance and Symbolic Compensation 5. Language Modernisation between Self and the Other Modernity and Modernisation between Self and the Other ‘Catching up with Modern Requirements’ versus ‘Revival and Reform’ Modernising the Arabic Language: A History of Conceptual Formation Modernisation between Catch-up and Renaissance Modernisation between Holistic Revival/Reform and Cosmetic Change Leaning towards Endogenous Modernisation Dilemma, Dignity and Universalism of Arabic Critical Reflections on Modernity and Authenticity Cultural Invasion and Comprehensive Development Conclusion: Reviving the Arab Nation and Counterbalancing the West 6. Conclusion: The Ideologisation of Language via Language Symbolism Characteristics of the ideologisation of language via language symbolism Effects of the ideologisation of language via language symbolism Causes of the ideologisation of language via language symbolism Script Romanisation in China and the Arabic-Speaking World Prevalence of the ideologisation of language via language symbolism BibliographyJournals and Minutes of Arabic Language Academies until 2000 Works and Interviews in Arabic Cited in the Book Works in Other Languages Cited in the Book Appendix: A Glossary of the Discourse of Arabic Language Academies

What People are Saying About This

Professor Yasir Suleiman

Cleverly deploying a multiplicity of approaches and perspectives, Chaoqun Lian delves into the intricacies of an important topic that ties Arabic to society through ideology and politics. The book succeeds admirably in revealing the ability of language to speak to a host of meta-linguistics concerns. It will therefore appeal to linguists and social scientists, Arabists and non-Arabists as well as to policy makers.

Editorial Reviews

Cleverly deploying a multiplicity of approaches and perspectives, Chaoqun Lian delves into the intricacies of an important topic that ties Arabic to society through ideology and politics. The book succeeds admirably in revealing the ability of language to speak to a host of meta-linguistics concerns. It will therefore appeal to linguists and social scientists, Arabists and non-Arabists as well as to policy makers.

Professor Yasir Suleiman