English has increasingly emerged as the lingua franca in the Arabian Gulf, relegating Arabic to a secondary role. This has challenged Gulf Arabs’ self-perceptions, causing resistance to the perceived imperialistic nature of English (Zughoul 2003). However, few studies have investigated the cultural, linguistic and societal aspects of English as a lingua franca (ELF) in the Gulf, more so in the State of Qatar.

1. English as a Lingua Franca:
Evolution of Arab
Linguistic Identity
23 January, 2012
Foundation Program
Qatar University
by Ozgur Pala

2. What?
• Dominance of English has challenged Gulf
Arabs’ self-perceptions about their language
and culture.
• No study has investigated how English as a
lingua franca (ELF) affects and shapes cultural
and linguistic identity of locals in Qatar.
• This research study replicates Seppala’s study
(2011) conducted in China.

3. Overview
• Historical Perspective
• Research Questions and Aim
• Respondents
• Methods of Data Collection
• Conclusions and Implications
• Limitations
• Future Research

4. Qatar
• Ottoman Rule until 1916
• British Protectorate between 1916-1971
• Strategic location = trade routes to India
• Rich gas reserves
• Incredible pace of economic growth

5. English in Qatar
• Geographical location = close contact with other
languages and cultures
• Positive attitudes towards English = integration of
English into public schools
• Globalization & economic growth = foreigners
• Grand scale investments in education (in English)
• English dominates every sphere of Qatari life
• Arabic challenged & relegated
• Concerns about Arabic L & Arab cultural identity

6. Research Questions
1. Has the increasing need for and use of
English affected the Qataris, their linguistic
and cultural identity?
2. Have the Qatari university students’ attitudes
towards Arab (and Western) culture and
Arabic language changed with increased
knowledge of English and the Western
culture(s)?

7. Aim
• The aim of the study is exploring:
– how has ELF changed respondents’ attitudes
towards Arabic and Arab culture.
– how those attitudes shape their cultural identity
as modern, educated Qatari Arabs.

8. Methods of Data Collection
• Questionnaire
– online
– 29 Qs, some semi-open
• follow-up Q such as “if yes, how?”, “if yes/no, why?”
– given one week to complete
– 95 respondents
– Arabic translation of some difficult concepts
– not possible to leave and resume
– Answers are personal, no help from classmates or
friends

9. Methods of Data Collection
• Interview
– 2 weeks after the Q
– A’s from whole class discussion and selected
respondents
– Qs in advance; additional explanations provided
– dictionary allowed
– took 2 weeks

10. Methods of Data Collection
• Interview
– semi-structured
– Most Qs repeated in different ways
– some Qs skipped according to previous answers
– free conversation style
– Qs moved from simple and personal to complex
and impersonal
– No pre-set categories. Tried to include all
representative answers. No numbers/percentages
used while analyzing open-ended Qs.

11. 1. How old are you?
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
17 18 19 20 21 24 N/A

12. 2. What is your sex?
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Female The study will be done with males next
semester and the results will be added
to the present study.

13. 3. Where were you born?
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Other Gulf Countries (Oman, Bahrain,(Syria, KSA, Kuwait, (Egypt, Tunusia, Algeria, etc.)
Qatar Middle East UAE, North Africa Yemen)
Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine) Other

14. 4. What is your mother language?
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Arabic Other

15. 5. What other languages (other than
Arabic) do you speak fluently?
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
English Farsi Urdu Bengali Balooshi

16. 6. & 7. What is your father’s/mother’s
most recent degree?
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Elementary High School BA MA PhD
School

17. 8. Which other members of your
immediate family speak English fluently?
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Father Mother Sister Brother No one

18. 9. How many years have you studied the
English language?
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1-3 years 4-6 years 7-9 years 10-12 years

19. 10. & 11. Do you think that every non-Arabic
speaker who lives in Qatar should/need learn
and speak Arabic?
70
SHOULD
60 NEED TO
50
40
30
20
10
0
Yes No Skipped

20. 10. Do you think that everyone who lives in
Qatar should learn and speak Arabic?
Yes, because…
A is the official L in Qatar 21
Easy communication with locals 17
Some ppl don’t understand E 13
A is good for finding jobs, friends 11
Q is an Arabic country 10
We learn/speak E; they should learn/speak
5
A

21. 10. Do you think that everyone who lives in
Qatar should learn and speak Arabic?
No, because…
E is common language 19
Arabic is difficult 17
A isn't needed for communication 15
E is more important than Arabic 9
Up to people's choice 4
Everyone has own their own NL 3

22. 12. Do you think that all Arabs should
speak Classical Arabic ( )?
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Yes No Skipped

23. 12. Do you think that all Arabs should
speak Classical ( ) Arabic?
Yes, because…
Classical A is the L of Quran 25
Preserving (original) A is a
19
must
Classical A will unite all Arabs 9

24. 12. Do you think that all Arabs should
speak Classical ( ) Arabic?
No, because…
CA is difficult 55
CA is boring 35
CA isn't used in daily life/not practical 30
CA is for education only 25
Different dialects of A represent
5
different identities

25. 13. Do you think that people living in Arabic-
speaking countries should learn Arabic?
14. Do you think that all Arabs should learn the
English language?
100
80
60
Should learn Arabic
40
Should learn English
20
0
Yes No Skipped

26. 15. Do you feel that the Arabic language is
an important part of the Arab culture?
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Yes No Skipped

27. 15. Do you feel that the Arabic language is
an important part of the Arab culture?
Yes, because…
A is the L of Quran; Arabs are Muslims 42
Customs, traditions conveyed with A 35
Arabic words carry A culture 15

28. 16. The increasing use of the English language
in Qatar has changed the cultural identity
( ) of Qataris. Do you agree?
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Yes No Skipped

29. 17. In what areas do you feel the
influence of English most in Qatar?
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Education Business All areas Banking Sports Skipped

30. 18. Do you think that learning English
language has affected your cultural identity?
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Yes No Skipped

31. 19 & 20 Studying the English language and culture
has changed your opinion about the
Western/Arab culture, people and the way of life.
60
WESTERN
50
ARAB
40
30
20
10
0
Yes, positively Yes, negatively No Skipped

32. 21. Do you think that learning English in
Qatar today is very important?
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Yes Not sure No Skipped

33. 22. In what ways do you think being fluent
in English will affect your future?
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Career Education Communication Travelling Skipped

34. 23. When you travel outside Qatar, which L’s
do you use to communicate there?
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
English Arabic Other Skipped

35. 24. What would you say your way of life
( ) is?
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Arabic A mixture of Hard to say Western Skipped
Western and
Arabic

36. 25. Which culture/way of life do you find
more attractive, the Arab or the Western?
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Arab Western Equally appealing Skipped

37. 26. Would you say you are the same as, or
different from, most Qatari Arab people in terms
of your way of life, likes, dislikes, dreams, etc.?
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Same Different

38. 27. How do you feel about the introduction of
Western customs (celebrating B-days,
decorating a X-mas tree) into the Arab way of life?
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Very Good Good Doesn’t Bad Very Bad Skipped
Matter

39. 28. Why?
• Bad:
Blind imitation is wrong 29
Western traditons are part of
19
Christianity
Most Western traditions are
14
against Islamic principles

40. 28. Why?
• Good:
Some of these traditions increase our
4
knowledge about the West
Some Western traditons are
3
interesting
Every culture/religion has their
2
celebrations

41. 28. And 29 Compare yourself to your grandparents
and parents. Would you say your life/identity is very
different from their life/identity?
80
Your Life
70
Your Identity
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Yes No Skipped

42. 28. If yes, how?
Differences:
Availability of technology 37
Availability of jobs 30
Availability of education 25
Availability of different kinds of food 17
Clothing 14
Way of thinking 11

43. INTERVIEW Qs & As

44. 1. What does being Arab mean to you?
Islamic culture and being Muslim 50
speaking Arabic 30
different way of clothing 25
different way of thinking 23
strict rules/attitudes 21
less opportunities for women 18
being proud 15
respect for elders 10
closed society 7

45. 2. In your opinion, what does ‘Arab
identity’ comprise of?
Islam 87
Arabic language 59
Islamic traditions and customs 45
hospitality 35
having a great history 29
strong family relationships 24
importance of having a good reputation 18
being conservative 12
dependence of family/relatives 9

46. 3. In your opinion, what does ‘Western
identity’ comprise of?
Christianity 32
freedom to do whatever one wants 24
independence/individuality 20
immoral acts/behaviors 19
women enjoy more freedom 16
weak/lack of family relationships 14
colonialism 12
straighforwardness in words 6

47. 4. What do you consider to be the biggest
differences between the Arab and the
Western peoples and cultures?
religion 87
customs and traditions 79
mentality 75
clothing 63
language 61
generosity & hospitality 35
level of education 32

48. Arab culture and identity
1. Before you knew any English, how did you feel about being
Arab?
– Proud of being an Arab and speaking Arabic
language.
2. Did the meaning of being Arab change in any way for you
while you were growing up?
– The older they get the more proud they become.
Recent political tensions between the West and
the Arab world made them more proud.

49. 3. Do you think your ideas about the Arab culture and
Arabness differ from those of your parents? What do
you think causes the difference?
– Yes, it differs a lot.
– Parents know more about the past
– Life is different: more opportunities for
education, more money,
– The way Arabs raise children has changed
dramatically because of the financial power and
opportunities money brought to the Gulf.

50. Western culture(s) and the English language
1. Before you were taught any English, did you have some idea
about the English speaking, or the Western world? If so, what
was it based on, i.e. where had you learned about it?
– TV, movies, schools, travelling
Positive Negative
sociable, some morals/behaviors,
individualistic, ideas about Arabs and Islam,
hardworking, no good relations with parents
more straightforward,
punctual,
cultured and educated,
care about environment,

51. 2. Do you feel that learning English at school gave you a
better idea about the Western world?
– Yes. Easier to understand them with English.
3. Do you think your ideas about the Western culture(s) differ
from those of your parents? Why do you think that is?
– Yes, different. New generation knows more about
how Western people think. Therefore, they are
more flexible with them.

52. 4. Do you think that the pressure to learn English has
somehow affected the Arab culture and/or the
cultural identity of the Arabs?
– Christmas trees, Christmas gifts, birthday
celebrations, Valentine’s Day, etc. are becoming
part of everyday culture.
– These customs are portrayed as very attractive.
– Most Arab children and teenagers find Western
ideas, customs and ways of life very cool and they
imitate it more and more.
– Many Arab children can’t read/speak proper
Arabic.

53. The relationship and the influences between the
Arab and the Western cultures and identities
1. How would you describe the relationship between Qatar
and the Western world?
– Stronger than any other culture or country in the
region
– Distance needed
– Commercial relations OK

54. 2. Do you find globalization & internationalization
to be positive or negative things for the
Qatari/Arab culture and people?
• Negative: many non-Islamic and non-Arab
ideas, customs are candy-coated. One high-
school teacher defined globalization as
Amrekat al aa’lem: To make the whole world
American.
• Positive: Al Jazeera Arabic all over the world.
More people are exposed to Arabic and Islam.

55. Conclusions
• Great pressure to learn English.
• Although mostly positive, contradictory attitudes
towards English.
• Anti-colonialism discourse not very prominent.
• English is seen as an instrument towards better jobs and
more money. “Necessity may overpower attitude”
(Edwards, 1985: 146).
• Positive views about freedom and independence = may
implicate that young Qataris are already viewing their
identity & culture partly through Western values.

56. Conclusions
• Struggle with defining cultural identity through the
benefits of globalization, while trying to preserve Arabic
and traditional Arab/Muslim values.
– attracted to the ideas (freedom & independence) and
products (luxury items) of the West feel
– alarmed about/criticize the gradual diminishing of Arabic &
Arab culture and loose family bonds or ‘perceived’ free
sexual relations
• Reservations about the processes of globalization &
internationalization.

57. Conclusions and Implications
• Generational gap is obvious.
• While there is great pressure to learn new ways to
function in a global world, there is also pressure to
represent/preserve the profound Arab/Muslim culture.
• Central cultural structures are being dismantled.
Fragmentation of linguistic cultural identity = Identity-
crisis

58. Limitations
• Respondents: conducted with only females. (The study will
be done with males at the same place next semester and
the results will be added to the present study.)
• Sampling: how representative are the respondents of the
locals?
• Researcher’s presence: effect on the authenticity of the
situation and the genuineness of the answers
• Language problems: numerous grammar and spelling
errors
• Terms used: offering a sufficient explanation of the term
cultural identity.
• Analysis: Was difficult to tally semi-open Qs

59. • Thank you for your attendance.
• Please feel free to ask questions.
• Please e-mail me if you have any
questions: ozgur.pala@qu.edu.qa

60. References
• Abuhamdia, Z. (1988). “Speech Diversity and Language Unity: Arabic as an
Integrating Factor.” The Politics of Arab Integration. Eds. Giacomo Luciani
and Ghassan Salame. New York, NY: Croom Helm. 33-53.
• Ahmed, M. (2010). We Arabs Are Killing Arabic. Emirates 7/24. Retrieved
from: http://www.emirates247.com/columns/analysis/we-arabs-are-
killing-arabic-2010-08-01-1.273429
• Al Buainain, Hassan & Madani, (2011). Use of English by Graduates of
Qatar University in the Workplace: A Quantitative Analysis. Arab World
English Journal. 2 (1): 140-185.
• Al Sharekh A. & Springborg, R. (eds) (2008), Popular Culture and Political
Identity in the Arab Gulf States. London, Saqi.
• Charise, A. (2007). More English, Less Islam? An Overview of English
Language Functions in the Arabian/Persian Gulf. Retrieved from:
• Edwards, J. (1985). Language, Society and Identity. Worcester: Billing &
Sons Ltd.

61. References
• Glasser, Susan B. “Qatar Reshapes its Schools, Putting English Over
Islam.” Washington Post Sunday February 2, 2003: A20.
• Hundley, T. (2010) Is Arabic A Dying Language. Global Post.
Retrieved from http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/middle-
east/100216/arabic-endangered-language
• Peel, Richard. (2004). “The Internet and Language Use: A Case
Study in the United Arab Emirates. International Journal on
Multicultural Societies 6 (1): 146-58.
• Seppälä, M. (2011). The Effects of the English Language on the
Cultural Identity of Chinese University Students. Retrieved from:
https://jyx.jyu.fi/dspace/bitstream/handle/123456789/26616/URN
%3ANBN%3Afi%3Ajyu-201103011836.pdf?sequence=1