Globalization in the periphery : Arabization and the changing status of Siwi Berber in the oasis of Siwa

Title data

Serreli, Valentina:
Globalization in the periphery : Arabization and the changing status of Siwi Berber in the oasis of Siwa.
In: Sociolinguistic Studies. Vol. 12 (2018) Issue 2, Special issue . - pp. 231-250.
ISSN 1750-8649
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1558/sols.35565

Official URL:

Abstract in another language

New media and communication technologies, heritage tourism and new reproductions of local identity are forms of globalization characteristic of the peripheries (Wang, Spotti, Juffermans, Kroon, Cornips and Blommaert, 2014:30). This article discusses some effects of globalization in a peripheral area of Egypt, where relative isolation delayed Arabization and favoured the maintenance of the indigenous Berber language, called Siwi. Globalization materialized in important socioeconomic changes that affected the linguistic attitudes and practices of the oasis dwellers. Following Milroy’s (1980) social network approach and Gumperz’ (1982) further elaboration, it is argued that such variation is not related to socioeconomic changes directly, but connected to the structural variation of the community’s social network they provoked. Based on qualitative attitudinal data collected through interviews and participant observation, the study shows that although Egyptian Arabic is widespread and acquires prestige, Siwi not only remains a strong marker of group solidarity but is also becoming a symbol of the Siwan identity.

Further data

Item Type:	Article in a journal
Refereed:	Yes
Keywords:	Siwi Berber; Egyptian Arabic; Minority Language; Globalization; Multilingualism; Siwa Oasis (Egypt)
Institutions of the University:	Faculties > Faculty of Languages and Literature > Junior Professor Arabic Studies > Junior Professor Arabic Studies - Juniorprof. Dr. Valentina Serreli Faculties Faculties > Faculty of Languages and Literature Faculties > Faculty of Languages and Literature > Junior Professor Arabic Studies
Result of work at the UBT:	Yes
DDC Subjects:	400 Language > 410 Linguistics 400 Language > 490 Other languages
Date Deposited:	07 Mar 2019 09:35
Last Modified:	07 Mar 2019 09:35
URI:	https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/47859