Constructing Modernity through Language: Mixing English and Arabic in Television Programs

Zahra Awad (Abu Dhabi University, United Arab Emirates)

Email: olaawad@yahoo.com

 

ABSTRACT:

This research project aims at investigating the phenomenon of mixing Arabic and English in television talk shows, and to what extent it contributes to constructing modernity and to the spread of such mixing in Arab societies. The phenomenon will be dealt with in terms of its nature, the linguistic expressions involved, the kinds of programs in which it occurs and the attitudes of viewers towards it. The data will be collected through video taping 40 talk shows broadcasted by different Arab stations in the Middle East ; a questionnaire distributed to 500 viewers, and structured interviews with a random sample of them . The data will be analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The results are expected to shed light on the extent to which mixing the two languages on television programs is used as a strategy for constructing modernity. The resutls are also expected to show the contribution of code-mixing on television to the spread of such a phenomenon in Arab societies. It is hoped that the results will contribute to raising television decision makers' awareness of such a phenomenon and will draw their attention to its effects on Arab societies.