Abstract This article provides a perceptual dialectology account of linguistic diversity in Saudi Arabia. Using the map-drawing and labeling task, the study examined the perceptions and ideologies of 674 speakers of Saudi Arabic dialects about the perceived boundaries of regional dialect varieties, as well as their social evaluation of and beliefs about the dialects. The analysis of the results as displayed in composite maps using a Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping program revealed that respondents identified five major dialect areas as having the most distinct features: the Najdi, Hijazi, southern, eastern, and northern regions. Ten categories of respondents’ labels emerged out of the qualitative analysis: style, influence, Bedouin/urban, fast, open/closed, vowel lengthening, unique vocabulary, alternation of /k/ and /g/, attraction, and social media. The present findings show the salience of certain linguistic and social features that respondents associate with certain dialect areas. Such perceptions can ultimately guide and enhance future descriptions and analyses of actual linguistic variation in Saudi Arabia.

中文翻译：

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沙特阿拉伯方言语言变异的感知映射

摘要 本文提供了对沙特阿拉伯语言多样性的感知方言解释。该研究使用地图绘制和标注任务，检查了 674 名沙特阿拉伯方言使用者对区域方言变体的感知边界的看法和意识形态，以及他们对方言的社会评价和信念。使用地理信息系统 (GIS) 制图程序对复合地图中显示的结果进行分析显示，受访者确定了五个主要方言区域具有最明显的特征：纳吉迪、希贾兹、南部、东部和北部地区。定性分析得出十类受访者的标签：风格、影响力、贝都因人/城市、快速、开放/封闭、元音延长、独特词汇、/k/和/g/交替，吸引力和社交媒体。目前的调查结果显示了受访者与某些方言领域相关的某些语言和社会特征的显着性。这种看法最终可以指导和加强未来对沙特阿拉伯实际语言变异的描述和分析。