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.
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Appendix Map Survey Instrument
: ةميركلاي تخأ/ يخأ
. ه تاكربوالله ة محروم كيعلم لاسلاى لإن اكمن م( ةيلحملات اجهللا)س انلاث دحتة قيرطف لاتخال وحس انلاء ارآة فرعملة ساردلاه ذهف دهته نأبا معل، ىرخلأاة حفصلاي فة كلمملاة طيرخل لاخن مك لذد يدحتوة يدوعسلاة يبرعلاة كململاي فر خآة يصخشلاك تبرجتوك تربخب سحب وطلملاي صخشلاك يأرد متعيو. ةئطاخو أة حيحصة باجإد جويلاي ف( ةيلحملات اجهللا)س انلاث دحتة قيرطت وافتلم اعلاي صخشلام ييقتلاو أع امسلاو أر شابملاث يدحالب. ةكلمملا
This study is intended to explore Saudi people’s views about the differences in their speech (local dialects) from one location to another throughout Saudi Arabia. It asks to identify these differences on a map of Saudi Arabia on the other side of this page. There is no right or wrong answers, as it all depends on your personal opinion based on your experience in direct contact with others or your own evaluation of variation in people’s speech (local dialects) across the Kingdom.
: ةيلاتلات اوطخلال معل مأنا ذل
ن وثدحتيس انلان أد قتعتي تلاع قاومللد ودحم سربم ق، هاندأة ماعلاة يصخشلات امولعملاة ئبعتد عب. 1
. ا همجحن اكا مهم( ةصاخة جهل)ك تقيرطلة فتلخمة قيرطبا هيف
و أة يتوصلاث دحتلاة قيرطلر صتخمف صوو أك يدلع ئاشى مسمو أة رابعبع قواملاك تلة يمستبم ق. 2
. م ه يدلة عئاشت امكل
You need to do the following steps:
After completing the demographic information below, go to the map on the other side and draw a line around places where you think people there speak differently, regardless of its size.
Provide a name for the selected places using a phrase, common name, or brief description of the speech there including common words and expressions.
. .......................................: رمعلا
ى ث نأر كذ: سنجلا
. . ......................................: دلايملان اكم
. . ......................................: ةأشنلان اكم
. . ......................................:ً ايلاحة ماقلإان اكم
. . ......................................: اهبث دحتتي تلاة جهللا
Age: ……………….
Gender: Male Female
Place of birth: ……………….
Where you grew up: ……………….
Current residence: ……………….
Your dialect: ……………….
© 2021 Faculty of English, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
