Language, Ideology and Sociopolitical Change in the Arabic-speaking World

Chaoqun Lian is Assistant Professor in Arabic Linguistics in the Department of Arabic Language and Culture at Peking University.

• Figures and Tables; Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. The Arabic Language Academy Phenomenon The Arabic Language Academy Phenomenon Is Pan-Arab Arabic Language Academies between Pan-Arab and Territorial-State Nationalisms Arabic Language Academies, Territoriality and Sovereignty Arabic Language Academies, Coloniality and Peripherality The Arabic Language Academy Phenomenon Is a Form of Language Planning and Language Policy The Arabic Language Academy Phenomenon Is Symbolic The Arabic Language Academy Phenomenon Is Discursive 3. Arabic Diglossia and Arab Nationalisms Diglossia as a Sociolinguistic Problem in Western Academia Diglossia as a Problem in the Arabic Language Academy Discourse Fuṣḥā and ʿĀmmiyya as Organisms Fuṣḥā and ʿĀmmiyya as Instruments and Resources Fuṣḥā and ʿĀmmiyya as National Symbols Eliminating Arabic Diglossia Arabic Diglossia, Pan-Arab Nationalism and Territorial-State Nationalisms 4. Arabi(ci)sation and Counter-Peripheralisation Introduction: Arabi(ci)sation and Peripherality Inter-Language Relations and Arabi(ci)sation Conceptualising Arabi(ci)sation in the Discourse of Arabic Language Academies Inalienability between Arabic and the Arab People Domination, Subordination and Equilibrium in Inter-Language Relations Corpus and Status Arabicisation in the Discourse of Arabic Language Academies Corpus Arabicisation: Compounding Status Arabicisation: Language-in-Education Conclusion: Arabi(ci)sation as Symbolic Resistance and Symbolic Compensation 5. Language Modernisation between Self and the Other Modernity and Modernisation between Self and the Other ‘Catching up with Modern Requirements’ versus ‘Revival and Reform’ Modernising the Arabic Language: A History of Conceptual Formation Modernisation between Catch-up and Renaissance Modernisation between Holistic Revival/Reform and Cosmetic Change Leaning towards Endogenous Modernisation Dilemma, Dignity and Universalism of Arabic Critical Reflections on Modernity and Authenticity Cultural Invasion and Comprehensive Development Conclusion: Reviving the Arab Nation and Counterbalancing the West 6. Conclusion: The Ideologisation of Language via Language Symbolism Characteristics of the ideologisation of language via language symbolism Effects of the ideologisation of language via language symbolism Causes of the ideologisation of language via language symbolism Script Romanisation in China and the Arabic-Speaking World Prevalence of the ideologisation of language via language symbolism BibliographyJournals and Minutes of Arabic Language Academies until 2000 Works and Interviews in Arabic Cited in the Book Works in Other Languages Cited in the Book Appendix: A Glossary of the Discourse of Arabic Language Academies

Cleverly deploying a multiplicity of approaches and perspectives, Chaoqun Lian delves into the intricacies of an important topic that ties Arabic to society through ideology and politics. The book succeeds admirably in revealing the ability of language to speak to a host of meta-linguistics concerns. It will therefore appeal to linguists and social scientists, Arabists and non-Arabists as well as to policy makers.