Abstract:
This paper aims to explore the Libyans people’s attitudes towards the linguistic status and use
of Libyan Arabic dialect (ҁa:mmijjah, dariʒah) as it is employed on a daily basis. Libyan
Arabic is often denigrated and described as a corrupted, not codified and problematic
language when assessed against fusˤћa:, the language of governmental affairs, religion,
medium of instruction in schools and the official language of Libya. However, recent studies
revealed that Libyan Arabic has crept into high domains exclusively reserved for Standard
Arabic such as the mosque and the schools (1). In fact, some characters that are affiliated
with and reserved for Modern Standard Arabic have been lent to Libyan Arabic via the
process of “ideological elision” (14 p24). Accordingly, the current study examines the
Libyans’ assessment of Libyan Arabic, its codification, its use in public domains, media,
advertisements and whether this dialect is considered as a corrupted language in a diglossic
setting. Sallabank (32 pp61-62) correlates language attitudes and ideologies with the way
individuals perceive language vitality and practices and accordingly, with language policy.
This paper also investigates how Libyan people perceive Libyan Arabic as an in-group
marker and of identity.
The results in the current study revealed that the Libyan people evaluated Libyan Arabic
positively at not only the functional level but also at the symbolic level. Age group as a social
factor turned to be descriptively significant since the younger age group showed more
inclinations towards dariʒah.
