Open AccessThe Ghawa Syndrome in Kuwaiti-Arabic Verbs
Author(s) -
Hanan A. Taqi
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of advances in linguistics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2348-3024
DOI - 10.24297/jal.v9i1.6984
Subject(s) - ethnic group , arabic , affect (linguistics) , variation (astronomy) , linguistics , feature (linguistics) , phenomenon , psychology , task (project management) , geography , sociology , anthropology , communication , philosophy , physics , quantum mechanics , astrophysics , management , economics
The “Ghawa Syndrome” is a well-known linguistic phenomenon in the Arabian Gulf. The current study investigates this linguistic feature within the variation of accents in the speech of two ethnic groups (Najdis and Ajamis) and three generations of Kuwaitis. The ethnicity factor was believed to play a major role in the linguistic feature under investigation due to their varying social and economic status. 48 Kuwaiti individuals represented the two investigated ethnicities and three ages groups (chosen according to relevant milestones in the history of Kuwait), and with an equal number of males and females participating in data collection. Three different techniques of data collection were utilized (picture-naming, map task, interview, questionnaires). The results reflected an increase in the use of the Ghawa Syndrome cross generations in the Ajami group, while the Najdi dialect was rather stable. This linguistic familiarity seems to affect the two ethnicities, bringing them closer to each other.