Writing between languages: the case of Arabizi. Issue 2 (3rd July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abu-Liel, Aula Khatteb; Eviatar, Zohar; Nir, Bracha
• Is Part Of: Writing systems research. Volume 11:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 226
• Page End: 238
• Publication Date: 2019-07-03
• Subjects: Writing -- spoken Arabic -- orthography -- non-standard script; Writing -- Periodicals; Graphemics -- Periodicals; 411
• DOI: 10.1080/17586801.2020.1814482
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1758-6801

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this paper is to explore the properties of Arabizi as a system with a 'bottom-up' orthography that emerged in the specific context of Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC). The study focuses on the dialects spoken in the city of Nazareth and the villages surrounding it ( N = 75). We examined the consistency of choice of Latin letters and Arabic numerals for Spoken Arabic (SA) phonemes from two complimentary perspectives: subjective reports and the corpus-based analysis of a unique writing sample in Arabizi, elicited texts. Our results show a consensus on conventions in the transcription process, with some expected variation reflecting differences between regional dialects. This indicated a high degree of normativization or standardisation in Arabizi orthography.