ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the basic interrelated questions as they are integral for understanding the sociolinguistic situation in the Arab region with regard to the notions of diglossia, language variation, code switching, identity, and attitudes. It establishes the socio-historical background of the two main varieties of Arabic, namely Standard Arabic (SA) and Colloquial Arabic (QA). Classical Arabic (CA) is identified in the literature as the formal and literary language, which is related to the Qur'an and the medieval and pre-Islamic literary tradition. The Arabic sociolinguistic scene is characterized by the existence of a number of language varieties that vary from one country to another and sometimes from one region to another. The chapter presents an argument against the division between CA and Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) based on historical, structural, and social factors and against the notion SA as a 'second language'. It points to a number of local languages and global languages, which are gaining greater visibility across the Arab region.
