ABSTRACT
Language has a salient role in indicating group membership and is considered a symbol of different social identities. Within the Arabic language, variation across countries and regions creates multiple identities, and the classification of Arabic into Standard Arabic (SA) and dialects has long created controversial positions about issues of belonging and intelligibility. This chapter explores representations of linguistic identities in the popular Arabic-medium television series Khawaja Abdulqader. This chapter uses discourse analysis (DA) to explore how the main character of the drama utilizes linguistic resources to reveal the multiple identities of a non-Arab who speaks Arabic as a foreign language. Five scenes from the series are analysed, with a focus on the phonological and morphological features of three Arabic variations: Standard Arabic, Sudanese Dialect, and Egyptian dialect. This chapter sheds light on the differences and similarities between the dialects and compares these dialects with Gulf varieties such as the Emirati dialect. Based on the findings, this chapter argues that the linguistic features and variation seen in the series unify rather than distance Arabic-speakers’ identities and cultural belongingness.
