Attitudes linguistiques et identités locales à Ṣanʻâ’

In Ṣan‘â’s metropolis populations gather from all parts of Yemen, as well as from abroad. The voices in the street draw a linguistic picture of nearly all that can be heard in South Arabia and East Africa. Though the inhabitants share Arabic as a common language, one actually faces several distinct...

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Main Author: Julien Dufour
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Université de Provence 2008-04-01
Series:Revue des Mondes Musulmans et de la Méditerranée
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/remmm/4893
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author Julien Dufour
author_facet Julien Dufour
author_sort Julien Dufour
collection DOAJ
description In Ṣan‘â’s metropolis populations gather from all parts of Yemen, as well as from abroad. The voices in the street draw a linguistic picture of nearly all that can be heard in South Arabia and East Africa. Though the inhabitants share Arabic as a common language, one actually faces several distinct linguistic varieties. The Yemeni dialects are indeed so varied that intercomprehension cannot be readily expected without an adaptation of one’s speech habits. Techniques are developped for mutual understanding. In Yemen however it is not done to dress or speak as do dwellers of other provinces. Most of the time one does not even think of doing so.Is a neutral Yemeni dialect in the process of being formed ? Should we recognize the first traces of it in a modern Ṣan‘âni standard, which does exist up to a certain point ? This variety does not apparently gain ground in other regions. In Ṣan‘â’ however, a contemporary Ṣan‘âni neutrality seems to suit some of the inhabitants. With the demographic growth of the city, things are likely to change at a quick pace. The question will rest on the attachment to traditional, geographically defined social structures. Those who can afford it may like to shake them off. But for the time being most Yemenis are not in a position to do so.
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spelling doaj-art-73493efcd01f4375b4d492c8ceb6f3712025-08-20T02:44:59ZengUniversité de ProvenceRevue des Mondes Musulmans et de la Méditerranée0997-13272105-22712008-04-0112113314410.4000/remmm.4893Attitudes linguistiques et identités locales à Ṣanʻâ’Julien DufourIn Ṣan‘â’s metropolis populations gather from all parts of Yemen, as well as from abroad. The voices in the street draw a linguistic picture of nearly all that can be heard in South Arabia and East Africa. Though the inhabitants share Arabic as a common language, one actually faces several distinct linguistic varieties. The Yemeni dialects are indeed so varied that intercomprehension cannot be readily expected without an adaptation of one’s speech habits. Techniques are developped for mutual understanding. In Yemen however it is not done to dress or speak as do dwellers of other provinces. Most of the time one does not even think of doing so.Is a neutral Yemeni dialect in the process of being formed ? Should we recognize the first traces of it in a modern Ṣan‘âni standard, which does exist up to a certain point ? This variety does not apparently gain ground in other regions. In Ṣan‘â’ however, a contemporary Ṣan‘âni neutrality seems to suit some of the inhabitants. With the demographic growth of the city, things are likely to change at a quick pace. The question will rest on the attachment to traditional, geographically defined social structures. Those who can afford it may like to shake them off. But for the time being most Yemenis are not in a position to do so.https://journals.openedition.org/remmm/4893
spellingShingle Julien Dufour
Attitudes linguistiques et identités locales à Ṣanʻâ’
Revue des Mondes Musulmans et de la Méditerranée
title Attitudes linguistiques et identités locales à Ṣanʻâ’
title_full Attitudes linguistiques et identités locales à Ṣanʻâ’
title_fullStr Attitudes linguistiques et identités locales à Ṣanʻâ’
title_full_unstemmed Attitudes linguistiques et identités locales à Ṣanʻâ’
title_short Attitudes linguistiques et identités locales à Ṣanʻâ’
title_sort attitudes linguistiques et identites locales a san a
url https://journals.openedition.org/remmm/4893
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