The Arabic Language in Sudan in Light of Language Planning and Language Policy

Abstract

Objectives: This research aims to examine the status of the Arabic language in Sudan in the context of linguistic diversity, language policies, and linguistic planning.

Methods: The research adopts a descriptive-analytical and historical methodology suitable for the nature of the study. It describes linguistic planning and the relationship between linguistic planning and policies, analyzing them based on scholarly views in the field. The study historically traces language policies during the colonial government and under the various national constitutions.

Results: The study reached several results, including that Arabic is the official language of the state despite changes in governments and different constitutions. In addition, it was found that the British administration implemented a policy of closed areas to prevent the spread of the language in certain regions of Sudan for religious reasons, and that English was imposed as the language of education in secondary and higher education. Moreover, the Salvation Government made decisions supporting the Arabic language through planning and policies, such as the Arabization policy in higher education in Sudan during the Higher Education Revolution.

Conclusions: This study addressed the arabic language in sudan in light of linguistic planning and language policies in theoretical and practical frameworks. It covered linguistic planning and language policies during the colonial and post-independence periods, examining the status of the Arabic language and the actions taken by successive governments after independence. The researcher defined the terms linguistic planning, language policies, Sudanese languages, their classification, the position of the Arabic language among them, the colonial policy toward it, and its status in Sudan's various constitutions under different governments. This was followed by an analysis of the Arabization policy in higher education.