The Impact of the Host Foreign Community's Language on the Syrian Refugee's Arabic Language during the Arab Spring

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to explore the impact of the language of host foreign communities on the Arabic language of Syrian refugees after their political asylum in foreign countries during the Arab Spring period. It also aimed to identify the challenges faced by Syrian refugees and their families in preserving the Arabic language, particularly among children born in non-Arabic speaking host countries.

Methods: The research followed a correlational descriptive approach to study the impact of the host foreign communities' language on the Arabic language of Syrian refugees in several European countries (Iceland, Sweden, Germany, the UK, Turkey, the Netherlands), as well as in the US and Canada. The study sample consisted of 124 refugees.

Results: The study found that Syrian refugees were influenced by the language of the host countries due to the need for employment and social integration. Teaching in languages other than Arabic affected the linguistic and emotional development of students, especially in primary school, impacting their attachment to Arabic language and culture. Over time, the language of the host countries replaced Arabic in daily use among the second and third generations, despite efforts by Syrian refugees to preserve their identity through Arabic schools and participation in cultural activities.

Conclusions: The study recommends that the UN High Commissioner for Refugees adopt educational programs that integrate both Arabic and the host community’s language. It also suggests that Arab communities provide awareness programs to emphasize the importance of teaching Arabic to preserve Arabic identity.