The Influence of Language Ideologies on the Teaching of Arabic in Spain

Abstract

Arabic is a language that carries a strong ideological weight, even in Arab countries, where not all varieties enjoy the same prestige. In the diaspora, it must also coexist as a minority language alongside the majority languages of each country. The aim of this paper is to show how linguistic ideologies surrounding the different varieties of Arabic influence not only their perception but also their teaching. To this end, these ideologies are described, along with their past and present impact on the teaching of Arabic in Spanish universities. The sociolinguistic situation of the Arabic-speaking world has often been defined as a linguistic continuum, and therefore Arabic should be taught and studied as such, reflecting the native use of the language.