The Arabic Language and National Identity

'Masterfully combines his profound familiarity with the Arabic literature, the endless literature on nationalist ideology, and the very substantial sociolinguistic literature on language and ethnic identity.'Professor Joshua Fishman, Distinguished University Research Professor of Social Sciences, Emeritus, Yeshiva University

'This compelling and timely study of Arabic culture, language, history, and nationalism by distinguished Arabic linguist Yasir Suleiman allows English-speaking audiences an inside view of key issues in understanding the Arab world. Based on Suleiman's extensive research in Arabic language and society, the book is scholarly but not pedantic, and will appeal to a wide range of readers.'Karin C. Ryding, Sultan Qaboos bin Said Professor of Arabic, Georgetown University

A fresh perspective on nationalism in the Arab Middle East, investigating the interaction between language and nationalist ideology. It covers both communicative and symbolic functions of the language in relation to cultural and political nationalism and the articulation of national identity.

Includes:

• The Arab past (the interpretation and reinvention of tradition and myth-making)
• The clash between Arab and Turkish cultural nationalism in the 19th and early 20th century
• Readings of canonical treatises on Arab cultural nationalism
• A study of the major ideological trends linking language to territorial nationalism
• A research agenda for the study of language and nationalism in the Arab context

This is the first full-scale study of this important topic and will be of interest to students of nationalism, Arab and comparative politics, Arabic Studies, history, cultural studies and sociolinguistics.