LW 41: A Structural Analysis of Moroccan Arabic and English Intra-Sentential Code Switching

A Structural Analysis of Moroccan Arabic and English Intra-Sentential Code Switching

Najat Benchiba-Savenius
SOAS, London

A Structural Analysis of Moroccan Arabic and English Intra-Sentential Code Switching is a critical investigation of the merging of two typologically dissimilar languages, Moroccan Arabic and English as spoken in the UK by speakers of the Moroccan community. Such a phenomenon occurs when speakers use a code-switched style during bilingual discourse resulting in the merging of two grammars. This volume explores linguistic differences amongst speakers of different generational groups in the British-Moroccan community. An innovative form of syntax termed 'Reactive Syntax' is presented together with theoretical and practical analysis of new data.

Najat Benchiba-Savenius explores sound observations in bilingualism and provides unique data throughout this major study. This is explored in full and corroborated by sound empirical evidence gathered during the course of this study. The grammatical outcome of such code switched utterances is quantitatively and qualitatively detailed through natural parsing by bilingual speakers of Moroccan Arabic and English. The main theories and syntactic approaches to intra-sentential code switching are examined and previous research and theoretical models are also challenged.

This investigation is a useful tool in language contact, bilingualism, psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics in general. It is particularly of interest in the field of syntax, general and complex morphology as well as bilingual studies.

ISBN 9783862880454. Languages of the World 41. 323pp. 2011.