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Concept
Language secessionism
Summary
Language secessionism (also known as linguistic secessionism or linguistic separatism) is an attitude supporting the separation of a language variety from the language to which it has hitherto been considered to belong, in order to make this variety be considered a distinct language. This phenomenon was first analyzed in Catalan sociolinguistics but it is attested in other parts of the world.
The most critical factor that shapes the sociolinguistic reality of the Arab World is the phenomenon of diglossia. Diglossia is defined complementary distribution of two varieties of the same language used in different domains of life. The low-prestige variety of Colloquial Arabic dominates the sphere of spontaneous utterances and daily communication, whereas Standard Arabic carries high prestige and is used in formal writing and speaking.
This situation has important political and social implications. Arabic, meaning Standard Arabic, is the official language of all 22 member-states of the Arab League (and Syria, whose membership has been suspended). As such it automatically acquires a status of a global language. Standard Arabic is also the lingua sacra of Islam, which further increases its importance. However, a claim could be made that it is no one's first language, since Arab children acquire their local dialect in the natural process of generational language transmission, and learn Standard Arabic at a later point when they begin formal education. Proficiency in Standard Arabic gives one an insight into a vast literary tradition spanning over 1 500 years. However, proponents of recognizing local Arabic dialects as official languages, claim that the discrepancy between spoken vernaculars and Standard Arabic is just too wide, rendering proficiency in Standard Arabic unattainable for most.
Egyptian linguistic separatism is the most well-developed linguistic separatism in the Arab World. The most popular platform diffusing the idea of the Modern Egyptian Language (rather than the Egyptian dialect) is the Egyptian Arabic Wikipedia also known as Wikipedia Masry or Maṣrī.
Official source
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