Language Status of Arab Countries along the “Belt and Road” and Corresponding Proposals

Yu Guangwu, Zhang Sen and Song Siqi

Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning ›› 2021, Vol. 6 ›› Issue (1) : 84-91.

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Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning ›› 2021, Vol. 6 ›› Issue (1) : 84-91. DOI: 10.19689/j.cnki.cn10-1361/h.20210107

Language Status of Arab Countries along the “Belt and Road” and Corresponding Proposals

  • Yu Guangwu, Zhang Sen and Song Siqi
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Abstract

Arabic countries are considered by China as the important partners in collaboration to further the “Belt and Road” construction. Arabic is the only language that serves as both religious language and pluricentric language in a number of countries. Although very necessary, little systematic investigation was conducted before to understand the language planning and policy in these countries. This paper attempts to investigate language use in thirteen Arabic countries along the “Belt and Road”. As important partners, these Arabic countries have increasingly become the focus of the “Belt and Road” Initiative. We first analyze the language situation of these Arabic countries from the perspective of corpus planning, including the use of the standard Arabic, Arabic dialects, and foreign languages with a focus on diverse language use patterns in these countries. When it comes to acquisition planning, we discuss the relationship between mother tongue education and foreign language teaching. Regarding the latter, we foreground Chinese language teaching by examining the role of Confucius Institutes in these countries. In conclusion, with a prospect of China’s collaborative role there, we elaborate on four proposals of how to promote Chinese language and culture with consideration of the complex language situations in these countries.

Key words

“Belt and Road&rdquo / Initiative / Arab countries / language status

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Yu Guangwu, Zhang Sen and Song Siqi. Language Status of Arab Countries along the “Belt and Road” and Corresponding Proposals[J]. Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning. 2021, 6(1): 84-91 https://doi.org/10.19689/j.cnki.cn10-1361/h.20210107

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