Negotiating identity and dialect: Sociolinguistic dynamics in Hasawi–non-Hasawi interactions in Saudi Arabia

This study analyzed the adaptation of speakers of Hasawi Arabic in Saudi Arabia to the use of their dialect in communication with non-Hasawi interlocutors, specifically focusing on the importance of sectarian affiliation. It used the patterns of convergence and retention based on Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) and Social Identity Theory (SIT) to examine three linguistic variables (the realization of/q/[g] vs. [q]), vowel expansion, and the usage of Hasawi-specific lexical items. The data was 80 semi-structured conversational interactions (about 20 hours) with 40 Hasawi people in intra-group and inter-group situations. The results demonstrated a steady decline in inter-group interactions in local marking, such as the use of [g] to represent/q/or lessening the lengthening of vowels, and less prevalence of local lexical items, which pointed to convergence in supra-regional norms. The patterns of accommodation, however, differed depending on the sect. The overall convergence of Sunni participants was higher, but Shiite participants maintained a higher level of dialectal features in all contexts. The gender differences were small and mostly insignificant. According to these results, linguistic accommodation was influenced not only by the type of interlocutor but also by socially salient categories of identity. The paper brought out the aspect of balancing communication by the speakers.