[URBANTH-L] Call for Book Chapters: Global English: Issues of Language, Culture and Identity in the Arab World

[Angela Jancius]

Call for Book Chapters
To all scholars interested in language, culture, and identity

Proposed Title:
Global English: Issues of Language, Culture, and Identity in the Arab World

Global English today is touted as the lingua franca of the world. English 
can now profess to be the language with the most non-native speakers and 
learners, and as such its current role on the world's stage cannot be 
overlooked.

Globalization, linguistic imperialism, language rights, language and power, 
cultural, political, and economic hegemony, and language planning and policy 
are at the forefront of the debate on global English. There are many 
scholars and lay people today who are concerned with the subtractive spread 
of English worldwide. As languages are pushed aside and made to run second 
to global English, people may be at risk of linguistic loss. Furthermore, 
cultures and identities could be in similar danger. Unfortunately, little 
attention has been given to this issue in the Arab world.

In many, if not most, Arab countries (in the Middle East and Arabian Gulf), 
the second language is English. In several of these Arabic-speaking nations, 
English has become a pervasive language, especially in the economic and 
business sectors. Additionally, children in these countries often begin 
learning English during their formative years, and English is increasingly 
becoming the medium of instruction in many schools, colleges, and 
universities where Arabic is relegated to a secondary status. Although 
formal Arabic, foos'ha, is taught throughout the Arab world, there is rarely 
any excitement involved in learning Arabic. Students find it more trying to 
learn Arabic especially when it is compared to the colorful, entertaining 
textbooks and materials of English in addition to English's creative and 
constantly updated pedagogical approaches and methods.

Although we cannot be certain that Arabic, Arab identity, or culture can or 
will be lost or lessened through the continual focus on global English, it 
is a concern. As more and more Arabs communicate in English, even with other 
Arabs, we may discover that the place of Arab identity is no longer held 
entirely in the language of Arabic, if it ever was. Most of us today are 
aware that global English comes with some positive and negative attachments 
in terms of its effects on other languages and speakers of those languages. 
With all these attachments to the language, it is probable that those Arabs 
who use English as a global language have in some way been touched by more 
than just the language in terms of their identities, their cultures, and 
their native language. It is time a voice is given to the Arabs compelled to 
survive in a world of English and often at the expense of their Arabic 
language, culture, and identity.

Global English: Issues of Language, Culture, and Identity in the Arab World 
seeks to gain an understanding of how global English is affecting Arabs who 
reside in various geographic locations within the region. Contributions that 
cover any country in the the Arab Middle East and in the Arabian Gulf will 
be considered. Each chapter will examine the effect of global English on 
self and or on the people of a specific country in one or more contexts 
(e.g., educational, business, social-cultural, political, etc.). 
Specifically, this book will seek to answer the question how has and how 
does global English impact Arabs in terms of their native language, 
identity, and culture?

Chapters sought could be empirical (i.e., research-based), theoretical, or 
narratives (i.e., personal encounters/experiences). The chapters should be 
20-30 pages double-spaced (Times New Roman, font 12). The volume will only 
include papers in English.

The idea of Global English: Issues of Language, Culture, and Identity in the 
Arab World grew out of our experiences teaching graduate and undergraduate 
students at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. 
It also came about as a result of witnessing the increasing use of the 
English language in all sectors of society in the last decade, in this 
country and others in the region. Our interest was further piqued by studies 
we carried out with our students regarding their feelings about global 
English and their perceptions and concerns about the status of Arabic. As 
such, this book is intended for students, graduate and undergraduates, 
language teachers, teacher trainers, educational administrators, educational 
policy makers, and others concerned with language education in schools and 
universities globally and the Arab world specifically. The book also has as 
its intended audience scholars in relevant fields in order to promote 
further research on issues of language, culture, and identity in the Arab 
world.

If you are interested in contributing a chapter, please send in an abstract, 
clearly delineate the country you are writing about, the type of chapter you 
are proposing (empirical, theoretical, or narrative), and issue(s) you will 
be addressing in the chapter. Please include with your abstract a one-page 
bio or a current CV.

? The deadline for receiving abstracts is September 25, 2009.
? Abstracts and bios/CVs should be emailed as a word document attachment to: 
Dr. Ahmad Al-Issa: aissa at aus.edu
? Notification of acceptance will be sent out by October 31, 2009.
? Completed chapters are due on March 1, 2010.


For any inquiries or further information, please contact Dr. Ahmad Al-Issa 
(aissa at aus.edu) or Laila Dahan (ldahan at aus.edu).

EDITORS:

. Ahmad Al-Issa is an Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics and TESOL 
in the English Department at the American University of Sharjah in the 
United Arab Emirates. He has published many journal articles and book 
chapters in the areas of cross-cultural communication, global English, 
intercultural pragmatics, and teaching effectiveness. His most recent 
publications include: 'Globalization, English Language, and Muslim Students 
in the United Arab Emirates in Educational Awakening: Journal of the 
Educational Sciences (co-authored with L. Dahan, 2009), 'Prior Knowledge and 
Writing in the College EFL Composition Classroom' in Coombe, C., Jendli, A., 
& Davidson, P. (Eds.). Teaching writing skills in English: Theory, research 
(2008), 'Deciphering the Secret Code. A New Methodology for the 
Cross-Cultural Analysis of Nonverbal Behavior' in Behavior Research Methods 
(co-authored with Bente et al. 2008), 'A Journey of Belonging: A 
Global(ized) Self Finds Peace' (co-authored with N. Golley) in N. Golley 
(Ed.) Exploring Identity: Contemporary Arab Women's Autobiographical 
Writings (2007), 'Schema Theory and L2 Reading Comprehension: Implications 
for Teaching' in College Teaching and Learning (2006), 'When the West 
Teaches the East: Analyzing Intercultural Conflict in the Classroom' in 
Intercultural Communication Studies (2005), 'Global Nomads and the Search 
for Cultural Identity: Tips from the Classroom' in College Teaching 
(2004), ), and 'Socio-cultural Transfer in L2 Speech Behaviors: Evidence and 
Motivating Factors' in International Journal of Intercultural Relations 
(2003).

. Laila S. Dahan teaches in the Department of Writing Studies at the 
American University of Sharjah. She holds MAs in TESOL and Political 
Science, her undergraduate degree is in languages and linguistics from 
Georgetown University. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University 
of Exeter (UK). Her book, Keep Your Feet Hidden: A Southern Belle on the 
Shores of Tripoli, will be published in September 2009. Some of her recent 
publications include: 'Globalization, English language, and Muslim students 
in the United Arab Emirates (co-authored with A. Al-Issa),and 'English as an 
International Language in the Arabian Gulf: Student and Teacher Views on the 
Role of Culture.'' In Midraj, S., Jendli, A., & Sellami, A. (Eds.). Research 
in ELT Contexts. Dubai: TESOL Arabia Publications (2007).

Dr. Ahmad Al-Issa
American University of Sharjah
English Department
P.O.Box 26666
Sharjah, UAE
(00971) 6-5152723
Email: aissa at aus.edu