Arabic Language, Literature & Culture

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W is for Wasta: A Grounded Theory for the Relationship Between Language and Culture

Received: May 21, 2018    Accepted: Jun. 01, 2018    Published: Jun. 13, 2018
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Abstract

In the field of sociolinguistics, the relationship between language and culture has been discussed briefly in larger hypotheses (i.e. Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis); however, the relationship (whether language influences culture, culture influences language, or no connection) has never been properly suggested through linguistic research and evidence. This research aimed to develop various grounded theories regarding the relationship between language and culture by analyzing semantic shifts for the Arabic word “wasta” (واسطة) used by Emirates today within the United Arab Emirates. The method utilized an online survey completed in Arabic by fourteen Emirati, native Arabic speakers. Of the fourteen responses, eight showed signs of a semantic shift that was not influenced by culture. As a result, the final grounded theory stated that “language is constantly evolving, but language and culture are not connected and do not influence each other”. This study and its grounded theories are significant to the fields of sociolinguistics and semasiology as it provides a deeper insight into both how languages change over time and what factors do (or in this case, do not) influence them to change. Moving forward, further research should investigate the relationship between language and culture and replicate this study with larger samples and with words that have various meanings in other languages in order to compile more evidence to either support or oppose the final grounded theory.

DOI 10.11648/j.allc.20180301.11
Published in Arabic Language, Literature & Culture ( Volume 3, Issue 1, March 2018 )
Page(s) 1-8
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Arabic Linguistics, Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, Semasiology, Sociolinguistics, Wasta, Culture

References
[1] Tomkinson, Michael. The United Arab Emirates: An Insight and a Guide. 1975.
[2] Bassiouney, Reem. Arabic Sociolinguistics. Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 2009. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.3366/j.ctt1r29z0. Accessed 22 October 2017
[3] Wardhaugh, Ronald. “Words and Culture.” An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, 5th ed, Blackwell Publishing, 2006, pp. 221–241, www.home.lu.lv/~pva/Sociolingvistika/1006648_82038_wardhaugh_r_an_introduction_to_sociolinguistics.pdf. Accessed 24 September 2017
[4] Ali Khadim, Lubna. “The Semantic Change in English and Arabic: A Contrastive Study.” Journal of Al-Qadisiya University, vol. 15, no. 1, Jan. 2012, pp. 7–23, www.researchgate.net/publication/315375477_THE_SEMANTIC_CHANGE_IN_ENGLISH_AND_ARABIC_A_CONTRASTIVE_STUDY. Accessed 7 October 2017
[5] Bloomfield, Leonard. “Semantic Change.” Language, H. Holt, 1933, pp. 425–443, www.mohamedrabeea.com/books/book1_1532.pdf. Accessed 7 October 2017.
[6] AlBader, Yousuf B. “Semantic Innovation and Change in Kuwaiti Arabic: A Study of the Polysemy of Verbs.” University of Sheffield, 2015. White Rose ETheses Online, www.etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/9696/. Accessed 7 October 2017.
[7] Li, Paul J. "Semantic Shift and Variation in Formosan Languages*." Language and Linguistics, vol. 15, no. 4, 2014, pp. 465-477, ProQuest Central K-12, www.search.proquest.com/docview/1552152137?accountid=3453. Accessed 7 October 2017.
[8] Stetkevych, Jaroslav. The Modern Arabic Literary Language: Lexical and Stylistic Developments. Google eBook, Georgetown University Press, 2006, www.books.google.ae/books?id=kzOCOG4D_jkC&sitesec=buy&source=gbs_vpt_read. Accessed 7 October 2017.
[9] Beeston, A. F. “Review of Stetkevych, J. The Modern Arabic Literary Language: Lexical and Stylistic Developments” Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, vol. 35, no. 1, 1972, pp. 138-141. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/612790. Accessed 22 October 2017.
[10] Jamil, Mohtanick. “Derived Nouns.” Learn Arabic Online, Shariah Program, 2017, www.learnarabiconline.com/derived-nouns.shtml. Accessed 7 October 2017.
[11] Berger, Ron, et al. “Analyzing Business-to-Business Relationships in an Arab Context.”Journal of World Business, vol. 50, 18 Aug. 2014. Elsevier, doi:dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2014.08.004. Accessed 22 October 2017.
[12] Jones, Douglas A. "Vitamin or Poison?: Wasta and Politics in Jordan." Rutgers University, 2016. RUcore: Rutgers University Community Repository, www.rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu/rutgers-lib/51593/PDF/1/play/. Accessed 10 December 2017.
[13] Berger, Ron, et al. “Guanxi: the Evolutionary Process of Management in China.” International Journal Strategic Change Management, vol. 5, no. 1, 2013, pp. 30–40. ResearchGate, www.researchgate.net/profile/Ron_Berger/publication/235953917_Guanxi_The_Evolutionary_process_of_Management_in_China/links/0046353480f59926ec000000/Guanxi-The-Evolutionary-process-of-Management-in-China.pdf. Accessed 22 October 2017
[14] Sonntag, Ekkardt Alexander. “Jesus, the Good Wasta? Reading the Epistle to the Hebrews in Light of a Middle-Eastern Social Phenomenon.” VU University Amsterdam, 2015. Academia.edu, www.academia.edu/20352039/Jesus_the_Good_Wasta_Reading_the_Epistle_to_the_Hebrews_in_Light_of_a_Middle-Eastern_Social_Phenomenon_doctoral_dissertation_. Accessed 10 Feb 2018
[15] Mohamed, Ahmed Amin, and Hadia Hamdy. “The Stigma of Wasta: The Effect of Wasta on Perceived Competence and Morality.” German University Cairo, Jan. 2008, pp. 1–7, www.mgt.guc.edu.eg/wpapers/005mohamed_hamdy2008.pdf. Accessed 7 October 2017.
[16] Whiteoak, John W., et al. “Impact of Gender and Generational Differences in Work Values and Attitudes in an Arab Culture.” Thunderbird International Business Review, vol. 48, no. 1, 2005, pp. 77–91, doi:10.1002/tie.20086. Accessed 7 October 2017.
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  • APA Style

    Frank Zackary Jenio. (2018). W is for Wasta: A Grounded Theory for the Relationship Between Language and Culture. Arabic Language, Literature & Culture, 3(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.allc.20180301.11

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    ACS Style

    Frank Zackary Jenio. W is for Wasta: A Grounded Theory for the Relationship Between Language and Culture. Arab. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2018, 3(1), 1-8. doi: 10.11648/j.allc.20180301.11

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    AMA Style

    Frank Zackary Jenio. W is for Wasta: A Grounded Theory for the Relationship Between Language and Culture. Arab Lang Lit Cult. 2018;3(1):1-8. doi: 10.11648/j.allc.20180301.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.allc.20180301.11,
      author = {Frank Zackary Jenio},
      title = {W is for Wasta: A Grounded Theory for the Relationship Between Language and Culture},
      journal = {Arabic Language, Literature & Culture},
      volume = {3},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-8},
      doi = {10.11648/j.allc.20180301.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.allc.20180301.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.allc.20180301.11},
      abstract = {In the field of sociolinguistics, the relationship between language and culture has been discussed briefly in larger hypotheses (i.e. Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis); however, the relationship (whether language influences culture, culture influences language, or no connection) has never been properly suggested through linguistic research and evidence. This research aimed to develop various grounded theories regarding the relationship between language and culture by analyzing semantic shifts for the Arabic word “wasta” (واسطة) used by Emirates today within the United Arab Emirates. The method utilized an online survey completed in Arabic by fourteen Emirati, native Arabic speakers. Of the fourteen responses, eight showed signs of a semantic shift that was not influenced by culture. As a result, the final grounded theory stated that “language is constantly evolving, but language and culture are not connected and do not influence each other”. This study and its grounded theories are significant to the fields of sociolinguistics and semasiology as it provides a deeper insight into both how languages change over time and what factors do (or in this case, do not) influence them to change. Moving forward, further research should investigate the relationship between language and culture and replicate this study with larger samples and with words that have various meanings in other languages in order to compile more evidence to either support or oppose the final grounded theory.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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    T1  - W is for Wasta: A Grounded Theory for the Relationship Between Language and Culture
    AU  - Frank Zackary Jenio
    Y1  - 2018/06/13
    PY  - 2018
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.allc.20180301.11
    T2  - Arabic Language, Literature & Culture
    JF  - Arabic Language, Literature & Culture
    JO  - Arabic Language, Literature & Culture
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.allc.20180301.11
    AB  - In the field of sociolinguistics, the relationship between language and culture has been discussed briefly in larger hypotheses (i.e. Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis); however, the relationship (whether language influences culture, culture influences language, or no connection) has never been properly suggested through linguistic research and evidence. This research aimed to develop various grounded theories regarding the relationship between language and culture by analyzing semantic shifts for the Arabic word “wasta” (واسطة) used by Emirates today within the United Arab Emirates. The method utilized an online survey completed in Arabic by fourteen Emirati, native Arabic speakers. Of the fourteen responses, eight showed signs of a semantic shift that was not influenced by culture. As a result, the final grounded theory stated that “language is constantly evolving, but language and culture are not connected and do not influence each other”. This study and its grounded theories are significant to the fields of sociolinguistics and semasiology as it provides a deeper insight into both how languages change over time and what factors do (or in this case, do not) influence them to change. Moving forward, further research should investigate the relationship between language and culture and replicate this study with larger samples and with words that have various meanings in other languages in order to compile more evidence to either support or oppose the final grounded theory.
    VL  - 3
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Author Information
  • Department of Capstone: Research, American School of Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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