Arabizatitm in Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

Saudi Arabia has not been colonized or dominated by a super power in its history.

But English has assumed a special status in the whole region since the beginning of the twentieth century.

This paper explores the role of English in academic settings in Saudi Arabia, and the bearings this role has assumed on translation from English as a language of a super power into Arabic.

One important aspect of this case of language in contact is seen in the role ascribed to English in the process of the "Arabization" of higher education in the country.

The paper also explores the prevailing culture and practices that have maintained English as a language of academic teaching, research and publication.

It concludes that Arabic needs to extend its social, epistemological and cultural domains to launch a substantiated translation program, in which English maintains its central position as an international language.