Language policy and the status of Arabic in Israel

Abstract EN

-This paper’s objective is to give a brief definition of the word “language”, the role language plays in the lives of nations in general and minorities in particular, and the way a language helps shape and formulate their identities.

The paper will also define the term “language policy,” trace the language policy adopted by the successive Israeli governments towards the Arabic language, and provide a brief account of some of the political as well as the historical reasons which have reflected themselves negatively on the status of Arabic in Israel.

The paper will relate to the status of Arabic during the Ottoman period and the British mandate, to the intra-Arab dialogue concerning the status of Arabic and the type of Arabic to be used in the Arab world, and the various factors which contributed to the marginalization of this language among Arabs in Israel.

This will be accomplished by relating more closely to what is known as the “New Curriculum” of the Arabic language, years 1985-1995.

Analyzing some aspects of this curriculum will shed a clearer light on the gaps of the language policy regarding Arabic in Israel.

Finally, the paper will describe some of the attempts made to define language policy, with some general recommendations on how to promote the status of Arabic in Israel.