Walls have ears : a critical discourse analysis of graffiti In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

this paper is a study on Saudi graffiti in Jeddah with a special reference to communicative functions served by pictorial graffiti and their relation to the socio-cultural values of the society.

It also investigates the distinctive lexical and syntactic features that characterize the language of graffitiwritings.

The analysis of graffiti is based on Critical Discourse Analysis theory (CDA) as outlined by Van Dijk and Fairclough, extending the concept of discourse from the traditional and natural “language in use'” to a social one in practice.

Through the analysis of 229 utterances and murals found in representative and legally allowed places in Jeddah including two universities: University of Jeddah, King Abdul- Aziz University and famous areas in the north and the south of the city, the results yield five categories that underline graffiti types in Jeddah.

They are: Personal expressions, national expressions; social expressions; cultural (ideology) linguistic expressions; and finally Dysphemism (taboo) expressions within norms away from vandalism.

The linguistic features of graffiti in Jeddah are found to have unique simplicity and creativity besides variation.

It can be concluded that graffiti has idiosyncratic and prominent ways of vandalism-free and of no damaging nature of communication in the Saudi society.

The study is believed to contribute in the field of discourse linguists, sociologists, psychologists, educators, administrators and parents.

Since no prior study to this one has been conducted on Saudi graffiti, this project bridges the gap in the literature of linguistic studies of this area in the Middle East .

Keywords: Critical Discourse Analysis, Saudi graffiti in Jeddah, lexical and syntactic features, street art, socio-cultural values, sociolinguistics