Literacy Reflexes of Arabic Diglossia

摘要: The paper offers a conceptual framework of diglossia Ferguson, C.A. (1959). Diglossia-Word, 14, 47–56 as sociolinguistic phenomenon and discusses some the defining features diglossic context. Then, it describes Arabic typical context with emphasis placed on two features: (a) linguistic distance between Spoken Standard (b) socio-functional complementarity codes, language that all native speaking children acquire mother tongue primarily literacy. These are argued to have direct impact acquisition basic reading processes in Arabic. then reviews recent psycholinguistic research addressing directly effect evidence reviewed demonstrates children’s phonological awareness recoding skills affected by affiliation target unit (Standard versus Spoken). As such, find structures only available significantly more difficult process than those familiar them from their spoken vernacular. Based this review, hypothesis is advanced challenges It further socio-cultural which embedded exacerbates development beginning formal instruction little knowledge about literacy print. This constitutes drawback brings frustration failure.