Degemination in Emirati Pidgin Arabic: A Sociolinguistic Perspective

This study examines the production of geminates in Emirati Pidgin Arabic (EPA) spoken by blue-collar workers United Arab Emirates. A simple naming test was designed to determine whether EPA speakers would produce a geminated or degeminated phoneme. Following that, semi-structured interview conducted with subset cohort obtain participants’ own explanation where they consonants. Our findings suggest that exercising this choice functions as sociolinguistic strategy, akin one observed Labov his Martha’s Vineyard. In particular, our show are inclined degeminate consonantal establish themselves members particular social group. The reasons for wanting achieve aim were given follows: claim privileges only available group (such employment); and distinguish from dominant cultural concludes degemination has developed into solidarity marker.