Social Variation in the Dialects of Karbala and Baghdad: A Comparative Study of Urban and Rural Populations

Subject Areas :

Mustafa Talib Mutashar Jabri ¹ , Bahram Hadian ² , Raad Shakir AbdulHasan AlNawas ³ , Atefeh Sadat Mirsaeedi ⁴

1 - Department of English, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
2 - Department of English, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
3 - Department of English, College of Education for Humanities, University of Thi Qar, Iraq
4 - Department of English, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

Received: 2024-07-24 Accepted : 2024-10-28 Published : 2024-06-29

Keywords: Sociolinguistics, Social variables, Dialect variation, Karbala dialect, Baghdad dialect, Urban-rural linguistic differences,

Abstract :

This paper explored how social variables such as gender, education, and age influence linguistic variation between the speech communities of Karbala and Baghdad. The study examined phonological, syntactic, and semantic variations within these communities, using a sociolinguistic lens. A total of 192 participants were selected, stratified by gender, age, education, and region, with data collected through sociolinguistic interviews. The results indicated that gender and education significantly impact the phonological features, while age influenced syntactic patterns. The study’s findings provide valuable understanding about the complex dynamics of linguistic variation in Iraq, offering new perspectives on the role of social factors in shaping local dialects. These results are consistent with previous sociolinguistic studies, yet they offer distinct contributions to our understanding of Iraqi dialectology.

The field of sociolinguistics explores how social factors such as gender, age, education, and social class influence language use. This intersection of social characteristics and linguistic behavior becomes particularly pronounced in societies with significant dialectal diversity. Iraq, with its rich geographical, social, and linguistic diversity, presents an ideal setting for investigating these dynamics. The country is home to numerous dialects that reflect the historical, social, and cultural experiences of its people. Among Iraq's cities, Baghdad and Karbala stand out as unique linguistic environments that offer valuable insights into the relationship between social factors and language variation.

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