Retrospective Method of Vernacularism and The Deconstruction of Arabic Diglossia

Abstract

The phenomenon of diglossia in Arabic, characterized by the coexistence of a high literary form (Modern Standard Arabic, or al-Fuṣḥā) and diverse spoken vernaculars, has long been a subject of scholarly inquiry. While early studies, such as those by Charles A. Ferguson and Salih J. Altoma, framed diglossia as a natural linguistic evolution, recent scholarship, notably Nasser Hajjaj’s Arab Vernacularism (2024), challenges this narrative by tracing the origins of diglossia to deliberate interventions by Arabic grammarians over 13 centuries ago. Hajjaj argues that the creation of al-Fuṣḥā as an artificial, standardized dialect was not a natural development but a constructed linguistic ideal that diverged from the spoken vernaculars of the time. This paper builds on Hajjaj’s retrospective analysis, employing vernacularism as a lens to uncover the sociopolitical and cultural circumstances that led to the emergence of diglossia in Arabic. By examining historical evidence and the role of early grammarians in dramatizing and codifying al-Fuṣḥā, this study reveals how the institutionalization of a "most eloquent" written form created a linguistic duality that persists to this day. Through this approach, the paper not only recontextualizes the origins of Arabic diglossia but also highlights the enduring impact of vernacularism in understanding the complex relationship between written and spoken Arabic. This research contributes to broader discussions on language standardization, identity, and power dynamics in the Arabic-speaking world.