Spoken and Written Arabic of Israeli Arabs, Mutual Influences with Modern Hebrew Language

Abstract

This study aims to study the significant Israeli Hebrew influence on the Arabic spoken and written natively by Israeli Arabs (Arab 48). It aims to shed light on the sociolinguistic situation of Arabic in Israel, by reviewing the complex situation of linguistic diglossia and Linguistic Interference in these two Semitic languages. Israeli Arabs, and Israeli Jews, who are speakers of Hebrew, have daily contact in many fields of life. These two languages are in close contact, and thereby many mutual influences are enabled between them. As a result, a great deal of mutual linguistic influence is observed in each language. This study shows that Hebrew elements are very widespread in all linguistic fields of the Arabic spoken by Israeli Arabs. Israeli Hebrew lexical items have permeated all areas of professional, educational, administrative, Economical, and social activities in everyday life discourse in all styles and registers of the spoken language and, to a lesser extent, written language.