Perceptions of Bilingual Identity among Arabic-English Speakers in North America

Abstract:

This grounded theory study results from interviews with seven bilingual Arabic-English adults living in the United States. Participants were interviewed about their experiences as bilinguals, their perceptions of bilingualism, and their interpretations of American perceptions. Data was compared against previous research about bilingualism and relevant news stories were considered. Based on participant experiences, the overarching theme was the experiential dichotomy between men and women and how shifted identities affected home-culture relationships.