Bilingualism and its impact on Arabic language learners at Tal Afar University

Abstract

This study aims to demonstrate and reveal the extent of the impact of the phenomenon of bilingualism on the learning of Arabic among non-native speakers, and its impact on the linguistic system of the Arabic language itself. It then seeks to reveal the programs and curricula that help achieve proper Arabic language practice without mixing languages, thus reducing the occurrence of errors when practicing the language in learning and teaching as well. The study was devoted to students accepted into the Arabic Language Department from Turkmen, Kurds, and Yazidis. The study addresses the term bilingualism and the beginnings of its emergence among Western and Arab linguists, and explains the difference between it and a number of overlapping terms, through defining the phenomenon and comparing it with other phenomena such as bilingualism, multilingualism, and linguistic interference. This is followed by mentioning the most important factors that lead to the emergence of bilingualism in an individual. After that, the study moves on to presenting images of the impact of this phenomenon on students and on learning the Arabic language, and on the Arabic linguistic system as well. This required addressing all linguistic levels (phonetics, morphology, grammar, and lexicography), in addition to the written level (spelling) among non-Arabic speaking students. This was done by conducting oral and written tests for this category of students in the Arabic Language Department at Tal Afar University, and choosing images and models according to the answers. After presenting the images, the results reached by the study are listed, as well as a number of recommendations and suggestions that could raise the level of teaching and learning the Arabic language among this category of students.