The influence of the Arabic language on medieval English since Andalusia

Abstract

The present thesis is an attempt to examine the influence of Arabic on medieval English, the effects and changes that occurred within English. It focuses on different objectives: (1) depicting the influence of Arabic on Medieval English since Andalusia, (2) investigating the Crusades movement, Medieval Era, Golden Age in Andalusia, and (3) studying the English language improvement from an old vernacular to a modernized language following some linguistic phenomena such as bilingualism and diglossia. The analysis reveals the existence of borrowed words within English. To achieve this purpose, some questions are asked about the setting of Andalusia during the Crusades movement, the circumstances of medieval period and the depiction of Islamic Conquest and Muslims culture in Europe. Questions are also asked about the functions of the linguistic phenomena in the adjustment and improvement of English, the borrowed words and vocabulary alteration, in addition to English speakers’ identification of the borrowed words. A descriptive analytical approach of some documents like books of history and linguistics, articles and editorials were used as means of research such as, Empires of the World: a Language History of the World written by Ostler and Tales of the Alhambra, Spain written by Irving, also Language Change written by Tuvung and English Words and their Spelling of Phonological Conflicts written by Miles. A questionnaire administered to some native speakers was done in order to know their opinion about the use of Arabic borrowed words in English.