Editor’s Note

This issue of Al-ʿArabiyya brings a wealth of discussion of Arabic linguistics—applied linguistics, sociolinguistics, and theoretical linguistics—as well as a substantial book review section. Three of the eight articles (those by Hezi Brosh, Omar Dhahir, and Emma Trentman) deal with the important issue of Arabic heritage learners. This cluster of studies exhibits the research interest in this key group of learners from a number of different perspectives and settings: study abroad in the Arab world, learning Arabic in Israel, and learning Arabic in Europe. These articles are noteworthy for the ways in which they interrelate and the ways in which they show differences in attitudes and approaches to learning Arabic as a heritage language in various contexts. Two articles (by R. Kirk Belnap et al. and by Emma Trentman) focus on essential issues in study abroad experiences in the Arab world. This topic, too, has received little attention from researchers and yet is one of the most important and demanding components of learning Arabic language and culture.

Two articles deal with analysis of the syntax of vernacular Arabic (Egyptian and Levantine). David Wilmsen examines the little-studied use of modals with perfective verbs in Levantine Arabic, and Mustafa Mughazy focuses on key issues of tense and aspect in both Egyptian and Modern Standard Arabic.

In a breakthrough article that deals with Arabic Twitter accounts and the political uses of parody, Amy Johnson establishes a linguistic model for examining and evaluating sociopolitical commentary in a social media matrix. Summer Loomis and Cory Jorgensen explore the validity and usefulness of incorporating translated excerpts from Arabic literature in Arabic language classes in order to judge their impact on learner attitudes and motivations in learning Arabic. Altogether, these articles present a vivid picture of research in Arabic linguistics today: its scope, its depth, and its applications in theory, education, and cultural studies.

The book reviews include Nancy Coffin’s evaluation of Al-Kitaab’s third edition of its part 2; Caterina Pinto’s fascinating review of Ada Barbaro’s new book on Arabic science fiction; Karin Ryding’s review of Shou fi ma fi?, a new textbook for Levantine Arabic; Gregory Bell’s review of Jamal Ali’s Using Arabic Numbers; and David Wilmsen’s more extensive review essay of Barbara Romaine’s translations of three of Radwa Ashour’s novels.

I hope you find this issue of Al-ʿArabiyya rewarding and useful to your own research, teaching, and writing.