Speaking with my grandmother about changes in the Arabic language shed light on how language reflects societal shifts. Growing up, she emphasized the importance of proper pronunciation and formal Arabic in education and public speaking. However, she noticed a shift in recent years towards a more relaxed approach, with younger generations favoring colloquial dialects in everyday conversation. This change, she believes, stems from increased exposure to Western media and globalization.

In terms of vocabulary, my grandmother highlighted the influence of technology on language usage. While she grew up learning Arabic words for technological concepts, such as “computer” or “internet,” younger generations often use English terms instead. This reflects the integration of technology into daily life and the dominance of English in the digital world.

Furthermore, my grandmother mentioned changes in spelling and grammar, particularly in written communication. With the rise of social media and texting, she observed a tendency towards shorthand and informal language. While she values the beauty of formal Arabic script, she acknowledges the convenience of digital communication.

Overall, my conversation with my grandmother underscored the dynamic nature of language and its responsiveness to societal changes. From pronunciation to vocabulary and writing style, Arabic continues to evolve, adapting to new contexts and influences. As a bilingual individual, I appreciate the richness of language diversity and the importance of preserving traditional forms while embracing contemporary expressions.

First Proposition:

• Proposition: I speak Arabic and English fluently.
• Truth value: True.
• Truth conditions: For this to be true, I need to be able to communicate effectively in both Arabic and English languages.
• Entailment: “I speak Arabic and English fluently” entails “I am bilingual”.

Second Proposition:

• Proposition: I arrived in the US in 2019.
• Truth value: True.
• Truth conditions: For this to be true, I would have to have come to the US in the year 2019.
• Entailment: “I arrived in the US in 2019” entails “I have lived in the US for at least five years”.

Third Proposition:

• Proposition: I can speak a little Spanish and French.
• Truth value: True.
• Truth conditions: For this to be true, I would need to have some basic knowledge and ability to communicate in Spanish and French.
• Entailment: “I can speak a little Spanish and French” entails “I have language skills beyond just Arabic and English”.

In examining the adaptation of words borrowed from one language to another, let’s delve into the examples of “café” from French to English and “pasta” from Italian to Japanese. When “café” made its way into English, its pronunciation shifted from /kafe/ in French to /ˈkæˌfeɪ/ in English. The elongation of the /e/ sound at the end of the word and the change of the initial vowel from /a/ to /æ/ highlight adjustments to fit English phonotactics. Similarly, “pasta” underwent modifications upon being borrowed into Japanese, transitioning from /ˈpɑːstə/ in Italian to [pasɯta] in Japanese. The addition of a short vowel sound, [ɯ], between the consonants “s” and “t” to adhere to Japanese phonotactic rules exemplifies adaptation. While the original meanings remain intact, these examples illustrate how pronunciation adapts to suit the phonemic inventory and phonotactics of the borrowing language. Likewise, when considering words in Spanish and Arabic, one might explore how terms like “café” or “pasta” undergo similar transformations to align with the linguistic structures of these languages.