On the Arabic in Israel

In this article an attempt is made to shed light on the unique status of the Arabic language, both spoken and written, in Israel. Arabic is de jure the second official language in the State of Israel, but de facto it is marginal. Almost every aspect of life in Israel contributes to the Hebraisation and Israelisation of the Arabs in Israel. The Arabic language has low prestige even among many Arabs by comparison to Hebrew and English. Therefore, it is little wonder that Arabic is being invaded by Hebrew. In the State of Israel this Arabic has been called >ar>ibiyya / >arbåniyya / >irbiyya or >arvrit, meaning Arabic mixed with Hebrew. The Hebrew language has infused Arabs’ minds and hearts, not merely as a language, but also as a concept and an attitude. This state of affairs could indicate the first steps to the extinction of spoken Arabic in Israel.