A linguistic perspective of the effect of English on MSA: Manifestations and ramifications

Most studies on cross-linguistic influence have so far focused on the effect of the first language on the second or foreign language for pedagogical purposes. However, cross-linguistic influence is bidirectional, also allowing for ‘reverse’ transfer. This article sheds light on the influence of English on modern standard Arabic (MSA). It discusses the most common linguistic manifestations of this reverse interlingual transfer together with some of the possible consequences. Data were collected from books, articles, manuals, reports and recommendations. Adopting a descriptive linguistic approach, the paper lists some of the manifestations of this reverse transfer such as transliteration, substitution, re-ordering, overproduction, omission, poor translation, calquing, borrowing, and code mixing. It also enumerates some of the detrimental effects of reverse cross-linguistic transfer from EFL to MSA: linguistic invasion, ‘foreignness’, alienation of the audience and the speaker/writer, incomprehensibility, misunderstanding, and exposing readers to poor and incorrect MSA. The paper concludes with a recommendation for further studies to give more insight into the negative effects of this reverse transfer, to investigate the other factors leading to the deterioration of the standard of MSA, and to propose some solutions. Further studies are needed to investigate this and other factors and propose practical solutions to the problem.