Safeguarding the Voices of Ras Al Khaimah Through Language Documentation

Ras Al Khaimah serves as a key meeting point for encountering two Arabic dialects: Shihhi Arabic and Gulf Arabic. Shihhi Arabic is generally not understood by most Emiratis, leading some Shihhi Arabic speakers to adjust their speech or adopt Gulf Arabic as their everyday language. In time, adjusted speech patterns can lead to the assimilation of one dialect into another and the loss of diverse forms of Arabic. Comparing previous scholarly literature with new evidence from 30 interviews with Emiratis and Omanis, this study demonstrates ongoing dynamic changes in Ras Al Khaimah’s Shihhi Arabic dialects. Furthermore, analysis of UNESCO criteria shows that documentation of Shihhi Arabic is in a “fragmentary” state. Research in its current state only describes Shihhi Arabic in partial detail. Shihhi Arabic in Ras Al Khaimah is a crucial facet of the Emirati linguistic landscape and documenting it will benefit Emiratis by facilitating the preservation of cultural knowledge. This policy paper concludes with policy recommendations to help preserve Shihhi Arabic and safeguard Ras Al Khaimah’s cultural knowledge.