Attitudes Toward Using Standard Arabic Among Academic Staff at Saudi Arabian Universities

This study explores the attitudes of academic staff toward using Standard Arabic at universities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to determine the extent to which these academic staff members use Standard Arabic in their academic and social gatherings, and whether there are differences in usage between male and female staff members. A questionnaire was modified and distributed to the three leading universities in Riyadh to assess the staff members’ attitudes toward Standard and colloquial Arabic, and responses were received from 42 participants of various ages, both genders, and varied educational backgrounds. The study findings reveal that participants have a strong attachment to Standard Arabic, which they perceive as more prestigious than colloquial Arabic. Although respondents were aware that Standard Arabic was restricted to formal settings, they still considered it superior to colloquial Arabic.