What language do Arab immigrants dream in?

I love the dreams that seep into my sleep, with their dimmed colors like cinematic films. In that dense world, like flashes from a Kodak camera, I feel more real in my essence than in reality.

However, since I came to Italy, and after my tongue began to stumble through the Italian language with its stretched musical tones, like mozzarella cheese, my Arabic language began to gradually disappear from my dreams. At that moment, I wondered: In what language do the sons and daughters of migrants dream in?

Ever since I came to Italy, and after my tongue began to stumble through the Italian language with its stretched musical tones, my Arabic language began to gradually disappear from my dreams. At that moment, I wondered: In what language do the sons and daughters of migrants dream in?

Cross-continental dreams

I asked Ziyad Al-Omari, 16, the son of my sister Ola who lives in the United States: "In what language do you dream in?" He replied, "My dreams are in a mix of languages; when you—meaning my family—appear in the dream, I speak to you in Arabic, and when my school friends appear, I speak to them in English."

This question and answer prompted me to conduct a survey on the topic of the Arabic language and dreams. The survey included 36 participants, aged between 8 and 25, divided into three main age categories. The first group consisted of children aged 8 to 12, with 6 participants, making up 16.67%. The second group included teenagers aged 13 to 17, with 14 participants, accounting for 38.89%. The third group, the largest, consisted of young adults aged 18 to 25, with 16 participants, making up 44.44%.

Of the participants, 72.22% were residents of Arab countries who had been educated in private schools that prioritize English language teaching. The second group, consisting of those living in countries where English is an official language, made up 27.78%.

Gender-wise, of the 36 people surveyed, 61.11% were female, with 22 participants, while 38.89% were male, with 14 participants.

It was particularly striking that those who said they exclusively dream in English live in Arab countries, with most residing in the United Arab Emirates, followed by Jordan.

The responses reflected remarkable intelligence and delicate sensitivity, as the language used in answering the questions acted as a mirror, reflecting experiences that had an impact on how the respondents viewed their identity through language.

The geography of dreams

Half of the respondents, 18 people, answered that they dream exclusively in English. What was striking was that 11 of those who said they dream only in English live in Arab countries. Most of them reside in the United Arab Emirates, followed by Jordan.

Twelve people responded that they dream in a mixed language, a blend of Arabic and English. Most of them agreed that the geography of the dream plays a role in the language used. When they dream of being in their place of residence abroad or in the diaspora, they speak English, but when they dream of visiting their homeland, they speak Arabic.

"I speak Arabic in my dreams when my mother visits me. There is geography in dreams. When I dream that I’m in an Arab country, I speak Arabic, and when I’m here—meaning in Texas—I speak in English."

One of the most striking answers came from Shams al-Hindi, 15, of Palestinian descent, living with her family in Texas: "I speak Arabic in my dreams when my mother visits me," she continues, "There is geography in dreams. When I dream that I’m in an Arab country, I speak Arabic, and when I’m here—meaning in Texas—I speak in English."

One language for anger and another for calm

When participants were asked about the language they think in, half of the respondents (50%, or 18 people) reported thinking in English. Meanwhile, 22.22% (8 people) stated that they depend on the Arabic language. The remaining 27.78% (10 people) indicated that they use both languages when thinking, reflecting a linguistic overlap in their mental processes.

One of the answers that left an unforgettable impression came from Layla Mohsen, 19, of Palestinian origin, who has lived in both the UAE and Bahrain and attended prestigious international schools. She said, "It depends on my mood; when I'm angry, I find myself thinking in Arabic, while I use English when I am calm and relaxed."

This answer was echoed by Layan Barakat, 19, a Jordanian living in the UAE, who explained, "It depends on my state; I think in Arabic when I'm angry, while I use English if I am confused or calm."

"It depends on my mood; when I'm angry, I find myself thinking in Arabic, while I use English when I’m calm."

Similarly, Daniel Samir, 17, an Egyptian living in the UAE, expressed a similar experience, saying, "The choice of language has to do with my mood; if I am angry, I find myself leaning towards thinking in Arabic."

I feel free when I think in English

When participants were asked about their preferred language for expressing their thoughts, the responses varied, reflecting diverse preferences. More than half of the participants (55.56%, or 20 people) preferred to express their thoughts in English, indicating the strong presence of the foreign language in their thinking and communication style.

Meanwhile, 27.78% (10 people) preferred Arabic as their primary language for expression, reflecting their strong connection to their mother tongue. The remaining 16.67% (6 people) stated that they use both languages together to express their thoughts, showcasing a balance between both cultures and languages in their daily lives.

When participants were asked about their preferred language for expressing their thoughts, the responses varied, reflecting diverse preferences: 27.78% preferred Arabic as their primary language for expression, reflecting their strong connection to their mother tongue, while 16.67% (6 people) stated that they use both languages together to express their thoughts, showcasing a balance between both cultures and languages in their daily lives.

Many respondents mentioned that expressing themselves in English relieved a significant amount of discomfort and gave them a sense of freedom. In this regard, Lauren Farag, 20, an Egyptian living in Cairo who has only attended international schools, shared, "I prefer to express my thoughts and feelings in English because it relieves my discomfort and any feelings of embarrassment."

She was echoed by her fellow Egyptian, Lara Abdelaaty, 20, who said, "It's easier to express heavy emotions in a foreign language because it feels more distant to me and not as heavy. It alleviates the discomfort."

A romantic and sacred language

When participants were asked about their impression of the sound and timbre of the Arabic language when they hear it, 69.44% (25 participants) described Arabic as gentle, beautiful, attractive, and pleasing to the ear, indicating that the majority have positive impressions of its sound and rhythm. In contrast, 30.56% (11 participants) believed that the sound of Arabic was heavy, difficult, or loud, reflecting some personal challenges in interacting with the language.

One of the most beautiful answers in this regard came from Tulin al-Shawa, 18, a Gazan living in Texas, who said, "When Arabic is spoken correctly, it makes me feel like I am in my homeland."

"It's easier to express heavy emotions in a foreign language because it feels more distant to me and not as heavy. It removes the discomfort."

Participants' views on the appeal of both Arabic and English reflected varying degrees of appreciation and interaction with these two languages. Seventy-five percent of participants believed that the appeal of Arabic lies in its richness and diversity, as well as its musical sound and vast geographical reach. Meanwhile, 5.56% pointed out that the Quran is the main source of Arabic's appeal, which reflects a deep spiritual and religious connection to the language.

As for English, 55.56% of participants found its appeal in its status as a global language and its ease of learning, reflecting the growing influence of English in the modern world. On the other hand, 11.11% felt that the appeal of English lay in its clarity and power of expression.

Many respondents considered Arabic to be the most expressive language for conveying feelings of love. Lauren Farag described it as a "romantic language that allows you to craft a million sentences to express your love for someone." Zina al-Hindi, a 20-year-old Palestinian living in the United States, shared this view: "I think what attracts me most about Arabic is its powerful expression of emotions and feelings."

As for Mohammed Sami, a 15-year-old resident of Texas, he believes that the Arabic language expresses human emotions more deeply in general, not just love.

Speak in English so I can see you

The responses to the question of whether speaking English gives the speaker more value compared to speaking Arabic showed a variety of opinions. A smaller group of 27.78% of the participants believed that speaking English gives the speaker more value. In contrast, 61.11% stated that they do not think so, considering Arabic to be equally important and valuable for expression, while 11.11% of the participants could not form a clear opinion on the matter.

“When Arabic is spoken correctly, it makes me feel like I am in my homeland.” —Tulin al-Shawa, an 18-year-old Gazan living in Texas

It was noteworthy that most of those who felt that speaking English adds more value to the speaker were those living in Arab countries who had been educated in international schools. This largely explains the rush of parents to enroll their children in international private schools that primarily focus on teaching the English language.

Aram Al-Awar, a young Australian of Palestinian origin, says: "The current societal structure gives the English language more value than Arabic, not just because it is easier to access, but also due to the deliberate historical transformations over the past century that helped its widespread spread, especially under capitalist systems that are tied to economic powers whose primary language is English.

“However, despite this dominance, English remains, at its core, a less complex language and is valued beyond what it deserves. Its vocabulary does not exceed one million words, while Arabic vastly surpasses it, with around 12 million words that speakers can use."

Classism in language

According to data from the Jordanian Ministry of Education, the number of private schools in Amman has surpassed 3,000, reflecting how English has become a sharp class marker, especially in countries like Jordan and Egypt, that depend on working in the Gulf, where proficiency in English is a basic requirement.

Data from the Higher Population Council (HPC) indicates that the number of Jordanians living in the Gulf reaches 924,850 people. Additionally, a study conducted by Pearson, a company specializing in English education, revealed trends in the Saudi market, with 95% of Saudis considering mastering English crucial for higher earnings, with salaries exceeding 60-100% compared to non-English speakers.

This trend deepens the class divide in Arab societies. For instance, imagine a Jordanian father with an annual income of 3,138 dinars ($ 4,425) considering enrolling his children in private schools with tuition fees starting at around $1,000 USD annually.

"Despite its dominance, English remains, at its core, a less complex language and is valued beyond what it deserves.”

Who does Sayed Mekawy sing for?

With a face as if molded from clay and sunglasses to hide his blindness, Sayed Mekawy sings “Al-Ard Bitetkalem Arabi” (“The Land Speaks Arabic”) in his deep voice overflowing with sorrow and melancholy, as though mourning the Arabic language whose features are fading from the tongues of the children of immigrants.

In an article published by Al-Manssa, titled "Why Do Birds Forget Their Songs?", based on a study from The Royal Society of Sciences, it was found that Australian honey-eater birds, which migrated from their native land under the pressure of urban expansion, lost their original, long, and complex songs.