Kuwait and Linguistics - Research Paper Example

Introduction Kuwait was established by the Anaiza tribe who moved from the Persian Gulf in Saudi Arabia. The process of establishment took place in the 18th century. Anaiza tribe took advantage of being close to the large waters and carried out their trading activities. They tried to cut close relations with the Ottoman rule, therefore, they established friendly relationships with the British, and through this, they became a British protectorate in 1899. Being a strong economy in trading pearls, Kuwait collapsed at the introduction of artificial pearls in 1920.

They were harassed by the two neighboring countries which were Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The British protected them by imposing the Uquair protocol with the intention of defining the borders of the three countries. Oil was discovered in the 1930s which made the country adversely prosper among the countries in the Middle East. Revenues were divided between them and the British protectorate. Kuwait gained its independence in 1976, and full control of the oil was attained by Kuwait’s government.

Since then, Kuwait has prospered due to its oil activities, and it is the main product exported by the country currently. (Michael) Kuwait and linguistics According to (Albader), Kuwait has been profoundly influenced by many immigrants who settled in this country. There is a vast linguistic variation though it is understood and spoken by all social classes. The language that is widely spoken in this state is Gulf Arabic. They use the Hadari dialect. English comes in second. Other languages largely spoken in this state include Urdu, Persian, and Hindi.

Europeans are also settling here, and they bring their languages along. Arabic is widely used in schools and many people are bilingual. There are many newspapers and TV stations that embrace the English language. English was first used during the years when oil was discovered in Kuwait. It was the most preferred language when talking to foreigners who were interested in the oil discovered. Since it was adversely desired in the growth of the oil business, many students were sent abroad to study English.

It was also introduced in high schools, and a university was established which promoted the study of English in Kuwait. Many immigrants have settled in this region and English is still the most preferred medium of communication. Not only for business purposes, the oil business opened up Kuwait and many people moved to settle in other countries. They needed to learn English so that they could survive when they lived in these countries where Arabic was not understood. Arabic and English have some common characteristics like sounds.

Many English words were adopted in languages spoken in Kuwait. Words in Arabic were replaced by English words and they also enriched the Arabic vocabulary. This is mainly because the British spent a long time in Kuwait. Formal, informal, and technical fields borrowed words from the English language. The following are some examples of words, which have been borrowed: Bensil- pencil, Masij- message, Bye-bye, and Kansil-cancel. It is impossible to say how many words have been adopted by the people of Kuwait to improve their vocabulary because the list is long.

Kuwait and Oil Production Kuwait has established a number of relationships with other countries in the world. They include Europe, France, America, and Britain. With gallons of oil, (8% of the world’s oil), and natural gas which it supplies to these countries Kuwait sustains its population comfortably. Many people from around the globe have come to be employed in Kuwait since oil has adversely helped its economic growth. Its oil and petroleum export around the world makes up about 98% of its GDP.

It has attracted a number of investments both locally and internationally. Many social welfare organizations, public works, and development projects have been sponsored by the government of Kuwait. In industrial matters, Kuwait and the US have teamed up to introduce a trade framework for economic reforms. This is because Kuwait needs to do some reforms so as to attract a number of potential investors. These agreements have been signed by many countries including Singapore, and Europe. Kuwait has bureaucratic obstacles and barriers that do not impress many foreign investors.

(El-Katiri, Fattouh, & Segal) Kuwait and Great Britain Even after independence, Britain continued to protect Kuwait from its enemies like Iraq. Many leaders in Kuwait have ever since tried to establish a neutral relationship with the British. They are determined to have friendly relationships with the Soviet Union and the United States. Currently, Kuwait receives a lot of support from the US, unlike any other foreign country. (Mongabay:Kuwait-Kuwait: foreign relations) Labor in Kuwait More than 1.

67 people work in Kuwait, and a hefty percentage are not Kuwait citizens. Many of them come from developing countries to seek employment. (Toscano) Conclusion Kuwait was once a protectorate of the British, who influenced their languages in a great way by improving their vocabulary. After independence, the country cut close relations with its former colonizer and has ever since looked for relations in the United States. Its oil productivity has supported its strong economy and many potential investors are attracted to invest in Kuwait.