The Linguistic and Cultural Situation among the Sabian Mandaeans in Baghdad: A Sociolinguistic Study

Al-Obaidi, Maalim Abdul Kareem (2017) The Linguistic and Cultural Situation among the Sabian Mandaeans in Baghdad: A Sociolinguistic Study. Masters thesis, جامعة الشرق الاوسط.

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Abstract

This study aims to investigate the linguistic and cultural situation among the Sabian Mandaean of Baghdad. The study attempts to examine the domains of the use of Mandaic and Arabic and to explore the cultural features that they have maintained in the Baghdad community. It also seek to explore the factors that led them to lose their ethnic language. To achieve the objectives of the study, the researcher gathered information by using three instruments; community profile, interview, and a sociolinguistic questionnaire. The sample of the study consisted of 70 participants and five interviewees from the Mandaean community. Results indicate that the Sabian Mandaeans of Baghdad are witnessing a shift towards the majority language "Arabic". They use Arabic almost in all domains. Mandiac language is used by Mandaean clergymen during the religious rituals. Results also show that the Sabian Mandaeans are aware of the Mandaean culture. The cultural elements which they preserved are religious rituals; costumes; food and Mandaean celebrations. The study concluded that lack of interest in the Mandaean language and lack of using their language at home and among family members along with other domains such as school, work, and media were the major factors that helped in losing their ethnic language. Keywords: Cultural Situation, Sabian, Mandaeans, Baghdad

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