Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Expanded contents list
- List of maps, figures, and tables
- List of abbreviations
- Transcription, glosses, and transliterations
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction: language and identity in modern Egypt
- 1 Identity and beyond: setting the framework of analysis
- 2 A historical overview of the development of national identity in modern Egypt with reference to language: the formative period
- 3 “Arabic” indexes amidst a nation and a nation-state: ideologies, attitudes, and linguistic realities
- 4 Social attributes of Egyptian identity
- 5 Identity and narration in Egypt
- 6 The politics of identity and linguistic unrest: the case of the Egyptian Revolution
- 7 Conclusions
- Appendix: chronological list of songs examined
- Bibliography
- Index
4 - Social attributes of Egyptian identity
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 September 2014
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Expanded contents list
- List of maps, figures, and tables
- List of abbreviations
- Transcription, glosses, and transliterations
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction: language and identity in modern Egypt
- 1 Identity and beyond: setting the framework of analysis
- 2 A historical overview of the development of national identity in modern Egypt with reference to language: the formative period
- 3 “Arabic” indexes amidst a nation and a nation-state: ideologies, attitudes, and linguistic realities
- 4 Social attributes of Egyptian identity
- 5 Identity and narration in Egypt
- 6 The politics of identity and linguistic unrest: the case of the Egyptian Revolution
- 7 Conclusions
- Appendix: chronological list of songs examined
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
“My wife is American. I can apply for US citizenship but I didn't, not even the lottery. Many people want to leave, though. We have to restore dignity to all Egyptians. We have to end corruption. No more theft. Egyptians are good people. We are a beautiful people. Please, everyone, this is not a time to settle scores, this is a time to build our country.”
(Wael Ghonim in an interview on O-TV, February 7, 2011)This quote is from Wael Ghonim, the Egyptian Google executive and blogger, whose page “Kullunā Khālid Sa'īd” (“We are all Khalid Said”) helped trigger the protests that led to the toppling of President Mubarak. It is taken from a television interview broadcast on the eve of his release from prison, where he had been held on accusations of fomenting revolt. The statements by Ghonim undoubtedly struck a chord with the masses of protesters in Egypt and gave renewed momentum to the protest movement; this is evidenced by the wide publicity given to his appearance on the Egyptian channel Drīm. In this chapter, I will clarify why Ghonim's statements appealed to Egyptians. In particular, I will focus on the messages of authenticity, perseverance, and patriotism that Ghonim was able to convey and examine the indexes and stances used in Egyptian public discourse.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Language and Identity in Modern Egypt , pp. 149 - 238Publisher: Edinburgh University PressPrint publication year: 2014