Introduction: Critical Perspectives and New Trends in Arabic Sociolinguistics

This special issue of Toronto Working Papers in Linguistics (TWPL), “Critical perspectives and new trends in Arabic sociolinguistics,” features research presented at the international workshop Arabic Sociolinguistics: New Trends and Perspectives, held virtually at the University of Toronto on November 23, 2024. The workshop brought together junior and senior scholars in Arabic sociolinguistics to foster transnational and cross-generational dialogue, amplify underrepresented voices, and highlight innovative methodological and theoretical approaches, including quantitative, qualitative, and experimental research. Reflecting the theme of the special issue, the selected papers critically engage with current sociolinguistic questions, addressing variation, language ideology, identity, and the social functions of Arabic varieties in diverse contexts. Of the eight contributions presented at the workshop, four are included in this special issue, exemplifying the field’s breadth, rigor, and evolving directions.