Arabic–English Code-Switching in Egyptian Rap Music and Social Networks

Studies about language and emotion have shown that multilingual speakers feel more comfortable with their L1, the ‘language of the heart’ (Dewaele, 2013), for expressing strong emotions such as anger (Pavlenko 2002; Dewaele 2006) and love (Dewaele 2008). However, this does not necessarily mean a preference for the L1 (Dewaele 2011). Indeed, multilingual speakers may use a LX instead of their L1 depending on many factors and for different reasons. This study, which is part of a wider research project, focuses on the wide and strong use of English by Egyptian rappers and their fans (mostly young Egyptians) in songs and on social network’s pages, sometimes even at the expense of their mother-tongue, the Arabic language. The key aims of this paper are, firstly to demonstrate that English is used as a tool for expressing feelings (mostly anger, revenge and sense of belonging to a ‘familia’) although being a foreign language in Egypt, and, secondly, to investigate the sociolinguistic reasons and factors why this specific group of Egyptians prefer using English instead of their mother-tongue. This analysis is held through the examination of the use of English in a video by Mr. Kordy, one of the most famous Egyptian rappers, in some of his song lyrics and in users’ comments on his social networks’ pages. In addition, a questionnaire to a small sample of young Egyptian fans of Egyptian rappers is carried out in order to investigate the relation between the use of English and the expression of emotions by these specific group of Egyptians.