How the Gap Between Spoken and Written Arabic Shapes Early Literacy in Egypt

2026-03-03 - 15:04

On playgrounds and in living rooms across Egypt, children narrate their worlds in colloquial Egyptian Arabic, bargaining over snacks, playing games together, and asking endless questions. When they enter the classroom, they code-switch, reading and writing in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), the formal language of textbooks, news broadcasts, and newspapers, as opposed to studying in colloquial Egyptian. The coexistence of two language varieties, known as diglossia, creates a structural gap between spoken and written forms of the language, which in turn affects how young learners acquire foundational reading and language skills. The Arabic language is not exempt from the effects of diglossia, as the gap between MSA and spoken languages also plays a role in literacy acquisition, according to a 2024 study published in Frontiers in Education. While many students learn MSA, also known as fusha in Arabic, from a young age as they begin reading and writing, often around four years old, those who do get exposed to MSA from a young age could struggle to learn. However, depending on how the linguistic gap is addressed pedagogically, their knowledge of colloquial Egyptian can serve as a bridge. According to... This content is for members only. Visit the site and log in/register to read.