Language and Identity in Modern Egypt

How is language used in Egyptian public discourse to illuminate the collective identity of Egyptians? How does this identity relate to language form and content? Reem Bassiouney explores these questions using a broad selection of data, including newspaper articles, caricatures, blogs, patriotic songs, films, school textbooks, TV talk-shows, poetry and novels. As well as furthering our understanding of the relationship between identity and language, it also yields insights about the intricate ways in which media and public discourse help shape and outline identity through linguistic processes.