ABSTRACT
Arabic standard language ideology and prescriptivism differs from that found in many other modern languages in being conditioned by diglossia and the significant historical distance from its codification. The Arabic standard variety, seen as essential to nationalist and religious identities, is often portrayed as being under existential threat by non-standard varieties, and the correctness of linguistic forms is evaluated on the basis of sources from the classical period, often in disregard of contemporary usage. The dominant conservative Arabic language ideology and its associated prescriptivism has considerable effects, most importantly on education.
