Innovation in Language Learning

The Syrian war has produced an unprecedented number of representations on Syrian refugees. The doorless tents in refugee camps put Syrian youth at the mercy of Western gaze. These representations were maintained by certain patterns of language used in Western media. This research explores whether language used to represent Syrians is a characteristic of Orientalism and how this language is affecting Syrian youth in Syrian and Western societies. The methodological approach used is qualitative and consists of two methods: textual-oriented discourse analysis and semi-structured interviews. I am using the term textually-oriented because language was the dominant tool Orientalists used to map the geography and topography of the Orient. In fact, as Edward Said [3] maintained, the studied Orient was mostly a “textual universe” and that the “impact of the Orient was made through books and manuscripts” (p.52). Said’s description of the Orient as “a scholar’s word” could be the most efficient way to articulate the power of Orientalist language and texts. This method investigates how language plays a significant role in remapping Syrian societies The second method incorporates semi-structured interviews with Syrian youth (ages 18-30) which are used for the flexibility they offer [2] and for the open-ended nature of questions which help participants share deep responses [1]. Findings indicate the use of metaphors to describe movements of Syrians. Such metaphors are often related to natural disasters. Language used by media websites also resembles Omniscient-like Orientalist language. Emergent findings from semi-structured interviews indicate that Syrian youth are experiencing fear of being deprived of job opportunities abroad and fear of being reduced to certain labels. Participants showed awareness of Western-centric reductionist language. Expected contributions include helping bridge the literature gap that neglected voices of Syrians who remained in Syria. It also acts as an invitation to reflect on potentially unconscious ways of internalising Orientalist language.