Abstract
This paper describes the Yemenite community with the
purpose of identifying social, psychological, historical, religious
and linguistic processes that may affect the maintenance of their
mother - tongue (Arabic) when it is under the influence of the
majority language (English). Fishman’s research, over three
decades, has laid the theoretical background for this investigation.
50 members from the Yemenite community were interviewed in
the summer of 1994, and data were collected on language
proficiency, patterns of use in different contexts, and attitudes to
their languages. Results are presented and factors that enhance
language loyalty whether social or linguistic are identified.