Cross-linguistic Transfer Mechanisms in Semi-professional Settings: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Multilingual Communication Dynamics
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Abstract
This study investigates cross-linguistic transfer patterns among multilingual professionals in a corporate environment in Dubai, UAE. The research examines transfer mechanisms among Hindi-Urdu (N=6), Egyptian Arabic (N=2), and Maghrebi French-Arabic (N=2) speakers during workplace interactions. Using a mixed-methods approach combining systematic observation and structured interviews over four weeks, the study documented transfer patterns across grammatical, lexical, and pragmatic domains. Results revealed significant correlations between speech formality and compound-verb transfer among Hindi-Urdu speakers (r = .78, p < .001), whereas Arabic speakers demonstrated distinctive morphosyntactic transfer patterns (53% of instances). Maghrebi multilinguals showed predominant French influence in structural transfers (73%). The findings contribute to understanding how professional environments shape cross-linguistic transfer mechanisms and carry implications for workplace communication strategies in multilingual contexts.
Keywords: cross-linguistic transfer, workplace communication, multilingualism, Hindi-Urdu, Arabic, professional discourse, sociolinguistics
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