Editing Demographics of Qatar (section)

==Languages==
===Arabic===
{{Main|Qatari Arabic}}
[[Arabic language|Arabic]] is the official language of Qatar according to Article 1 of the [[Constitution of Qatar|Constitution]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Qatar_2003.pdf?lang=en|title=Qatar's Constitution of 2003|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=14 February 2019}}</ref> Arabic in Qatar not only serves as a symbol of national identity but is also the medium of official communication, legislation, and education. The government has instituted policies to reinforce the use of Arabic, including the Arabic Language Protection Law enacted in 2019, which mandates the use of Arabic in governmental and public functions and penalizes non-compliance. Arabic speakers constitute a minority of the 2.8 million population, at around 11%.<ref name="ahmad1">{{cite journal|first1=Ahmad|last1=Rizwan|last2=Hillman|first2=Sara|url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/multi-2020-0119/html|title=Laboring to communicate: Use of migrant languages in COVID-19 awareness campaign in Qatar|journal=Multilingua|volume=40|issue=5|publisher=De Gruyter Mouton|pages=303–337|doi=10.1515/multi-2020-0119|date=30 November 2020|accessdate=11 May 2024|hdl=10576/25979|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

[[Qatari Arabic]], a dialect of [[Gulf Arabic]], is the primary dialect spoken. As the [[Prestige (sociolinguistics)|prestige dialect]] within the nation, Qatari Arabic not only functions in everyday communication but also plays a significant role in maintaining cultural identity and social cohesion among the Qatari people. The vocabulary of Qatari Arabic incorporates a plethora of loanwords from [[Aramaic]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]], and more recently, [[English language|English]]. Phonetically, it conserves many [[classical Arabic]] features such as emphatic consonants and interdental sounds, which distinguish it from other Arabic dialects that have simplified these elements. Syntactically, Qatari Arabic exhibits structures that align with other Gulf dialects but with unique adaptations, such as specific verb forms and negation patterns.<ref name="shockley">{{cite thesis|last1=Shockley|first1=Mark Daniel|url=https://commons.und.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4391&context=theses|title=The vowels of Urban Qatari Arabic |publisher=University of North Dakota|type=thesis|date=1 December 2020|accessdate=11 May 2024}}</ref>

In Qatari Arabic, like many Arabic dialects, there is a significant phonological distinction between long and short [[vowel]]s. This distinction is crucial for both pronunciation and meaning. Long vowels in Qatari Arabic are generally held for approximately twice the duration of their short counterparts. This length distinction can affect the meaning of words, making [[vowel length]] phonemically significant. Qatari Arabic typically includes five long vowels: {{IPA|/aː/}}, {{IPA|/eː/}}, {{IPA|/iː/}}, {{IPA|/oː/}}, and {{IPA|/uː/}}. These long vowels are integral to maintaining the clarity and meaning of words. Short vowels in Qatari Arabic are {{IPA|/a/}}, {{IPA|/u/}}, and {{IPA|/i/}}. These vowels are shorter in duration and can be less emphasized in casual speech. In some dialectical variations, short vowels may even be dropped entirely in certain environments, a process known as [[vowel reduction]]. This feature is common in rapid, informal speech and can lead to significant variations in pronunciation from the standard forms of the language. The distinction between long and short vowels in Qatari Arabic not only affects pronunciation but also plays a role in the grammatical structure of words, influencing verb conjugations, noun cases, and the definiteness of nouns through the use of the definite [[Article (grammar)|article]] /al-/.<ref name="shockley"/>

As English is considered the prestige [[lingua franca]] in Qatar, bilingual locals have incorporated elements of English into Qatari Arabic when communicating on an informal level. This mixture of English terms and phrases in Qatari Arabic speech is colloquially known as ''Qatarese''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arabic-perfect.com/arabic-translations/qatari-arabic/|title=Qatari Arabic|publisher=Arabic Perfect|accessdate=11 May 2024}}</ref> The practice of interchanging English and Arabic words is known as [[code-switching]] and is mostly seen in urban areas and among the younger generation.<ref name="shockley"/>

As a result of mass migration, a South Asian [[pidgin]] form of Qatari Arabic has emerged in modern times.<ref name="shockley"/>

===English===
[[English language|English]] is the de facto second language of Qatar, and is very commonly used in business. Because of Qatar's varied ethnic landscape, English has been recognized as the most convenient medium for people of different backgrounds to communicate with each other.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HKnhDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA12|title=The Report: Qatar 2015|publisher=Oxford Business Group|year=2015|page=12|isbn=9781910068274}}</ref> The history of English use in the country dates back to the mid-19th and early 20th centuries when the [[British Empire]] would frequently draft treaties and agreements with the emirates of the [[Persian Gulf]]. One such treaty was the 1916 protectorate treaty signed between [[Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani]] and the British representative [[Percy Cox]], under which Qatar would be placed under British administration in exchange for protection. Another agreement drafted in English came in 1932 and was signed between the Qatarian government and the [[Anglo-Persian Oil Company]]. These agreements were mainly facilitated by foreign interpreters due to neither party possessing the required language skills for such complex arrangements. For instance, a translator and native Arabic speaker named A. A. Hilmy interpreted the 1932 agreement for Qatar.<ref>{{cite thesis|url=http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/1505/1/1505.pdf|author=Qotbah, Mohammed Abdullah|title=Needs analysis and the design of courses in English for academic purposes : a study of the use of English language at the University of Qatar|year=1990|publisher=Durham theses, Durham University|website=etheses.dur.ac.uk|page=8|access-date=14 February 2019}}</ref>

===French===
Despite Qatar's population comprising only 1% French speakers, the country was admitted to the [[Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie]] as an associate member in 2012. It was not required to join as an observer state prior to its full admittance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ajc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=7oJILSPwFfJSG&b=8479733&ct=12488349|title=AJC Stunned by Qatar's Admission to Francophonie Organization|publisher=Global Jewish Advocacy|date=14 October 2012|access-date=13 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304193813/http://www.ajc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=7oJILSPwFfJSG&b=8479733&ct=12488349|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Other languages===
Qatar's linguistic diversity is significantly shaped by its large expatriate population from [[South Asia ]] and [[the Philippines]]. The most common Asian languages among migrants are [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[Urdu language|Urdu]], [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]]. Hindi and Malayalam are particularly prevalent, with large communities of speakers from [[India]]. For example, Malayalam is spoken by a significant portion of the Indian community originating from the southern state of [[Kerala]], who make up the majority of the country's Indian diaspora. Similarly, the widespread presence of languages such as Bengali, Tamil, and Urdu is attributed to a large portion of expatriates from [[Bangladesh]], [[Pakistan]], and other parts of India.<ref name="ahmad1"/>

In 2015, there were more newspapers printed by the government in Malayalam than in Arabic or English.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HKnhDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA12|title=The Report: Qatar 2015|publisher=Oxford Business Group|year=2015|page=15|isbn=9781910068274}}</ref>

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Qatar]], the importance of these languages was particularly recognized in public health communications. The Qatari government utilized Asian languages extensively in its awareness campaigns to ensure that critical health information reached all population segments, including those who might not speak Arabic or English proficiently. This multilingual approach involved disseminating information through various channels such as radio, printed pamphlets, and digital media.<ref name="ahmad1"/>