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 title: "Stereotypes and Negative Indexes of the Nubians in Egypt"
 authors: ["asmaataha.md"]
-abstract: This paper investigates the stigmatized portrayal of Nubians, particularly Fadija and Kunuz speakers, in Egyptian media, emphasizing the negative stereotypes that continue to permeate these representations. Nubian speakers of the Fadija and Mattoki vernaculars are frequently depicted as unintelligible in Arabic, dark-skinned, and confined to lower-class roles. Terms such as ‘barbari’ (barbarian), ‘bijurtʕun’ (speaking gibberish), and ‘bijtkalem ʕarabi mekasar’ (speaking broken Arabic) are commonly used to refer to Nubians, reinforcing social and racial biases. These portrayals contribute to prejudice and discrimination, forcing some Nubians to adopt Arabic to avoid mockery and marginalization. Nonetheless, many Nubians remain committed to maintaining their mother tongues as a means of preserving their cultural identity, linguistic heritage, and ideological values. This study applies the theory of indexicality to analyze how both linguistic and non-linguistic elements—including language use, dress, occupation, skin color, and character traits—are employed in media to reinforce negative stereotypes. The paper underscores the significance of learning Nubian languages within the home, as this practice supports not only linguistic diversity but also the cultural and ideological underpinnings embedded in Nubian homescapes. By examining media representation patterns, the paper reveals how media producers deliberately create and perpetuate negative racial and social indexes. It also explores the perspectives of Nubian speakers on these portrayals and highlights their resistance to stereotypes through the preservation of language and culture within their households. Nubian homes, thus, are depicted not merely as physical spaces but as dynamic embodiments of history, identity, and social structure. While proficiency in Arabic, which holds prestige in domains such as education, religion, and public media, is recognized as a marker of social status, this paper argues that fostering public awareness and promoting counter-narratives are crucial for positive representations of Nubian language and culture. The paper concludes that language learning within the home is vital for the cultural continuity of Nubian communities and serves as a foundation for combating negative portrayals and strengthening a positive Nubian identity within the broader Egyptian society.
-keywords: ["Sudan", "Nubians", "Nubians", "stereotypes", "linguistics"]
+abstract: This paper examines the stigmatized portrayal of Nubians, particularly Fadija and Kunuz speakers, in Egyptian media, focusing on negative stereotypes that continue to permeate these representations. Nubian speakers of Fadija and Mattoki are frequently depicted as unintelligible in Arabic, blackfaced, and confined to lower-class roles. Terms such as *barbari* (barbarian), and *bijtkalem ʕarabi mekasar* (speaking broken Arabic) reinforce social and racial biases, fostering prejudice and discrimination. As a result, some Nubians feel compelled to adopt Arabic to avoid mockery and marginalization. Nonetheless, many Nubians remain resolute in preserving their mother tongues to maintain cultural identity, linguistic heritage, and ideological values. Applying the theory of indexicality, this study explores how both linguistic and non-linguistic elements—including language, dress, occupation, skin color, and character traits—are utilized in media to perpetuate negative stereotypes. It underscores the importance of learning Nubian languages at home to sustain linguistic diversity and preserve cultural values deeply rooted in Nubian homescapes. The study reveals how media producers deliberately create and reinforce negative racial and social indexes, shaping public perceptions of Nubians. It also investigates how Nubian speakers perceive and resist these stereotypes by preserving their language and culture within their households. Nubian homes are presented not merely as physical dwellings but as vibrant embodiments of history, identity, and social structure. While Arabic proficiency is associated with prestige and social status in domains such as education, religion, and media, the paper emphasizes the need for public awareness and counter-narratives to foster positive representations of Nubian language and culture. It concludes that language preservation within the home is crucial for cultural continuity and combating negative portrayals of Nubians in Egyptian media.
+keywords: ["Egypt", "Nubians", "linguistics", "stigmatized", "indexicality", "identity"]
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