English and Filipino Foreign Workers in Kuwait: Towards an Assessment of Language Practices
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Research on the language practices of foreign workers in the Gulf states posits that communication between workers and employers relies on an Arabic-based Pidgin, English, and workers’ languages. Such research has focused on Indian workers and varieties such as Pidgin Arabic or on workplace ethnographic investigations. Little is known about the connection between immigrant languages and English or about foreign workers’ perspectives on language use in these contexts. This paper investigates the social and language practices and language ideologies of Filipino workers in Kuwait through semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that Filipino interviewees strongly align with English for workplace and private interactions and are regular users of Filipino English, which is selectively adapted to the local context to enhance communication and bonding. The study shows that research on foreign workers must better account for language ideologies and social trajectories alongside ethnographic investigation to obtain rich insights into this complex situation.
Source: Journal of Language Contact
Authors: Mohammad A.N. Alenezi, Bettina Migge
Institutions: Kuwait University, University College Dublin
Language: English
Subfield: Linguistics and Language
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7204164463