Table 1 Excerpt 1

1

Mona:

I can’t talk sometimes!

2

Nur:

I can’t talk in English

3

like, I was talking to my professor

4

and I was trying to explain something to him

5

and then like

6

I was like, “So jaʕni”

7

and he’s like, “Huh?”

8

and then I was like, “Oh- um- I mean”

9

and so he’s like, “What was that?”

10

and I’m like, “Yeah, I do that a lot”

11

I’m like, “Sorry if I like say something

12

and you don’t understand,

13

it’s like I slip into Arabic sometimes”

14

and he’s like, “Really!”

15

I’m like, “E- no- yeah.”

16

(Mona laughs)

17

Or I’ll just be like talking

18

and you know when you’re like

19

trying to explain something so much

20

that you’re not even thinking about what you’re saying?

21

Mona:

Uh-huh

22

Nur:

And then I guess I like flipped to ʕaɾabi and I didn’t know

23

It was like- just weird cuz he’s totally American, and-

24

Nerine:

Who were you talking to?

25

Nur:

I said [jaʕni] to a professor and he’s like, “Huh?”

26

and then I was-

27

Nerine:

I say [alħamdulilæ] to everybody.

28

Nur:

Oh! (slaps the table with the flat of her hand)

29

I said [ɪnʃɑ ɑɭɑ]!

30

My TA, she’s like, “You’ll do good.”

31

I’m like, “[ɪnʃɑ ɑɭɑ]!”

32

And she’s like, “What?”

33

And I’m like, “Uh-oh.”

34

(The entire group is laughing now)

35

She’s like, (high pitched) “What is that?”

36

And I’m like, “That means hopefully.”

37

She’s like, (high pitched) “What language?”

38

And I’m like, “Oh, God, here we go.

39

I have to like give a whole history class.”

40

Mona:

Chinese!

41

Nerine:

In- in [ɪɾɑki]! Like Lebanese.

42

Nur:

No, I’m like, “Arabic.”

43

She’s like, “Oh, are you from Saudi Arabia?”

44

I’m like, “No, from [ɪɾɑk].”