If you search the word "Arabizi" on Google, links are provided which translate Arabizi to the standard Arabic language. Example Basis Technology (2011). This leaves us with the question, "Did this new phenomenon create a whole new language?". Produced in 2005, filmed in Jordan, Kuwait and Egypt. This new phenomenon has been explored by Dalia Al Khury (Ikbis,2010). Dalia Al Khury provides an eye-opening information on this issue and a variety of views. The three main characters she interviews in the documentary are Arabizi speakers Aysha Al Khaldi, Lamya Tawfeq and Wisam Dhubaibah. Among the other interviewees are academics (what do you mean academics), a producer at MBC, and Arab locals. The documentary grabs the viewers’ attention by combining contradictory points of view from experts in education, while also allowing the viewer to listen to the Arabizi speakers' and their parents'/friends' point of views.

Due to globalization, in today's world the west has become the center of power, and control. The western invasion of the east, has led Arabs to welcome the idea of combining the western and eastern culture, or completely eliminating the Arab culture and replacing it with that of the west without hesitation. The documentary acknowledges this, when Dalia Al Khury interviews Dr. Hisham Ghaseeb, Dean of "Princess Sumaya University" in Jordan. He aims to awaken the Arab nations' consciousness, in order to do so, he encourages Arabs to incorporate the Arabic culture and language back into their lives. Dr. Hisham believes that the new trend of Arabizi has become very common, because the westerns are seen as the "modern civilization makers". He affirms his position by bringing up a strong argument: that Arabizi speakers tend to "imitate" the western language and habits, rather than mastering and embracing their own language and culture. He attacks those who stray away from any attempts to preserve the Arabic language, not for the sake of holding on to their origin, but rather for the sake of gaining "ideologies at the heart of the Arabic society". In contrast he criticizes those who are completely influenced by the western culture, as the start to portray to foreigners that Arabs do not have a stable identity.

The different outlooks presented in the documentary, allow Arabizi speakers to reflect upon their own life and background. One of the three main characters Ayesha Al Khaldi, the sports editor of the "Daily Star" in Kuwait, had been interviewed among her family and friends. Arabizi speakers would most probably relate Ayesha's parents' point of view, to that of their own parents. As Ayesha's father believes that "having a foreign education is better than an Arabic one" and ultimately, that those who receive foreign education portray a stronger personality, than those who receive an Arabic educational background. Being an Arabizi speaker myself, I have experienced shifting from an Arabic education system, to an English one. This smart decision made by my parents, had influenced by life in a positive way, as it opened up more doors for me, from an in the educational aspect. Being accepted at higher level universities might have been impossible otherwise.

Dalia Al Khury objectively maintains the entire documentary in a well organized, balanced manner. The director attempts to interview people from different walks of life managingto interview around twenty three different people, ranging from elementary school students, to PHD holders. Among the three main characters Dalia Al Khury interviews Lamya Tawfeq, who teaches Journalism, communication theory and English at a university. In Lamya's conversation with the viewers, she claims that she feels unaccepted by neither the eastern nor the western society. Surprisingly, she adds that she does not mind being mixed up in two cultures, and she is satisfied that way. Hence, this way the documentary achieves the goal of informing the viewer, how Arabizi speakers truly feel about not being accepted in their own society. Dalia Al Khury also interviews different locals. Among them was a Jordanian non Arabizi speaker, at about thirty three minutes of the documentary. He says that non English speakers do not find jobs as easily as English speakers. Hence, this gives the viewer the idea that non English speakers in the Arab world also feel neglected and alienated in their own society.

As the documentary comes to an end an interesting question has been asked to the three main characters. "If Arabic was a person, what would you say to it?" Their responses clearly showed that they all felt guilty for neglecting the Arabic language. Wisam Dhubaibah, gives us a creative answer "Arabic is a beautiful women, who married the wrong person." He means that Arabic is a beautiful language but its speakers have not treated "her" with care and respect she is so deserving of.

“Arabizi” gives its viewers all there is to know about this growing phenomenon. Other than Arabizi speakers, people from different cultures who also experience the loss of their own language, would be able to relate to this documentary. I would definitely recommend all Arabizi speakers to watch this documentary, because we would be able to get its message clearly. That is, all Arabizi speakers have a choice, and the fact is we do not need to be trapped between two cultures. Instead make a conscious decision to whether we allow Arabizi to grow into becoming " whole new language", or to hold on to the Arabic language before it fades away.

References: * Ikbis. (2010, September 19). Arabizi [video file]. Retrieved from: http://www.ikbis.com/shots/256844 * basis technology (2011). chat translator. Retrieved from:
http://www.basistech.com/chat-translator/?_kk=arabizi&_kt=ad3c59fa-5d18-402f-9853-bc516e306093&gclid=CPqywPmyqq0CFYuIfAod8UKRng