The Ways of Expression of Cultural Norms in the Egyptian Dialect

Maciej Klimiuk

In this paper I am going to present the ways in which the Egyptian dialect renders social norms, which will be illustrated by the examples of expressions regarding human- to-human interaction. This provides an outline of the existent system of values with special emphasis laid upon the values of collectivism and individualism (perceived in the categories of cross-cultural psychology) and related phenomena. The basis for cultural norms reflected in the language will be the two different systems of values, that is to say collectivism and individualism. The clash between the two systems is especially significant in the period of growing transformation of the Arab world in the direction of modernity and globalization. The criteria for the two values have been taken from the work by David Yau-Fai Ho and Chiu Chi-Yue Component Ideas of Individualism Collectivism and Social Organization. An Application in the Study of Chinese Culture which will be quoted below. Their source are Egyptian TV series and theatrical scripts and analyses.