Persisting in Dispossession
Palestinian Dialect, Identity, and 75 Years of Exile in Lebanon
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.57947/qrp.v64i2.211Keywords:
Cultural Identity, acculturation, Lebanon, Palestinian Refugees, dialect, ethnographic studyAbstract
This research aims to illuminate the resilience and adaptability of a community that has long been confronted with obstacles and to contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamism of Palestinian refugees to preserve and promote their cultural heritage, especially dialect within the complicated tapestry of the Lebanese society. The researcher used the ethnographic method, building theoretically on Berry's acculturation theory, to investigate this issue despite 75 years of displacement. This theory identifies four strategies: assimilation, integration, separation, and marginalization. Despite the legal restrictions and social exclusion, poverty, and restricted access to education, health, and employment, Palestinians show perseverance in their language identity, as exemplified by the separation and marginalization aspects described by Berry.
References
Al-Hroub, A. (2022). Inclusive education at UNRWA in Lebanon: A case study of a lower elementary school. International Journal of Social Sciences & Educational Studies, 9(1), 31-35.
Allougha wa Allahja beyna althabat wa Altahawwol [Language and dialect between stability and transformation]. (n.d.). Heritage Magazine, University of Mostaganem Journal, (5), 114. [In Arabic].
Anera. (2017). Palestinian refugees in Lebanon: A legacy of marginalization. https://www.anera.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/LEBRefugeeReport.pdf
Anera. (n.d.). Vocational education for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Retrieved on June 5, 2025, from https://www.anera.org/stories/vocational-education-palestinian-refugees-lebanon/
Atkinson, P. (2007). Ethnography: Principles in practice. Routledge.
Backus, A., Jørgensen, J. N., & Pfaff, C. (2010). Linguistic effects of immigration: Language choice, codeswitching, and change in western European Turkish. Language and Linguistics Compass, 4(7), 481-495. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-818x.2010.00215.x
Berry, J. W. (1997). Immigration, acculturation, and adaptation. Applied Psychology, 46(1), 5-34. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-0597.1997.tb01087.x
Berry, J. W. (2005). Acculturation: Living successfully in two cultures. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 29(6), 697-712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2005.07.013
Bower, E. (2024, March 14). Funding cuts to UN aid agency threaten new crisis in Lebanon. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/mar/14/unrwa-funding-cuts-palestinian-refugees-mar-elias-beirut-lebanon-unrest
Chaaban, J., Ghattas, H., Habib, R., Hanafi, S., Sahyoun, N., Salti, N., Seyfert, K., & Naamani, N. (2010). Socio-economic survey of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. American University of Beirut (AUB) and United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Farida, M., & Ahmadi-Esfahani, F. Z. (2006). Corruption and economic development: A critical review of literature. AgEcon Search 2006 Conference (50th). https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.139727
Fukuyama, F. (2013). What is governance? Governance - An International Journal of Policy, Administration and Institutions, 26(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12035
Gatev, I. (2024, November 1). Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources – Report of the General Assembly’s second committee, draft resolution (A/78/467). Question of Palestine. https://www.un.org/unispal/document/permanent-sovereignty-01dec23/
Grindle, M. S. (2004). Good enough governance: Poverty reduction and reform in developing countries. Governance,17(4), 525-548. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0952-1895.2004.00256.x.
Hogg, M. A., Abrams, D., Otten, S., & Hinkle, S. (2004). The social identity perspective. Small Group Research, 35(3), 246-276. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496404263424
Hookway, N. (2008). ‘Entering the blogosphere’: Some strategies for using blogs in social research. Qualitative Research, 8(1), 91-113. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794107085298
Human Rights Watch. (2022, January 12). World report 2022: Rights trends in Lebanon. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2022/country-chapters/lebanon
Kedrebeogo, G. (1988). Language maintenance and Language shift in BURKINA FASO: The case of the KOROMBA. Studies in the Linguistic Sciences, 28(2). https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/4820807.pdf
Khalaf, S. (2022, October 13). Embroidery beyond borders: Shatila camp’s Tatreez workshop. The New Arab. https://www.newarab.com/features/embroidery-beyond-borders-shatila-camps-tatreez-workshop
Khaled. (2014, March 4). Between dialect and work? No hope. Al-Akhbar. https://www.al-akhbar.com/Palestine/27914
Knudsen, A. (2007). The law, the loss and the lives of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. CMI - Chr. Michelsen Institute. https://www.cmi.no/publications/2607-the-law-the-loss-and-the-lives-of-palestinian
Mansour, R. (2021). Social work with refugees in Lebanon. In R. Roßkopf, & K. Heilmann (Eds.), International Social Work and Forced Migration: Developments in African, Arab and European Countries (pp. 73-87). Barbara Budrich.
Mansour, R., & Almulla, D. (2025). The living reality of Palestinians in refugee camps in Lebanon. Migration Letters, 22(1), 60–75. https://migrationletters.com/index.php/ml/article/view/11798
Naharnet Newsdesk. (2022, November 24). Institutional vacuum complicates economic crisis in Lebanon. Naharnet. https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/293927
NPR. (2025, January 18). In Lebanon, these Palestinian refugees sew designs from a homeland they’ve never seen. https://www.npr.org/2025/01/18/nx-s1-5202440/palestinian-embroidery-tatreez-lebanon
OHCHR. (1965). International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. (2018). The population and housing census in Palestinian camps and gatherings – 2017: Key findings report (population, buildings and housing units) Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Committee, Central Administration of Statistics. https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/portals/_pcbs/PressRelease/Press_En_Leb-21-12-2017-results-en-2.pdf
Pasquini, E. (2022). Palestinians Continue to Suffer in Lebanese Refugee Camps. Washington Report. https://www.wrmea.org/jordan-lebanon-syria/palestinians-continue-to-suffer-in-lebanese-refugee-camps.html
RefugeesPS. (2023, May 15). اللاجئون الفلسطينيون في لبنان وتوزع المخيمات[Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and the distribution of camps] بوابة اللاجئين الفلسطينيين [Palestinian Refugee Portal] https://refugeesps.net/post/24893/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%A6%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AE%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA#:~:text=%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%B1%20%D8%B9%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%A9%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%A9%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%8A,%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%AC%D9%8A%D9%84%20%D8%A3%D9%83%D8%AB%D8%B1%20%D9%85%D9%86%2086%20%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A9
Reuters in Cairo. (2022, September 25). Death toll from sinking of Lebanon boat rises to 94. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/24/lebanon-migrant-boat-sinking-syria-death-toll.
Saleh, Z., (2023, January 4). تحديات ومعاناة اللاجئين الفلسطينيين في لبنان [Challenges and repercussions. The suffering of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon] Arabic Post. https://arabicpost.net/opinions/2023/01/04/%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%84/.
Sam, D. L., & Berry, J. W. (2006). The Cambridge handbook of acculturation psychology. Cambridge University Press. https://eclass.uoa.gr/modules/document/file.php/PPP101/%CE%92%CE%B9%CE%B2%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%BF%CE%B3%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%86%CE%AF%CE%B1/The%20Cambridge%20handbook%20of%20acculturation%20psychology%20%28Sam%20%26%20Berry%2C%202006%29.pdf
Sewell, A. (2022, December 23). Identity is complex for Lebanon’s Christian Palestinian camp. Word&Way. https://wordandway.org/2022/12/23/identity-is-complex-for-lebanons-christian-palestinian-camp/
Suleiman, J. (2006). Marginalised community: The case of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Development Research Centre on Migration, Globalisation and Poverty. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08c4be5274a31e0001112/JaberEdited.pdf
The Electronic Intifada. (2013, August 14). Hidden health crisis for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, says new study. https://electronicintifada.net/content/hidden-health-crisis-palestinian-refugees-lebanon-says-new-study/11755
Transparency International. (2024). Corruption Perceptions Index. https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2024/index/lbn
UN-Habitat. (2019, September). Profiling deprivation: An analysis of the rapid needs assessment in Palestinian gatherings host communities in Lebanon. United Nations Human Settlements Programme. https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/documents/2019-09/profiling_deprivation_.pdf
UNHCR. (2024). Lebanon response plan: Mid-year update on support to Lebanese (English) - 2024. UNHCR Operational Data Portal (ODP). https://data.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/110667
United Nations General Assembly. (1973, December 07). Resolution 3089 (XXVIII). https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-188710/
UNRWA. (2022). UNRWA LFO advocacy paper. https://www.unrwa.org/sites/default/files/content/resources/unrwa_lfo_advocacy_paper_eng_final
UNRWA. (2022, November 24). Palestine refugees in Lebanon fall further into the abyss. https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/palestine-refugees-lebanon-fall-further-abyss.
UNRWA. (2023). Strategic plan 2023-2028. https://www.unrwa.org/sites/default/files/content/resources/strategic_plan_2023-2028.pdf
UNWRA. (2023a, December). El-Buss Camp. https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/lebanon/el-buss-camp
UNWRA. (2023b, December). Beddawi Camp. https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/lebanon/beddawi-camp.
UNWRA. (2023c, December). Burj Barajneh Camp. https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/lebanon/burj-barajneh-camp
UNWRA. (2023d, December). Burj Shemali Camp. https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/lebanon/burj-shemali-camp
UNWRA. (2023e, December). Dbayeh Camp. https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/lebanon/dbayeh-camp
UNWRA. (2023ff, December). Ein-el-hilweh Camp. https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/lebanon/ein-el-hilweh-camp
UNWRA. (2023g, December). Mar-Elias Camp. https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/lebanon/mar-elias-camp
UNWRA. (2023h, December). Mieh-mieh Camp. https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/lebanon/mieh-mieh-camp
UNWRA. (2023i, December). Nahr-el-bared Camp. https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/lebanon/nahr-el-bared-camp
UNWRA. (2023j, December). Rashidieh Camp. https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/lebanon/Rashidieh-camp
UNWRA. (2023k, December). Shatila Camp. https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/lebanon/shatila-camp
UNWRA. (2023l, December). Wavel Camp. https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/lebanon/wavel-camp.
UNRWA. (n.d.a). Health in Lebanon. United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Accessed on June 5, 2025, from: https://www.unrwa.org/activity/health-lebanon
UNRWA. (n.d.b). Palestine refugees. Retrieved June 28, 2024, from https://www.unrwa.org/palestine-refugees
UNRWA. (n.d.c). Where we work. Retrieved June 28, 2024, from https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work
World Bank. (2021, May 1). Lebanon sinking into one of the most severe global crises episodes. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2021/05/01/lebanon-sinking-into-one-of-the-most-severe-global-crises-episodes#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20latest%20World,since%20the%20mid%2Dnineteenth%20century.
World Bank. (2021). Lebanon Economic Monitor: The Great Denial. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/lebanon/publication/lebanon-economic-monitor-the-great-denial.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Quarterly on Refugee Problems - AWR Bulletin

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.