Sociocultural Causes of Ambiguity in Arab Academic Writings

Although ambiguity in written, oral, and visual communication is inevitably present across all human societies cultures, variation among these cultures occurs the sociocultural causes of its existence. This study helps formulate a conceptual framework that enables enrichment knowledge about this variation. It takes first step by highlighting Arab-specific reasons behind academic writings humanities social sciences. The investigation entails thematically analysing thoughts 905 Arabs academia. findings point to ‘doing-the-minimum’ mentality, whereby one may act hastily impatiently do just enough for one’s manuscript be published any journal, thereby rushing into publication while skimping on quality diminishing attention clarity. Another finding ambition rewards Arab institutions assign publication, boost their records reap rewards, resulting high quantity sacrificing (e.g., clarity). reason discovered conceptualisation writing as formulaic ‘fill-in-the-blanks’ task (templates completed and, thus, manuscripts constructed), instilling focus technicality instead cognitive depth An additional found passive application foreign theories frameworks without subjecting them critical reflection, reapplying surveys mimicking survey-based articles, making articles culturally shallow, suffer from cultural irrelevance, ambiguity. along with integration poetry (wherein viewed desirable showing poets sophisticated) Arabs’ daily educational lives mindsets, encouraging acceptability possible linguistic scholarly well. context lacks direct, explicit, free articulation, resort roundabout ways composing manuscripts, fall