Rosa Pennisi

Rosa Pennisi is a researcher and contract faculty member specializing in Arabic language and literature at the Department of Humanities, University of Catania. She holds a PhD in Studies on Asia and Africa from Ca' Foscari University of Venice, co-tutored with Aix-Marseille University, and has conducted postdoctoral research at CNRS/IREMAM. Her academic roles include teaching Modern Standard Arabic, Arabic language, and Arabic literature courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

• PhD in Studies on Asia and Africa, Ca' Foscari University of Venice (2020)
• Master’s in Literary and Editorial Translation from Arabic, Scuola Superiore per Mediatori Linguistici di Vicenza (2022)
• Laurea Magistrale in European and Extra-European Languages and Cultures, University of Catania (2014)
• Laurea Triennale in Comparative Studies, University of Catania (2010)

Her research centers on Arabic sociolinguistics, with a focus on diglossia, stylistic and syntactic variation in Moroccan digital press, the emergence of written Dārija, and popular Arabic literature. She investigates how formal and informal Arabic coexist and evolve in contemporary media, particularly through projects like the Zakoura Dictionary and publications such as Goud and Hot Maroc. Her work bridges linguistic analysis with cultural and media studies.

The recent articles reflect a consistent research trajectory on mixed Arabic, media linguistics, and sociolinguistic variation in North Africa, with a strong emphasis on Moroccan contexts. Her publications span journals in sociolinguistics, Arabic studies, and literature, often analyzing digital discourse and language ideologies.

She has actively participated in numerous national and international conferences (AIDA, ASAI, SESAMO, AIMA) and has organized academic events, including workshops on language and social space in the Arab world and seminars on popular Arabic literature. Her involvement in the ANR-funded LiPoL project highlights her collaborative research in interdisciplinary settings.

Rosa Pennisi has supervised student theses on topics such as linguistic practices of Arabic-speaking communities in migration contexts and the representation of Palestinian prisoners in Arabophone media. She has also served as a tutor in Arabic language instruction at both Ca' Foscari and Aix-Marseille University, demonstrating her commitment to pedagogy.

She is a member of the International Research Network Afroasiatic Languages and Linguistics and has contributed to editorial and organizational roles in academic events, reflecting her active engagement in the scholarly community.