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Article published In:
Language Problems and Language Planning
Vol. 42:2 (2018) ► pp.144–172
Articles / Articulos / Aufsätz / Artikoloj

Language attitudes in Algeria

| Baruch College, City University of New York

This article examines language attitudes among Algerian first and second year engineering students at an Algerian university. A sample of 101 participants responded to a 51-item questionnaire. The results of the questionnaire showed a strong preference of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), English, and French by native speakers of Algerian Arabic (Derja). Native speakers of Tamazight (a Berber language) preferred MSA, English, French, and Tamazight. Participants were divided on many questions regarding MSA and Tamazight. It was also found that respondents favored English as a useful vehicle of economic opportunity and knowledge transfer. An overwhelming majority of respondents viewed multilingualism in Algeria positively. Interestingly, both Derja and Tamazight native speakers unanimously rejected promoting Derja to an official political status, and they indicated support for the teaching of English and French in school. Possible motives behind the attitudes are discussed and implications are suggested.

Keywords: Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), Derja (Algerian Arabic), English, French, Tamazight (Berber), language attitudes, Algeria
Article outline
  • Attitudes toward multilingualism and Arabization
  • Background on attitudes toward English
  • Attitudes toward English speakers
  • Survey participants
  • Methodology
  • Summary of survey results
    • Language(s) that should be taught
    • Language and employment
    • Language usefulness
    • Attitudes toward multilingualism
    • Access to scientific and technical knowledge
    • Enriching cultural knowledge
  • Discussion of survey results
    • Official language status: An indicator of mixed attitudes
    • Best languages to be taught: English and French are the only constant factor
    • Language and employment: French and English dominate again
    • Language usefulness: No language more useful than English
    • Attitudes toward multilingualism
    • Access to scientific and technical knowledge: The case for a multilingual program
    • Enriching cultural knowledge
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 21 June 2018
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.00017.bel
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