The Sociolinguistic Profile in Algeria

The current language situation in Algeria is largely the outcome of the different historical events as well as the geographical and ethnic diversity that characterizes the country. This situation provides us with an instance of the most culturally and linguistically diverse and rich contexts. Therefore, it would be interesting to have a close look at the historical development of the existing languages and the interplay between them in different domains facing the sociolinguistic, socio-cultural, political and educational issues.

Initially, a contextual background on the country and the population is presented to show its geographical and ethnic diversity. Then, a description of the Algerian language profile is provided to reflect the linguistic richness of the country. Lastly, we come to conclude that each language is a key component of the Algerian history and patrimony that should be preserved and promoted.

Geographical Situation

Strategically, Algeria is positioned on the Mediterranean border between Morocco and Tunisia with access to both Europe and the Middle East. Its geographical location has always aroused invaders‘ interests to settle on its land and exploit its natural resources. The country knew therefore a series of ceaseless invasions from different parts of the world.

Algeria is the largest country in the Maghreb. It covers a total area of 2,381,751 square kilometers. The northern part of the country is the most populated with its fertile coastal cities that are located on the shores and ports of the Mediterranean Sea, linked to various neighboring countries of the Maghreb (Tunisia and Libya to the east and Morocco to the west) and Europe (France to the north and Spain and Portugal to the north west of the Mediterranean Sea). In addition, Algeria has access to the riches of other African countries through its wide southern part that links it to the African surrounding nations from west to east Mauritania, Mali and Niger, continuing Algerian natives‘ deep relation to ancient Africa.

In the middle north of Algeria, the mountains of Kabylia, home of the major Berber ethnic group Kabyle and its influence on the urban mix of all cultures and dialects in the capital Algiers and its surroundings. In the north east lay the Mountains of al Awres, home of the proud Berbers (Chaouia ethnic group) and the ancient cities of Constantine and Annaba close to the Tunisian and Libyan cultures and dialects which are the route to the Middle East.‘ To the West, the great cities of Tlemcen and Oran that were influenced by the migrating Moors and Jews of Andalusia (Spain) and by their neighboring country Morocco in art, music, and some traditions. And finally to the south, the wide Grand Sahara‘ and its inhabitants who are so diverse in their various ethnic groups such as the Berber groups Mezab and Touareg, who are a mix of African, Berber, and Arab ideologies, religions, languages, and cultures. They are famous for their independent minds, love for tea and dates, living in the desert around oases which are symbols of life, stability, hospitality and intellectual and economic exchange.

A Historical Background of Languages in Algeria 

As stated in the recorded history, the early inhabitants of North Africa, including Algeria, were the Imazighen who spoke varieties of Tamazight (1). Those people had contact for a long time with the various conquerors and traders who successively settled in North Africa, and who left different extents of influences in the region, including the Phoenicians, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Arabs, the Turks, the Spanish and the French.

It‘s worthwhile to note that before the Arab conquest the Tamazight-speaking population put up resistance to adopt the invaders‘ languages and religions and managed to preserve their linguistic heritage and cultural identity. Following the settlement of the Arab nomadic populations such as Banu Suleim, Banu Hilal and Banu Ma‘quil in the 11th centuries, extensive interaction took place between the Berber tribes and Arabs through the Islamization of Berbers and the adoption of Arabic as the language of learning. Islam has had a great impact on Algerians, along with other inhabitants of North Africa. According to Camps (1987:135),

 » The Berbers embraced Islam in less than two centuries; yet, thirteen centuries after the first Arab conquest they were still not completely arabised. »

The new faith permitted the Arabic language to infiltrate pervasively into the different spheres of the society through conversion to Islam and the practice of the religion. Yet, BR continued to be spoken in some mountainous regions. It remained the language of trade and daily communication. The spread of Arabic, particularly in its written form, is arguably one of the factors that prevented the BR language from developing a codified form. For many years, Tamazight, the oral indigenous language remained spoken and transmitted generation after generation. People in marriages between Berbers and Arabs would adopt either language or both depending on the social and regional milieu of the family.

Between 1830 and 1962, Algeria was well known to the world as being one of the French colonies. During this period, the French wanted to put an end to the use of Arabic. The colonial authorities had therefore implemented firm and continuous language policies to the detriment of Arabic language competence and status. The French language became the only language of administration and instruction. Its use reached into practically every field in the Algerian society.

The Population

The Algerian socio-cultural context embodies one of the richest and most diverse linguistic situations. Because of the country‘s various encounters, colonizers and settlers, the Algerian population is varied in languages, dialects and ways of life. Ethnically, it is fairly homogeneous, approximately 70-75% Arabs and 20-25% Amazigh. The Arabo-Berber population represents 99% and the non-Arabo-Berber community counts for 100,000 people (less than 1%), mainly of European descent, predominantly French, although there are minorities of Italian, Spanish, Maltese and Corsican extraction .

The two groups Arabs and Berbers are basically identified along linguistic lines i.e. on the basis of mother tongues ―…people who are raised in the Arabic or Berber language respectively and who grow up in an environment where Arabic or Berber traditional customs prevail.‖ (Benrabah, 2007: 32). In fact, ethnic, religious and cultural connections between Arabs and Berber communities in Algeria are so intertwined that a true Arab/Berber divide is hardly possible. Gravel (1979:29) points out:  » Hence what has been commonly called the ‗Arabisation‘ of the Berber traditions might with equal validity be called the Berberisation‘ of the Arabs because Berber traditions are quite strong, even among those whose ancestors have been Arabised for centuries » .