Exploring the Linguistic and Sociolinguistic Factors Behind Code-Switching in Algeria : A Combined Corpus Analysis, Elicitation Study and Sociolinguistic Questionnaire

Details

Supervisors

Degand, Liesbeth

Faculty

Faculté de philosophie, arts et lettres

Degree label

Master [120] en linguistique, à finalité spécialisée: Linguistics and its Applications for a Multilingual Society

Abstract

This mixed-methods case study examined code-switching from both linguistic and sociolinguistic perspectives to determine what prompts Algerian speakers to switch between Arabic and French. Linguistic variation among Algerians is common in their everyday conversations, in which Algerian Arabic, standard Arabic, and French coexist mostly through code-switching. Such language variation is often triggered by certain factors that indicate the need to make linguistic choices in certain contexts. To this end, this study was first conducted with 42 Algerian bilingual participants (21 males/21 females) who were asked to answer a closed-ended questionnaire. In addition, 12 participants (6 males/6 females) were selected among the 42 previously selected participants to participate in the elicitation study, and finally, an Algerian-Arabic corpus analysis was conducted for better comparison. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through the closed-ended questionnaire, the elicitation study, and the Algerian Arabic corpus analysis. The results of the study show that despite the fact that most Algerians engage in continuous code-switching, social context plays an important role in determining the nature of code-switching along with language choice. Algerians are not only willing to engage in code-switching when talking about an academic topic, but also when dealing with interlocutors who prefer such behavior, as they adapt to the language of those who engage in the most code-switching as a sign of approval, but deviate from those who have made an unexpected, marked linguistic choice. Moreover, Algerians have a unified perception of the two varieties of Arabic (Algerian and Standard Arabic) and French, with the former often associated with solidarity and nationalism and the latter with sophistication; however, attitudes toward code-switching are divided, as some view it as an act of identity while others see it as a lack of cultural identity.