User:Riad Salih/sandbox
The linguistic landscape in Algeria is characterized by language diversity, influenced by its historical interactions with various civilizations and its geographical context.
Similar to its neighboring Maghrebi countries, Algeria has a linguistic situation that is worth noting. The primary official language in Algeria is Standard Arabic, commonly known as El foṣḥa. Alongside Arabic, Tamazight holds the status of the second official language. "Dardja," the colloquial Arabic spoken by Algerians, serves as the native dialect for Arabic-speaking individuals and is sometimes used by Berber-speaking individuals. However, it does not hold an official status and is primarily used for specific social interactions within the country. Furthermore, French and English are also present as foreign languages.
Arabic
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The Arabic language has been recognized as an official language since the independence of the country in 1962 and gained significant prominence during the presidency of Houari Boumediene. Boumediene made efforts to restore Arabic after a period where French influence had imposed a European culture. This move aimed to foster national integrity, unity, and promote religion.
Amazigh
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Amazigh, a variant of the Berber language, is locally known as Tamazight. It was officially recognized for the first time in the Algerian constitution in 1994 as an integral part of Algerian identity, which encompasses Islam, Arabness, and Amazighness. Subsequently, in 2002, it was designated as a national language, and in 2016, it was officially adopted as one of the official languages of Algeria under the presidency of Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Derja
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Derja," also known as Algerian Arabic, is a colloquial dialect spoken in society but not used in official contexts. Like other Maghrebi Arabic varieties, Algerian Arabic primarily consists of Semitic vocabulary. However, it also incorporates influences from Berber, Punic, and Latin (African Romance), as well as loanwords from French, Andalusian Arabic, Ottoman Turkish, and Spanish
French
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French holds a prominent position as the first foreign language since the independence of the country, which is logical due to the French colonization. However, despite the large population and society, Algeria is not a member of La Francophonie, but it's politically tolerated.
English
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In recent years, English has gained popularity as the second most widely studied foreign language in Algeria, following French. However, in the 1960s and 1970s, English was not prominently featured in Algerian textbooks, possibly due to apprehension regarding a neocolonial experience similar to that of France. By the mid-1980s, English started to gain space in society. According to a 1984 report by the British Council, English was considered a third language in Algeria[1].
The real presence of English in Algeria began to emerge in the beginning of the 1990s with the arrival of foreign energy companies specializing in gas and petroleum in the southern region of the country. Algerian scholars started to learn English for scientific research and publication. Between 1998 and 2003, out of 1,410 national projects published in Algeria, 681 (48%) were published in English, followed by French with 528 (37%)[1].
Since 2017, the popularity of English has experienced a significant surge, primarily due to the rise of the internet and the boom of social media platforms. This trend is observable not only in social media but also in fashion and food businesses, as well as in private language schools, training centers, business establishments, and online platforms[2].
Under President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Algeria has emphasized the teaching of English. Starting in 2022, English language learning was introduced in the third year of primary school, and a training program was implemented for new high school graduates[3]. The government also supports English language learning for teachers to enhance their skills before the start of the new university season[4].
- ^ a b Belmihoub, Kamal (2018) [2018]. "English in a multilingual Algeria". World Englishes. 37 (2): 207–227. doi:10.1111/weng.12294. ISSN 0883-2919.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Maraf, Baya; Osam, Ulker Vanci (2023). "The booming wave of English in the linguistic landscape in Algeria: Timeline of the presence of English language in Algerian bottom-up signs". English Today. 39 (4): 307–314. doi:10.1017/S026607842200013X. ISSN 0266-0784.
- ^ "Enseignement de l'anglais : l'Algérie fait un nouveau pas" [Algeria takes a new step in English language education.]. TSA (in French). 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ "Algérie : L'anglais, langue d'enseignement à l'université dès septembre prochain" [Algeria: English to be the medium of instruction at universities starting from next September]. www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2024-04-02.