Language Attitudes and Identity among Algerian Immigrants in France

Merzouk, Ikram; Negadi, Mohammed Nassim

IMAGO Interculturalité et Didactique
Volume 23, Numéro 2, Pages 315-327
2024-12-25

Language Attitudes And Identity Among Algerian Immigrants In France

Authors : Merzouk Ikram . Negadi Mohammed Nassim .

Abstract

Immigration is a challenging process that can profoundly alter individuals' identities and attitudes towards their country of origin and their home language (s). The present paper concerns the community of Algerian immigrants in France. It explores their Identity issues and language attitudes towards Algerian dialect and Standard Arabic. It aims at providing data about language and identity among minority groups of immigrants in France. The research was conducted using an asymmetric four-point Likert scale questionnaire. The sample consists of fifty Algerian immigrants in France aged between fifteen and forty-five years old, part of a different generation. The results reveal that most informants show positive attitudes towards standard Arabic and Algerian Dialects and wish to transmit that linguistic heritage to their descendants. Additionally, the findings indicate that the majority of the sample maintain their Algerian identity but simultaneously strongly associate with the French culture in various life situations and contexts. This highlights their constant feeling of belonging or non-belonging to two different cultures while generating issues at the level of their identity formation.