مجلة الرسالة للدراسات والبحوث الإنسانية
Volume 11, Numéro 1, Pages 23-33
2026-03-28

Intergenerational Transmission Of A Minority Language Among Mixed-language Families: The Case Of Four Kabyle-algerian Arabic Families In Oran

Authors : Ait Habbouche Khadidja . Benhattab Abdelkader Lotfi .

Abstract

This article examines the transmission of Kabyle, a variety of Tamazight, within four mixed-language families in Oran, Algeria. Each family includes one Kabyle speaking parent and one Algerian Arabic speaking parent, offering insight into how linguistic diversity within households affects intergenerational transmission. Using a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews and direct observations, the study focuses on language attitudes and patterns of language use within the family, the primary setting for minority language maintenance. The findings reveal different transmission outcomes among the families: one displays full and active transmission of Kabyle, another shows partial maintenance, while in the remaining two, the language is not transmitted. These differences result from a combination of factors, including parental attitudes and will to transmit the language, linguistic proficiency, and contact with Kabyle-speaking relatives. The study concludes that each family represents a unique case shaped by its own circumstances, showing that minority language transmission depends on the interplay of multiple factors rather than on a single determinant.

Keywords

Intergenerational Transmission ; Minority Languages ; Mixed Language Families ; Kabyle ; Oran