مجلة العلوم القانونية والاجتماعية
Volume 11, Numéro 2, Pages 254-269
2026-06-01
Discourse Analysis And Legal Communication In The Algerian Context: Multilingualism, Translation, And English As A Medium Of Instruction (emi) In Higher Education
Authors : Moussedek Sara .
Abstract
The Algerian legal system works within a framework set by constitutional duties to Arabic and Tamazight. French is still widely used in the courts, government offices, and the legislative process. This complex language situation is a result of Algeria's history, its attempts to build a nation-state, and the ongoing conflict between policies promoting Arabization and the realities of institutional life. When languages are used in legal situations, they can help people communicate, but they can also lead to many misunderstandings that undermine justice, fairness, and people's access to legal protections. English is gaining increasing attention in university instruction, including law schools and judicial training programs. This adds a fourth language to legal communication, making it harder to train new legal experts. This study investigates discourse analysis as a methodology for comprehending communication in Algeria, examining the interplay of language, power, and ideology within texts, courtroom exchanges, and the translation of legal materials. Utilizing theories from discourse analysis, forensic linguistics, and sociolinguistics, we investigate two interrelated dimensions: (1) the portrayal of ideological positions within Algerian legal texts, particularly in family law and language policy regulations; and (2) the management of tensions among Arabic, French, and English legal traditions and terminologies, with a primary focus on the implications for legal education conducted in English. Our study shows that legal language in Algeria does not help people share legal knowledge. Instead, it is a space where power dynamics, social identities, and different legal traditions are constantly being formed and fought over. An examination of linguistic characteristics in interrogations reveals that judges utilize deliberate linguistic strategies to control suspect dialogue and obtain confessions. A review of translated documents underscores how discrepancies in erroneous correlations among Arabic, French, and English legal terminology engender interpretative ambiguities that have substantial implications for justice and individual liberties. A critical discourse analysis of texts from the Algerian Family Code reveals how neutral legal language perpetuates gender differences and how deeply embedded ideological beliefs are. These results show how important it is for lawyers, translators, legal teachers, and lawmakers who want to improve communication, protect rights, and make the Algerian legal system more transparent and fairer to pay attention to discourse, all while dealing with the difficulties of multilingual legal education. We conclude by addressing the ramifications for legal education reform, translator training, language policy, and the function of English in equipping law students for practice in Algeria's multilingual legal context. We propose recommendations to standardize multilingual legal terminology, incorporate discourse analysis into judicial and legal education training, and establish professional standards for legal interpreters and translators operating in Arabic, French, and English.
Keywords
Algeria ; courtroom interaction ; discourse analysis ; EMI ; legal communication ; legal translation
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