Social Linguistic Capital And Entrepreneurial Communication In Algeria: A Sociolinguistic Study Of Esp/fos, Market Access, And Symbolic Mobility
Auteurs : Benaired Aissa . Zian Mohamed . Benali Reguieg Nacera .
Résumé
This article examines linguistic capital as a sociolinguistic, symbolic, and economic resource in entrepreneurial communication in Algeria. It also develops the idea of Social Linguistic Capital to explain how speakers use their linguistic repertoires in socially meaningful ways. The point is not only whether speakers are correct or fluent, but whether they can use language strategically, relationally, and appropriately in real professional encounters. Building on Bourdieu's notion of linguistic capital, the article argues that language gains entrepreneurial value when it helps speakers gain recognition, build trust, negotiate identity, enter networks, and reach professional opportunities. The empirical basis is a quantitative study of 120 participants, including university students, recent graduates, and working professionals in Oran, Algeria. The reported findings show a strong positive relationship between linguistic capital and entrepreneurial communication (r = .62), while regression results indicate that linguistic capital is the strongest predictor of entrepreneurial communication (beta = .58, p < .001). The article connects ESP/FOS, multilingual repertoires, market access, and social mobility through a clearer sociolinguistic model. It concludes that language education in Algeria should move beyond general proficiency and help learners develop socially situated communication skills for pitching, networking, negotiation, intercultural interaction, and professional self-presentation.
Mots clés
Entrepreneurial Communication, ESP, FOS, Social Linguistic Capital, Social Mobility, Sociolinguistics
