Linguistic Stratification In Algeria: A Sociolinguistic Analysis Of Diglossia And Multilingual Dynamics

Abstract

The sociolinguistic landscape of Algeria exhibits remarkable complexity, characterized by a multilingual repertoire encompassing Arabic, French, and Tamazight, each with distinct registers and sociocultural functions. Particularly noteworthy is the Arabic language system, which, as elucidated in Ferguson's theoretical framework, demonstrates a hierarchical stratification of varieties. Within this paradigm, al-Fusha (Classical Arabic) occupies the prestigious position of a high variety, while Darija represents the low variety in the diglossic continuum. This complicated linguistic dynamic manifests in a dual communicative pattern: bilingualism in written discourse and diglossia in oral interactions.