Algerian arabic/french code switching in Tlemcen speech community: motivations and functions

Abstract

Fluency in more than one language causes its users to switch between languages in day-to-day conversations. This study made it possible to know the real reasons for the phenomenon of linguistic alternation in the dialogues of the original inhabitant of Tlemcen. This research was carried out in the city of Tlemcen, where the phenomenon of code switching between the Algerian Arabic and the French language is widely practiced. By analyzing and discussing the information acquired, the results show that the native inhabitants of the city of Tlemcen switch AA to French in their daily conversations and also in different places, because they borrow French words to facilitate communication, which has led some to class it as the prestige language. Linguistic factors and the level of education play a major role in the choice of the spoken language.