Bilingualism among Algerian Children in Rural and Urban Societies: The Case of Primary School Children from Tlemcen City and Marsa Ben Mhidi

Abstract

This research has been dedicated to provide the type and classific ation of child bilingualism in urban and rural societies. It is carried out with school children of 6 to 9 years old in TLemcen city and Marsa Ben Mhidi. After using different research tools, the obtained data have confirmed the suggested hypotheses, in which children in rural areas are late passive bilinguals. Furthermore, rural children acquired two languages separately so that they developed a coordinated bilingualism. However, those living in urban areas adopted a compound bilingualism and they are considered as early additive bilinguals as they have a good level in both languages and they can use them alternatively.