lgerian Arabic / French Code Switching in Tlemcen:Case of Sellers in Remchi

Abstract

The knowledge of more than one code leads language users to shift from one code to the other during the same conversation. This study investigates the different reasons behind the phenomena of code switching in sellers’ daily conversations. The research took place in Remchi in specific areas “clothing shops”, where code switching is widely practiced. Through the analyses of data collected, the results reveal that sellers switch between Algerian Arabic and French during their discourses, and they frequently use borrowing words from French in order to facilitate communication and attract the attention of their customers. Furthermore, social factors as gender, age and the level of education play a crucial role in language choice and in identifying sellers’ attitudes toward code switching