Aspects of Sociolinguistic Variation in an Algerian Context

The focus on the interaction between the social structure and the linguistic structure has been termed variationist sociolinguistics, an approach pioneered by the American linguist William Labov (1966) which seeks to analyze and interpret language variation in terms of quantitative and qualitative methods. By applying such approach in an Algerian sociolinguistic context, this research work aims at exploring some aspects of sociolinguistic variation in Beni Hammou; a village among the thirteen villages making up the valley of Beni Snous which is situated 35 km south west of Tlemcen (Algeria) . Relating aspects of language to aspects of society depends on language use in Beni Hammou which is mainly reflected into two major social variables: age and gender, showing a significant interplay with linguistic differences attested at phonological, morphological, and lexical levels. Additionally, many socio-economic and political factors appear to be playing a role in leading this spoken variety to variation and the long term change. Recent developments , population exodus, and dialect-contact increase with the neighbouring villages and towns render it a heterogeneous speech community.

Autorentext

Fatma Kherbache is a teacher at the University of Tlemcen (Algeria). Her field of interest is sociolinguistics. A PhD thesis, on Language Use and Attitudes in her birthplace Beni Snous (Algeria), is in course of preparation.