Les représentations collectives d’une communauté d’artisans « zelayjia » face à la disparition de leur langue de spécialité. À la recherche des signes précurseurs de la mort des langues
Collective representations of a community of Zelayjia artisans facing the disappearance of their specialized language. In search of early signs of language death

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the dynamics of the disappearance of specialized languages through the case of Zelayjias, artisans of zellige in the city of Marrakech. The study mobilizes the concept of social representations, understood as a system of collective images that allow group members to identify with one another and to position themselves in relation to other groups. Based on a survey conducted on 45 artisans, three dimensions are explored: representations related to language learning, those concerning its preservation, and perceptions regarding the disappearance of the specialized language. The findings reveal a predominantly oral and informal mode of transmission, marked by the artisans’ limited commitment to documenting their knowledge. Although aware of the imminent extinction of their professional language, the artisans disengage from any responsibility for its preservation.

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