Linguistic diversity and choice of languages among immigrant speakers in a private interactional dynamic Cover Image

Diversité linguistique et choix des langues chez les locuteurs immigrés dans une dynamique interactionnelle privée
Linguistic diversity and choice of languages among immigrant speakers in a private interactional dynamic

Author(s): Rachida Chelli, Benmostefa Fatima Zahra Harig
Subject(s): Sociolinguistics, Culture and social structure , Social differentiation, Migration Studies, Philology
Published by: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci
Keywords: language contact; language practices; code alternation;

Summary/Abstract: This study aims to analyse bilingual speaking in the family environment of immigration. Immigrant speakers in France, including those from Algeria, use and practise their language, sometimes in monolingual use and sometimes by combining French, the language of the host country, with Algerian Arabic, the native language. In order to understand the language behaviours of speakers, this linguistic combination through bilingualism and code-switching has been analysed. The main objective is to determine the nature of the statements made and the languages chosen by the speakers, in order to identify their skills and to justify their language selections. Moreover, our field of investigation is part of the sphere of micro-sociolinguistic research. Our contribution will focus on language practices in the interactive dynamic of a family. In the analysis, a qualitative approach was opted for, dealing with the variables of age, sex, and language skills. The corpus analysed consists of spontaneous conversations recorded in the family environment. Therefore, the analysis of recorded sequences allows us to confirm the existence of dynamism in the family members’ spoken repertoire. Bilingual speaking was experienced, in which the code-switching contributes to the transmission of languages and social knowledge through reformulation, explanation, and translation.

  • Issue Year: 33/2021
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 41-58
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: French