Language as an index of identity and otherness : overt language attitudes in a multilingual Kabyle speech community

Abstract

Attitudes to languages are crucial in multilingual speech communities, for many outcomes arouse from them. This study aims at investigating language attitudes among Kabyle students towards all of Kabyle Berber, Arabic, French, the reasons that account for these attitudes and their possible correlation with language use. An 88-item questionnaire containing three language attitudinal scales, close-ended and open-ended questions, and three other language use scales was sent online to Kabyle students across Greater and Lesser Kabylia. The Data was analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The results showed that Kabyle students have positive attitudes towards Kabyle Berber and French and indecisive attitudes for the Arabic language. These attitudes are due mainly to the determination for language preservation, language policy decisions which disfavored one language over another and the utility of French especially in higher education. Besides, the correlation of language attitudes and language use shows a positive relationship. Implications and consequences of these results were eventually discussed