Mixing Languages in the Spoken Discourse of the Algerian Radio Broadcasters: a Strategy for an Effective Communication

Year 2019, Volume: 13, 72 - 80, 31.08.2019

Horiya Amar Bekada Soraya Hamane

Abstract

Mixing between many languages and varieties
constitutes the strategy of communication adopted by the Algerian radio
broadcasters to address people from different backgrounds. This paper sheds
light on the particularity of this mixed code which; in addition to Arabic
language; contains borrowed words from other languages especially French,
Spanish and Turkish words. These words, which are spoken and rarely written,
slipped into the oral speech of the Algerian radio broadcasters, some being
adapted morphologically and phonologically and others being used with no
modification. Mixing between all these languages gives birth to a specific variety
of Arabic called Algerian Arabic which is understood by everyone. On the basis
of various spoken texts involving mixing between the languages already cited,
this paper stresses then the historical and socio-cultural factors responsible
for this language contact situation in which Algerian radio broadcasters do not
use what could be called pure Arabic. It is suggested to maintain this
particular code in the spoken discourse of the Algerian radio broadcasters
because it reflects the Algerian history, culture and identity.

Keywords

Arabic varieties, Algerian Arabic, Language contact, Code mixing, Communicative strategy

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