The repercussions of the Algerian elites' struggle on the issue of language and national identity

Abstract

Language is closely related to society, as it is the product of successive linguistic accumulations that produced a specific language for us, and from there comes the role of thinkers and researchers in establishing the theories and basic components of the community’s language, which is the basic component of its identity. On this basis comes the role of politicians in defining the features of the state's linguistic policies, as we find language policies differ from one country to another. This is according to the societal composition on the one hand, and the intellectual orientations of policy makers on the other hand. This is what we see in the Algerian system, which is still looking for a successful language policy since independence to this day. As we mentioned, the societal composition has a great role in determining the features of linguistic policy, and considering that the elites are part of society, the struggle of elites in Algeria has a great role in determining linguistic policies. It also has a role to date in delaying the establishment of a national linguistic policy that includes all spectrums of society and serves the political and economic system together. So, how has the elite struggle affected the issue of Algeria’s language and national identity? Is it possible to merge the two currents (the Francophone current, the Arab current) together in order to achieve the national identity?