Attitudes Towards Code-Switching: A case study of Kabyle speakers living in Oran

Abstract

This paper describes and analyses the phenomenon of Code-Switching as practiced by Algerian Kabyle speakers living in Oran. The aim behind the present investigation is to explore the attitudes of Kabyle speakers towards Code-switching (CS), and examines the factors that determine language choice and direct Code-switching. It should be noted that Kabyle speakers represent a minority group in Oran. This minority group uses a variety of Berber that is unintelligible with the varieties that are used by the Algerian Arabic speakers in the city of Oran. The contact between Kabyle, Algerian Arabic and French in the minority speakers listed above triggers contact phenomena such as code switching. The data on which this paper is based consists of a questionnaire made of three sections administered to a group of Berberophones in order to see whether they hold favorable or unfavorable attitudes towards the phenomenon of code-switching.