The Impact of Education on Language Use in the Algerian Context

Abstract

This research paper attempts to examine the impact of education on language use, i.e., highlighting the sociolinguistic variable, mainly that of education and age, and how it may affect the linguistic behavior in the Arabic Nedroma speech community as a sample population. Nedromi speakers, especially the new generation, tend to correct mistakes; they look at them as stigmatized features in their speech and thus, try to shift to Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). In this regard, the researcher attemps to determine the reasons behind such a change in linguistic behaviors essentially motivated by the influence of education. Methodological triangulation was used in this study. Data were collected through observation, questionnaire, and interview. Based on both quantitative and qualitative methods, the findings reveal that the choice of specific linguistic features by the individual is determined by the speaker’s age category, his level of education, and most importantly, his attitude towards specific linguistic characteristics.