Code-switching in websites for the Moroccan diaspora

Abstract

This chapter explores the area of language use in websites aimed at the Moroccan diaspora in France and in the UK. It gives a context by discussing languages in contact in Morocco and in the Moroccan diaspora, in particular the phenomenon of code-switching, contrasting the very different situations of the Moroccan communities in France and the UK. The chapter then focuses on two websites, one aimed at the Moroccan community in France, one at the Moroccan community in the UK, and analyses a sample of language taken from the forums of each site. In both cases the language used is colloquial, reflecting normal casual speech, but the occurrence of code-switching is different, reflecting differences in the two communities. The UK site has a far higher incidence of switches to Arabic, suggesting that Moroccans in France do not feel the need for Arabic words as much as UK-based Moroccans. This suggests that UK based Moroccans feel the need to emphasise their origins through use of Arabic, whereas the Moroccan community in France finds French an adequate means of expression – they feel ‘Moroccan via French’. In both cases, however, it is clear that the users of the website are not educated in Arabic – their spelling and even division of words – reflects French or English literacy. Titre provisoire de mon travail en cours: Langues et identités dans les sites internet pour les Marocains en dehors du Maroc.

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