Grammatical Aspects of Algerian Arabic/French Intra-sentential Code-switching

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of the present study is to investigate the morpho-syntactic mechanisms underlying Algerian Arabic/French intra-sentential code switching as displayed by Algerian speakers in Oran. Our research work also questions the Matrix Language Frame model’s practicality in describing and interpreting an Algerian Arabic-French bilingual corpus. Data from naturally-occurring conversations is analyzed within Myers-Scotton’s (1993, 1997, 2002) Matrix Language Frame model and its supportive models -the 4-M model and the Abstract Level model. Our investigation of bilingual language behaviour of Algerian speakers is conducted from a micro sociolinguistic perspective. This perspective is couched within the general field of contact linguistics. The approach used in the analysis of our data is to its majority a qualitative one. Our study is backed up by a quantitative analysis of recurrent code switching patterns. Our findings are also compared to other CS corpora especially those involving Arabic as a Matrix Language. The chosen theoretical framework seems to be efficient to a large extent in the analysis of Algerian Arabic French code switching patterns. In addition this insertional paradigm has shown flexibility and rigor in explaining and interpreting the attested code switching mechanisms. The Matrix Language Frame model could also account for the specificity of this corpus i.e. the tendency and frequency of the insertion of French noun phrases [French definite articles + French nouns] in Algerian Arabic matrices. This type of French noun phrases seem to be the most frequent and widespread code switching pattern within mixed constituents by being embedded as internal Embedded Language islands and within mixed complement phrases by being inserted as Embedded Language islands. The results also highlight the tendency that in the AA/French CS corpus both languages assume the role of the Matrix Language, yet there seems to be an apparent asymmetry between Algerian Arabic and French as dominant languages in the present data. Algerian Arabic seems to impose itself as a Matrix Language qualitatively and quantitatively. We consequently put forward the hypothesis that the apparent asymmetry between AA and French may be related to our informants’ relative unequal competence in these languages. The analysis of AA/French CS corpus within the MLF model signals and highlights two pronounced weaknesses of the model. These are the insertion of AA single system morphemes in otherwise French complement phrases and the frequent occurrence of discourse markers from both languages involved in CS with finite clauses from the other language. The first weakness could be dealt with within Boumans (1998) insertional approach. However the second weakness seems to constitute a real challenge to the MLF model as an insertional design and to the complement phrase as a unit of morpho-syntactic analysis proposed by this model. A future research work will give us more evidence on the practicality and challenges of the Insertional perspective to language contact in general and to the MLF Paradigm in particular.