Investigating the Reasons behind Dialect Shift and Maintenance among Syrian Migrants in Ain Temouchent

Abstract

Humans, as social beings, need a sense of belonging in order to build their identity; they must be a part of a specific country, culture, and, of course, dialect and language that identify them. However, life circumstances, sometimes, require individuals to leave their native resident, therefore; they face a challenge in communicating with people in the host country regarding the language or the dialect used. In fact, there are two alternatives; either adapting to the new dialect or keep up their native lingo. In the same vein, the current study aims to investigate the case of Syrian migrants in Ain Temouchent, as well as the factors that either encourage them to maintain their native-tongue dialect or force them to shift to the Algerian dialect. To achieve the study objectives, a mixed-method approach was required in order to obtain as much depth and validity as possible, as well as to answer the research questions and validates the predicted hypotheses. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to 65 members of the population, as well as a semi-structured interview with five selected respondents was accomplished, besides different observation sessions to reach data in a real context. The findings of this study revealed that Syrian migrants in Ain Temouchent did not abandon their native dialect; it is still widely used at home. However, the coexistence of the two dialects leads to a shift outside within varying degrees due to social, cultural, and psychological factors