Diglossia Among Kabyle Region in Algeria: Case Study of Tizi Ouzou Speech Community

Abstract

The present research paper is set in order to examine the diglossic situation among Kabyle region, case of Tizi Ouzou, which is located in the North centre of Algeria. Our main research goal aim is to describe and focus on the language choice between high and low varieties in different communicative settings. This study seeks to examine the factors and reasons that lead the Kabyle people to language choice as well as, their language attitude and identity. For the sample population, we selected our participants randomly. To accomplish so, a set of the instruments were used. A questionnaire instrument used to extract data from students at Mouloud MAMMERI University of Tizi Ouzou. Also in the interviews, the information was gathered from both doctors’ and teachers’. And for the observation, it was in different communicative setting. It shows from the findings of the language choice that the relation between the High and Low varieties is diglossic. For the language attitude, the participants have a positive attitude toward the Low variety rather than a High in all aspects. Moreover, the results of the study shed light on the diglossic situation of Berber language in multilingual speech community (Kabyle region). And the Low variety is viewed as the main marker of the Berber identity.