Language, Identity, and Literary Expression in Algeria

This work examines the failure of linguistic-nationalism in Algeria through a policy of Arabization after Algerian independence. While French linguistic-nationalism has been successful in France and was successful in French Algeria, Algerian linguistic-nationalism has failed for a number of reasons. There are, however, many advantages to a multilingual-nationalism in Algeria and it is quite possible for a country to be multilingual, unified, and culturally rich and, in some cases, economically rich.;This work also examines the relationship between the choice of written and spoken languages, employing Kateb Yacine and Assia Djebar as examples, and the institution of national languages to contest linguistic-nationalism in Algeria. After independence, writers openly supported and wrote in French and Berber to fight Arabization, which created violence between politico-linguistic groups and internal dilemmas for Francophone writers. Jacques Derrida and Reda Bensmaia offer solutions for these internal dilemmas, which further demonstrate the possibility of a multilingual Algeria.