The phenomenon of Stereotyping in Dialects and the French Language Use between the City and the Countryside in Algeria

Abstract

Life in the Algerian city differs from that of the countryside. This is revealed via the geographical nature of each district, the citizens’ culture, and language use (dialects). Language is one of the main components of culture: the way individuals culturally behave/think; the way they speak. Algeria is known by its various dialects which are closely related to the nature of the inhabitants’ cultural background. However,  a kind of stereotypes between the citizens from different sides may occur since language use is closely related to the nature of the region and which may be misunderstood by the guests. More importantly, in addition to their local culture/dialect, the Algerians in the city are imbued by the French culture/language. This exotic language is the main factor that has widened the phenomenon of stereotyping where being civilized or not has dominated the Algerian local scene. So, how can we reduce the phenomenon of stereotyping in Algeria?