Languages of Algeria
The official language of Algeria is Arabic, as specified in its constitution since 1963. In addition to this, Berber has been recognized as a "national language" by constitutional amendment since May 8, 2002. Between them, these two languages are the native languages of over 99% of Algerians, with Arabic spoken by about 80% and Berber by about 20%. French, though it has no official status, is still widely used in government and higher education, due to Algeria's colonial history.
Arabic
According to the census of 1966, Arabic is the language of 81% of Algeria's population; in addition to this, non-native speakers learn Arabic at school. In Algeria, as elsewhere, spoken Arabic differs very substantially from written Arabic; Algerian Arabic has a much-simplified vowel system, a substantially changed vocabulary with many new words and many words from Berber, Turkish, and French, and, like all Arabic dialects, has dropped the case endings of the written language. Within Algerian Arabic itself, there are significant local variations; Jijel Arabic, in particular, is noteworthy for its pronunciation of qaf as kaf and its profusion of Berber loanwords, and certain ports' dialects show influence from Andalusi Arabic brought by refugees from al-Andalus. Algerian Arabic is part of the Maghreb Arabic dialect continuum, and fades into Moroccan Arabic and Tunisian Arabic along the respective borders.
In the Sahara, more conservative Bedouin dialects, grouped under the name Saharan Arabic, are spoken; in addition, the many Sahrawi refugees at Tindouf speak Hassaniya Arabic.
Most Jews of Algeria once spoke dialects of Arabic specific to their community, collectively termed "Judeo-Arabic"; however, most came to speak French in the colonial period even before emigrating to France after independence.
Berber
The Berber languages, or language, are spoken in many parts of Algeria, but mainly in Kabylie and around Batna; according to the 1966 census, 19% of Algerians speak Berber. The Berber languages/dialects spoken in Algeria include:
In the north:
- Kabyle in Kabylie
- Chaouia around Batna
- Chenoua around Cherchell
- Tarifit around Arzew
- probably extinct, in western Algeria:
In the Sahara:
- Tumzabt language in the Mzab
- Ouargli language at Ouargla
- language of Touat and Gourara (called "Taznatit" by the Ethnologue, but that name is in fact used for most of the Zenati languages)
- language of Touggourt and Temacine
- Tidikelt
- Tamahaq, among the Tuareg of the Hoggar (see Tuareg languages)
- "Tachelhit", the dialect of the western ksours (see also Figuig). Despite the name, this is not the same as Moroccan "Tachelhit".
Until the Phoenicians' arrival, Berber was spoken throughout Algeria, as later attested by early Tifinagh inscriptions. Despite the growth of Punic, Latin, and later Arabic, it remained the main language of Algeria until the invasion of the Banu Hilal in the 11th century.
Romance languages
French is a part of the standard school curriculum, and is widely understood; estimates indicate that 20% of the population can read and write it[1]. There is also a very small community of French native speakers, including pied noirs who stayed behind. The pied noirs developed a distinctive dialect, termed Pataouète. Other Romance languages with a notable historical presence in Algeria include:
- Ladino was formerly spoken by some Algerian Jews, particularly around Oran, in the Tetauni dialect; however, most shifted to French during the colonial period.
- Lingua Franca was once widespread as a means of communication with foreigners in the ports; after 1830, it gradually disappeared, its functions being take over by French.
- Spanish has a long history in Oran, which was occupied by Spain between 1509 and 1790; it has left some traces in that city's dialect.
Latin itself, of course, was the language of the Roman occupation; it became widely spoken in the coastal towns, and Augustine attests that in his day it was gaining ground over Punic. However, it gave way to Arabic and Berber after the Umayyads' conquest, leaving only a few loanwords in those two languages.
Sub-Saharan African languages
The Korandje language of the Saharan oasis of Tabelbala is a heavily Berber-influenced variety of Songhay, a language more widely spoken far to the south in Niger. Another northern Songhay language, Tadaksahak, may be spoken in parts of the far south; its nomadic speakers range over a wide area centered in northern Mali.
There are also a few thousand Hausa speakers in the south.
Sign languages
Algerian Sign Language is used in Algeria by the deaf; it has sometimes been used on national TV.
Phoenician
Phoenician, particularly in its North African Punic form, was brought to Algeria by Carthage's influence, and was widely spoken in its east for a time; Augustine grew up speaking it, and quotes occasional phrases. However, by his time the language was losing ground to Latin, and no trace of it survives now (apart from occasional placenames).
Turkish
Ottoman rule after the 16th century brought a dominant minority of Turks to Algeria, particularly concentrated in the large cities; for a while, Ottoman Turkish became a major governmental language. However, over time these Turks gradually assimilated, and, while many families of partial Turkish descent remain in Algeria, none speak the language.