‘Back to the “futur”’: Mobility and immobility through English in Algeria

Abstract

Based on year-long ethnographic fieldwork, this paper examines how global discourses of English as the "international language" are read, reproduced and appropriated in non-Anglophone postcolonial settings, taking Algeria as a case study. English is heralded as the "language of the future", equated with "moving on" from the colonial past towards new connections, new horizons, and new articulations of a globalnational identity. It is both a movement forward, and an attempt at reaching back to a more "authentic" (non-Francophone) past. However, those narratives are also firmly embedded within existing power hierarchies and prevailing language ideologies. Discourses and practices around English reinforce rather than challenge socio-economic stratification by rewarding elite mobilities and reproducing representations of how language indexes authenticity and belonging.

A scoping review of world Englishes in the Middle East and North Africa

“…In some studies, English is portrayed as an empowering path to move beyond a French colonial past, in countries such as Algeria and Tunisia (Belmihoub, 2015). Yet, many other studies reveal the tensions and rivalries between the hegemonic, global dominance of English and other local languages in multilingual (and mostly postcolonial) contexts of the MENA region (Benrabah, 2014; Daoud, 2001; Jacob, 2019; McEntee‐Atalianis, 2004; Papapavlou, 2001; Shohamy, 2014). The benefits and costs of English as a lingua franca are examined (McEntee‐Atalianis, 2004) such as the threats to other local language(s) and culture(s) that may come alongside the opportunity of English (Karakaş, 2013).…”

Reconsidering the Use of L1 in the Algerian EFL Classroom

“…Due to over a century of French colonization, which stripped Algeria of its Arab and Tamazight (also known as Berber) culture, the French language is indelibly enmeshed in all forms of communication in Algeria (Jacob, 2019(Jacob, , 2020. For decades Algeria has been a predominately Francophone nation, and the Arabic that was once spoken in the nation has become an awkward melding of French, Arabic and, in some areas, Tamazight (Belmihoub, 2018).…”

“…More recently, however, in the interest in and use of English has surged in Algeria, both in an attempt to fit into the international linguistic setting and as an initiative to shift away from the language of the colonizer and to move beyond a painful colonial history (Belmihoub, 2018;Jacob, 2019Jacob, , 2020. Today, English in Algeria is considered as an international language, the ''language of the future'' and the ''language of science'' and advancement (Jacob, 2019). Where once English use was nearly non-existent, today the vital need for the language is widely acknowledged.…”

“…Where once English use was nearly non-existent, today the vital need for the language is widely acknowledged. For instance, individuals seeking a better job nearly anywhere abroad must learn English (Jacob, 2019). University students-notably postgraduate students in scientific streams-and members of the scientific community sometimes find themselves debilitated without sufficient knowledge of English (Belmihoub, 2018).…”

The Role of English and Technology on Human Performance in International Business

“…They are poorly prepared in the basic ability to read English content. However, few professionals who manage well with other superior written skills and, above all, verbal communication skills, make a difference in good project execution in today's complex context (Jacob, 2019).…”