EXPLORING THE PATTERNS OF AMAZIGH MAINTENANCE AND SHIFT: A STUDY OF YOUNG AMAZIGH BILINGUALS IN AGADIR, MOROCCO

Аннотация

INTRODUCTION preserve the world's linguistic and cultural The study of Language Maintenance and Shift diversity. (LMS) has been at the heart of both macro and micro sociolinguistics research for several Early research in the field focused mainly on the decades. The foundations of research in this field LMS dynamics in migrant settings in Europe and are principally attributed to Joshua A. Fishman's North America, with less attention given to seminal writings and research studies he indigenous ones (Pauwels, 2016). The specificities conducted to investigate LMS processes among that characterize each type of these settings imply minority groups in the USA (Fishman 1964, 1965). that they potentially involve different types of Equally, other pioneers in the field, including Susan variables and, therefore, require particular Gal (1979) and Nancy Dorian (1981), have made research approaches and methodologies. Kloss significant contributions to the body of research in (1966) contended that the same factors that this field. Recently, the challenges posed by promote language shift in one group might lead to globalization have triggered more awareness and language maintenance in other ethnolinguistic concern among researchers about the need to groups. These views imply that each bilingual https://www.theamericanjournals.com/index.php/tajssei 107 https:/h/wttwpws:.t/h/weaDmDerwicwan.jDouFrDna.clso.cmom/ /index.php/tajiir THE USA JOURNALS THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND EDUCATION INNOVATIONS (ISSN- 2689-100X) VOLUME 06 ISSUE08 context is unique in terms of the factors involved in language. However, some argue that changes in Language Maintenance (LM) and Language Shift language use can transpire within a single migrant (LS) processes. While these intergroup differences generation (Jia & Aaronson,2003; Pease- mean that attempting generalizations about Alvarez,2002). various language contact situations is not feasible, Clyne (2003) has illustrated a variety of meanings they establish the need to approach each language that are associated with language shift. First, the group as a unique community that needs to be term can describe the language behavior of both investigated on its own. Accordingly, the present the whole community and the individual. Besides, study envisages exploring the patterns of LM and language shift is viewed as a gradual process LS processes among a young population of through which a particular language is gradually Tashlhiyt variety speakers- an Amazigh variety and slowly replaced by another as the case of the spoken widely in the Souss region in Morocco. Hungarian which was replaced by German in These patterns are investigated by exploring the Oberwart (Gal,1979). In addition, language shift informants' Amazigh proficiency and their can designate a change in the main language, the synchronic and diachronic use of Amazigh in daily dominant language of an individual or a group, the communication. language of one or more domains (home, work, LITERATURE REVIEW school for example), and the “exclusive language for between one and three of the four language Language Maintenance vs Language Shift skills" (Clyne,2003, p.20). Language shift, as defined by Weinreich (1953, Fishman et al. (1966: 424) contended that "The p.68), is "the change from the habitual use of one study of language maintenance and shift is language to that of another" and typically occurs concerned with the relationship between change among subordinate or minority speech and stability in habitual use, on the one hand, and communities in continuous contact with a ongoing psychological, social or cultural processes dominant speech community. Conversely, on the other hand, when populations differing in language maintenance (LM) is the counterpart of language are in contact with each other". This language shift, involving the continued use or delineation underscores the association of retention of one's native language in various language shift and maintenance phenomena with spheres of language use (Pauwels, 2016, p.20). The alterations or stability in the habitual use of domain construct is often employed in defining linguistic varieties among their speakers. LSM processes, with language shift signifying a reduction in the habitual use of a language within Pauwels (2016, p.18) delineates language shift as specific domains. the gradual replacement of one's main language or languages (L1) by another language (L2) across all The process of language shift is presumed to be spheres of usage. The rate and pace of the shift vary gradual, occurring across generations. Scholars across different communities, emphasizing the (e.g.Veltman,1983; Fishman,1989) assert that gradual nature of the process and its non- language shift involves the progressive simultaneous occurrence across all functions, replacement of one language by another, with the settings, and uses of the native language. first generation predominantly maintaining their first