Algerian languages
The languages of Algeria include the official languages, those currently spoken by stable contingents of people, as well as some languages that were the occupying forces and languages that disappeared in antiquity.
Currently used languages
Official language
Arabic
The official language is Standardized Modern Arabic, which is not actually the mother tongue of the population that speaks the vernacular Algerian Arabic, although Standardized Arabic is used in formal education, which is only used in more or less formal. The 1963 constitution established (standardized) Arabic as the official language and this was maintained in article 3 of the new 1976 constitution. The vast majority of the population usually uses some variety of Arabic. 73% of the population knows standardized Arabic, while 85% usually speaks Algerian Arabic.
Varieties of dialectal Arabic used in Algeria:
- Algerian Arab
- Moroccan Arab
- Tunisian Arab
- Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
- Arab hassanity
- Saharan Arab
French
French is widespread as France was the last colonial power to settle, for a long time, in the region. In addition, this language has been traditionally used in education since the French occupation, although it has been progressively replaced by standardized Arabic. It is estimated that between 33 and 50% of the population knows the French language to varying degrees. In 2014, 76% of Facebook users in Algeria used French, and 32% Arabic.
Native languages
In addition to Algerian Arabic and other varieties of Maghrebi Arabic, a significant number of Berber languages are spoken in Algeria. These different varieties of Berber are not always easily intelligible between them, so they must be considered as different languages although phylogenetically related.
A comprehensive list of autochthonous Berber languages is:
- Northern Berber Languages Algeria:
- shenwa language, spoken in the north-west region.
- Arabic language spoken in the Cabilia.
- mzab-wargla languages (Varieties of the Northern Saharas), spoken in the western part of the country.
- South Oran Berber
- Language
- Language tuwat - Language tidikelt
- Mozabit language
- Language ouargli
- Language tugurt
- Shawiya language spoken in the mountains of Aurès.
- Tidikelt, spoken in Tit (Adrar) and In Salah.
- Southern Berber Languages Algeria:
- Tuareg languages spoken by the Tuaregs living in the extreme south of the country.
Alochthonous languages
As mentioned: French is widely used in many fields, especially related to formal education and business. 33% of Algerians regularly use French in their ordinary life. In areas adjacent to Libya, Western Sahara, Tunisia and Mauritania, other varieties of Algerian Arabic are spoken, that is, in these border regions Libyan Arabic, Saharan Arabic, Tunisian Arabic and Hassaniya Arabic are spoken.
Previously Spoken Languages
Antiquity
During classical antiquity there were a significant number of Punic enclaves, especially on the coast, although there were also some more in the interior. In them most of the population would have spoken Punic Carthaginian although people who spoke some variety of northern Berber would have also lived in them. A similar pattern would have occurred under Roman rule, with cities where there were speakers of African or Classical Latin, speakers of Punic, and speakers of Northern Berber.
Other languages
Northern Algeria was part of the Ottoman Empire from the 16th century, so there was a dominant elite of Turks in Algeria who mainly lived in the big cities, often only for a few years, due to which the Ottoman Turk it became the main language of the administration. However, over time many of these Turks assimilated, and even today there are many families descended from Turkish families who no longer speak Turkish.
In addition to Turkish there are other languages:
- The Judeo-Spañol (Sefardita) spoke among some Jews in Algeria, especially around the city of Oran. These speakers would have used the tetuaní variant of the Judeoespañol, most of them abandoned this language in favor of French during the colonial period.
- The sabir (lingua franca mediterranean) was a lingua franca, in another time very widespread and used for intergroup communication with foreigners in ports, were also used among some stateless European slaves who had joined Berberian piracy, from 1830 this language declined and their functions were taken by the French.
- Spanish has a long history in Oran that was occupied by the Spanish crown between 1509 and 1790. This language has left some traces in the local dialect of the city. This language was also spoken by immigrants called pied-noirs. At present some Saharawis use their language in the refugee camps of Tinduf.