Investigating the Presence of English in the Algerian Youtubers’ Channels

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

2020-07

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Université Mouloud Mammeri Tizi Ouzou

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the presence of English in the Algerian Linguistic Landscape, more precisely, in the virtual context, focusing on the manifestation of English on Algerian youtubers’ platforms. The aims of the study are threefold. The research seeks first to identify the motivating factors that led the Algerian Youtubers to opt for English as the main language of communication in their YouTube channel, and thus try to discover the nature of their motivation. Second, it attempts to analyse the type of culture portrayed in the videos uploaded the Algerian youtubers. Third, the research aims at exploring the place English occupies in the Algerian virtual context and among the Algerian youtubers, as well as forecasting the foreseeable status of English in Algeria. To achieve these purposes, 30 videos and vlogs uploaded by the Algerian youtubers have been randomly selected as the main corpus of the study. This set of data is supplemented by an online semi-structured interview conducted with 13 Algerian youtubers, authors of the same videos. To conduct the research, the study adopts The Self-determination theory (2000) proposed by Ryan and Deci as the main theoretical framework to explore the motivations of the Algerian youtubers that lie behind this new linguistic tendency on YouTube. In addition to, the research relies on the two categories of Schein’s Model of Organizational Culture (1985), Artifacts and values, in order to analyse the cultural content of the selected videos. The research is qualitative in nature; therefore, the findings of the research involving both the content of the 30 videos and the responses obtained from the interview are interpreted using Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA). This choice is meant to facilitate the identification of the main elements to analyse in the videos. The results of the study reveal that English is gaining much ground in the Algerian virtual context. The Algerian Youtubers express their optimist predictions regarding the future Status of English in Algeria and clearly state their desire to impose English as the first foreign language in Algeria after Arabic. The findings reveal that the major motivating factors for this linguistic switch on YouTube among Algerian Youtubers is their wish to take part in the Globalized world as well as convey a modern and civilized lifestyle on YouTube. Indeed, one of the main motivating factors for choosing English in their YouTube channel is their desire to take advantage of the prestigious status English enjoys worldwide and the easy access for content YouTube platform provides for its visitors to promote and advertise the Algerian culture in all its dimensions and portray a certain image of Algeria is to the foreign audience and assure a wide circulation of their content. The findings of the video analysis also reveal the fascination and the influence of target culture rituals and lifestyle on some Algerian Youtubers which are manifested in the different cultural artifacts displayed in their videos. Finally, the research provides some recommendations for further research to be undertaken in the Algerian Linguistic Landscape field.

Description

30cm ; 105p.

Keywords

Algerian Youtubers, Virtual Context, Videos, Globalization, Motivations.

Citation

Language and Communication