Investigating the Presence of English in the Algerian Youtubers’ Channels
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Date
2020-07
Authors
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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