Language and society in Ottoman Algiers
Keywords:
Ottoman Algiers, Multilingualism, Social Stratification, Cultural InteractionAbstract
This study examines the relationship between language and society in Ottoman Algiers, highlighting how social structures shaped linguistic diversity and reflected cultural hierarchy. Using a historical-analytical approach based on primary sources, it shows that Arabic, Turkish, Amazigh, Hebrew, and hybrid languages like Lingua Franca and Ladino coexisted within a complex social fabric. Arabic dominated religion and education, Turkish governed administration, and Amazigh persisted locally. The research concludes that Ottoman Algiers was a vibrant space of cultural synthesis where multilingualism became a hallmark of Algerian identity.
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