Arabic, Algerian Spoken

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A language of Algeria

ISO 639-3
arq
Alternate Names
Algerian, Algerian Arabic, Darija, Darja, Dziria
Autonym
العامية‎ (El’aamia), اللهجة الجزائرية‎ (Lahja Djazairia)
User Population

36,500,000 in Algeria, all users. L1 users: 30,900,000 in Algeria (2020), increasing. L2 users: 5,600,000 (2020). Total users in all countries: 40,259,600 (as L1: 34,659,600; as L2: 5,600,000).

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity.

Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Dialects

Constantine, Algiers, Oran. Lexical similarity (based on percentage of common words): 21% with Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) [arb] (Harrat et al 2015). A member of macrolanguage Arabic [ara].

Language Use

The Ouled Nail of Biskra speak Arabic [arq], but are ethnically different. Home, street. Standard Arabic [arb] often used in government communication. Used as L2 by Chenoua [cnu], Tarifit [rif], Temacine Tamazight [tjo], Tidikelt Tamazight [tia], Tumzabt [mzb].

Language Development

Textbooks often in modern Standard Arabic [arb]; teacher pupil interaction in Algerian Arabic. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1965.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Arabic, Algerian Spoken
Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab].

Other Comments

Muslim, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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