The Impact of International Migration on Algerian Students' Online Linguistic Repertoire
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Abstract
This article explores the linguistic practices of a group of Algerian students living in the UK, using Facebook as the primary research context. While certain linguistic behaviours typically occur in spoken language, social media use has increasingly shifted toward informal, speech-like communication rather than traditional written forms. The rationale for this study lies in understanding the evolution and globalisation of language through migration and access to global communication platforms.
Employing a triangulated research approach, a sample of fifteen participants was recruited to share their Facebook activities over a three-month period. At the outset, each participant completed a detailed questionnaire to provide an identity profile, including gender, which was further examined in relation to the observed linguistic behaviours. In the final stage, interviews were conducted with a selection of the most and least active users to explore their perspectives on these phenomena and investigate potential links between identity and digital language practices.
The findings reveal a linguistic system characterised by diversification rather than homogenisation, challenging assumptions about the uniformity of language use in digital and diasporic contexts.
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