POLITICS OF LANGUAGE POLICY IN CONTEMPORARY AFRICA: THE CASE OF TUNISIA

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Thesis Type: Postgraduate

Institution Of The Thesis: Istanbul Commerce University, İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Fakültesi, Siyaset Bilimi ve Uluslararası İlişkiler Bölümü, Turkey

Approval Date: 2023

Thesis Language: English

Student: Oumayma Bettaher

Supervisor: Zeyneb Çağlıyan İçener

Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection

Abstract:

This study outlines the politics of language policies in Tunisia in relation to the issue of Tunisian identity. The Tunisian society is a multilingual one par excellence, since pre-colonialism and due to its strategic location, Tunisia witnessed several linguistic changes. The research focuses on policies implemented by policymakers, which can be divided into three main movements: Arabization, the preservation of French, and the promotion of English. Since Tunisia gained its independence in 1956, the strong presence and implementation of French language threatened the flow of the Arabization movement. With the appearance of globalization, policy makers tried to balance between the already existing languages with English due to its importance in today's world. This study argues that such policies, especially in the educational system, had a direct impact on post-colonial identity.