Blog 2: Ability or Social Status

  While in country, I have been intrigued by the range of languages spoken by the Moroccans we have interacted with. Whether it be tour guides, students, or local vendors, most of the people I have met know at least three distinct languages. This inspired me to dive deeper into language ability in Morocco and how that plays a role in social status and mobility. 

Morocco has two official languages: Arabic and Amazigh. However, other languages commonly found in the country include French, English, and Spanish. A study conducted through surveying students in Casablanca found that most of the students speak Arabic at home but still incorporate varying degrees of other languages; however, 75% of the students never speak Amazigh. It also showed that besides Amazigh, most students found high importance in knowing the other languages - Arabic, English, and French (Bouziane, 2020). This research indicates there is a general positive outlook on understanding and speaking other languages and being able to communicate with diverse groups of people. This was further confirmed on our tour to ENA. When interacting with the students, I learned more about their journey of learning English. While they learn the foundational basics in high school, their exposure to the language is limited. Their fluency comes strictly from practising with peers and family members outside of instructional time. This further emphasizes the value placed on language ability in Morocco, and the opportunities that come from knowing multiple dialects. 

One issue that arises with language ability is that it is not only a communication tool but a signal of education level, economic status, and professionalism. During the time of French colonialism, a linguistic hierarchy was created. According to Bziker, “The use of French was essential to obtain and maintain power. French was instilled as a superior language, while Arabic language and Berber were inferior (2018). Since then, the French language has been associated with wealth, education, and authority; and it is most common in business and professional settings. This can signal a higher social class for those who are fluent in French. Because of tourism and globalization, English is becoming increasingly common and another powerful language impactful to social standings. Revisiting Bouziane’s study, “the reasons for learning foreign languages that receive the highest scores [from students] are those which have immediate effect on individuals such as finding a job, or pursuing further studies, or having more access to science and technology” (Bouziane, 2020). Students have goals of being successful, and learning foreign languages is the path to success for them. With that being said, those who only know Moroccan Arabic and are not able to communicate in professional or global settings have more limited opportunities for professional growth and economic expansion. 

I find it extremely inspiring and eye-opening the passion the Moroccan population has for learning foreign languages. It is incredible to me that their ability to communicate almost seamlessly with so many diverse groups of people comes from personal discipline and practice. Personally, I have taken multiple years and levels of one foreign language throughout high school and college and still could not recite more than a few words. Our tour guides and the students we have interacted with have truly altered my perspective on what it means to be a global citizen. 

Bouziane, A. (2020). Moroccan Students’ Attitudes Towards Local and Foreign Languages: The Role of Self-Directed and Language Policy Forces. English Studies at NBU, 6(2), 295–320. https://doi.org/10.33919/esnbu.20.2.7

Bziker, Ousama. (2018). Sociolinguistics: Social Class and Language Use in Morocco. 3.

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