Home Institution
University of San Francisco
Publication Date
Spring 2024
Abstract
The relationship between language and national identity has become increasingly significant in the context of globalization, where nations grapple with the complexities of cultural diversity and collective belonging. Language serves as a powerful tool through which shared values, traditions, and historical narratives are transmitted and preserved, shaping the formation of national identity and influencing government policies. In Morocco, the linguistic phenomenon of Darija exemplifies the intricate interplay between linguistic diversity and national identity, reflecting centuries of historical interactions, conquests, and power dynamics. As a conglomerate of Arabic, Amazigh, French, and Spanish influences, Darija embodies Morocco's multicultural heritage and serves as a symbolic marker of collective belonging within a diverse society. By exploring the multifaceted relationship between language and national identity in Morocco, we gain insight into the complex socio-political dynamics that shape the contours of national identity and cultural continuity within diverse socio- and geo-political contexts.
We also begin to see the cracks of the multilingual structure present in Morocco, and how the lack of a cohesive language for the national identity creates tension and ethnic divide within the country.
Disciplines
African Studies | Arabic Language and Literature | Arabic Studies | Race and Ethnicity | Sociology of Culture
Recommended Citation
Anshasi, Amina, "Darija's Dilemma in Defining Moroccan Identity" (2024). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 3801.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/3801
Included in
African Studies Commons, Arabic Language and Literature Commons, Arabic Studies Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Sociology of Culture Commons
Program Name
Morocco: Human Rights, Social Justice, and Cultural Transformation