French Colonialism and the Arabic Language in Algeria During the 19th Century: "Policies and Implications"

This study examines the status of the Arabic language and its role in education in Algeria during the 19th century, as well as the position of the colonial administration toward it. It explores a series of political and cultural measures employed in the field of education, particularly the imposition of the French lan-guage as a substitute for Arabic, which in turn was part of a broader effort to suppress the fundamental identity of the Algerian people. The study also sheds light on the means and apparatuses mobilized to control the cultural and intellectual life of Algeria during the colonial period. The central problem re-volves around the extent of the French colonial administration's commitment to its anti-Arabic language policies and the foundations of those policies. The methodology follows an objective analytical ap-proach, utilizing various historical, political, social, and psychological tools—especially given that the lan-guage issue remains one of the most authentic and deep-rooted aspects of Algerian society. The study concludes with a set of findings and conclusions.