The Linguistic Landscape and Language Teaching in the Maghreb From Its Origins to the Present: Amazigh, Arabic, and French in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya

"[…] The book presented here by Michel Gitout is an ambitious work in terms of its scope. It concerns the Maghreb, including Libya, and spans from the distant past to the present day. The desire to write a history of languages over such vast expanses could be a risky endeavor if not approached by the author with a solid theoretical foundation, analytical ability, and, importantly, with experience in the studied region, including the lesser-visited areas like Libya […]"

"[…] The issue of Arabization has been addressed multiple times in relation to different countries, particularly Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. The author accepts the necessity of restoring the so-called Classical Arabic language to the linguistic landscape of the Maghreb, which was excluded by colonization. He also shows that the way this return was carried out was the unfortunate result of political considerations, leading to massive educational failures. Arabization, which was designed as a complete alternative to the French language, became a battleground for political, cultural, and social clashes. It transcended the linguistic framework and opposed a society that was both intellectual and open to the outside, as well as a popular society built on rejection […]"

"[…] The issue of language can also be framed within the definition of a Maghrebian culture. The Berber language represents the origin from which a Maghrebian identity can be shaped, still struggling to assert its distinctiveness between the Arab East and the European West […]"

"The issues raised in this book, regardless of its technicality, are some of the most important ones. The framework proposed by Michel Gitout will undoubtedly be significant for readers on both shores of the Mediterranean […]"