Sociolinguistic Dynamics and Urbanity

Before presenting the different configurations of the linguistic landscapes studied, a few general points need to be clarified. Although the results of these studies can be used to shed light on certain problems encountered in the sociolinguistic dynamics of cities, our data does not fall within this type of exercise: the approach is primarily comparative, i.e., it compares the functioning of national languages and French as observed in West African cities with that of the same languages in other North African cities in similar situations. The configuration of the linguistic landscapes compared is relatively similar. With regard to languages: French dominates the linguistic landscape of West African cities (Cotonou, Dakar, Ouagadougou), and national languages play only a subsidiary role in this landscape. Arabic, on the other hand, dominates the linguistic landscape of Moroccan cities, even though French is present there with a fluctuating status.