Colonialism and its Sociolinguistic Effects : A Comparison between Language Attitudes in Tanzania and Algeria

Abstract:   Most of the former African colonies achieved their independence in the 1960's. However, the language of the colonizer often keeps a firm grip on culture and society even today. The aim of this essay is to examine attitudes towards the colonial languages English and French in Tanzania and Algeria. Are Tanzanians generally more positively inclined towards English than Algerians are towards French? In order to examine this, 15 informants from each of the two countries were chosen to participate in a small survey consisting of six questions. The results suggest that there is indeed a difference in attitudes: the Algerians seem more emotionally engaged in the French issue, while the Tanzanians tend to see English as an effect of globalization rather than colonialism. In both of the countries, the colonial language is generally perceived as the language of the successful.