Langues et démocratie à travers la presse écrite algérienne

Abstract

This thesis deals with the language-politics relationship through the Algerian written press and sheds light on the following issue: which of Arabic or French bears best the values of democracy? According to the results of the analysis, this linguistic dichotomy, meant to oppose two conceptions of democracy, has proven to be below our expectations. In fact, we thought that French, because of its political history, was more able to bear the values of this mode of governing. The conclusion that we reached was quite different: Arabic and French can express democracy in the same way. Democracy is rather perceived through the dichotomy: private press/public press. Yet, it is necessary to explain that even this dichotomy is not responsible for the different meanings attributed to democracy. The real responsible is the enunciating authority that controls these meanings according to the will of the political power to which it obeys, or according to the political ideology to which it adheres.