2006-07-15 16:30:40 · 9 answers · asked by Anis 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Algeria was French colony for long time. They speak French and still feel closer to their previous masters.
2006-07-15 16:33:37 · answer #1 · answered by A K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Algerians are not really Arabs. They were "arabised" by an Islamic conquest at some point in history.
Besides, Algeria was colonised by the French in 1832 who stayed there for over a century and a half and turned Algeria into a French province which was a sort of county unlike Morocco and Tunisia which were colonies. In 1956 France granted independence to these two countries to strengthen its presence in the Algerian province of Algeria and curb the spread of the revolution for independence which broke out in 1954.
During this time, French was the only national language of Algeria, for the latter was just a part of France.
Nowadays Algeriens don't speak proper Arabic. They speak a Pigdin which is a mixture of french and Algerien Arabic. In addition to berber, they also speak fluent French. The use of French is very widely spread especially in chic areas.
Even after independence in 1962, France continued to control Algeria politically, economically and even culturally. It did everything to keep its imprint in the country. This was facilitated by the geographical situation of the countries. In fact, It takes less than an hour flight to get from Algiers, the capital, to Marseille, the second largest French city where Zineddine Zidane is from.
Until the seventies, th French government continued to grant naturalisation to Algerians. This led to a massive emigration wave which explains today's 6 million french/ Algeriens in France. Algerians are the largest foreign community in France by far. Lots of Algerien (pidgin) terms have been borrowed into French such as le bled (country) , gourbi (a slum) and many other terms (mostly vulgar)
This is in brief why Algerians are so influenced by the French culture.
2006-07-16 17:28:08 · answer #2 · answered by Samy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The french were there a long time ago .(Not to sure the exact date) and their influence in culture came as well. The crusades maybe but perhaps the next person can clear that up more. I do know that around world war two the french influence had traveled down the west coast of Africa,as well as the Dutch
2006-07-15 23:38:28 · answer #3 · answered by ostrom57 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Imperialism is a hell of a thing.
Oh, and racially, the Algerians ARE NOT Arabs.
They are Berbers. Native to the Sahara Desert. They've been living there thousands of years before the Arabs came. The Arabs simply converted them and taught them Arabic.
2006-07-15 23:38:54 · answer #4 · answered by karkondrite 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because they lived under French rule for many years.
2006-07-15 23:33:52 · answer #5 · answered by normobrian 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because many of them live very close to France.
2006-07-15 23:32:43 · answer #6 · answered by ekaty84 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
occupied by the french, and settled and colonized by the french would have something to do with it probally.
2006-07-15 23:34:04 · answer #7 · answered by evanlah 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is difficult to say, but my impression is that the most of them look like that they are Berber, not Arabs.
2006-07-15 23:45:57 · answer #8 · answered by Realname: Robert Siikiniemi 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
They're just a bunch of unrepentant Francophiles.
2006-07-15 23:32:27 · answer #9 · answered by Thom Thumb 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋