Amazigh language is considered among the languages which have gone under the language planning process in the last two decades. The Moroccan state has managed to put into action various intervention measures in favor of the language employing a classical approach to language policy and planning (Ricento, 2000; Spolsky 2009, 2012, 2021). Based on the principles of this approach, Amazigh language benefited considerably at the levels of status planning and corpus planning. Thanks to this model Amazigh language made outstanding achievements particularly at level of language standardization. IRCAM (Royal Institute of Amazigh Language Culture) researchers invested tremendous efforts to come up with a unified Standard Amazigh language, which transcends the linguistic variation and the mutual unintelligibility characterizing the Amazigh varieties and the Amazigh domain in general (Boukous, 2012). Similarly, at the level of status planning, Amazigh language benefited to a large extent, especially in terms of laws and regulations and its implantation at the educational sector. Even though these achievements seem outstanding and bear great significance for a language that has been undermined and downgraded for many decades, the employment of the classical model results in ignoring many factors that hinder the macro language policy and planning. This state of fact alludes to the necessity of a more holistic approach to language policy planning that would provide for the needs of the Amazigh language in its revival and spread endeavors.

The characteristics of the current period and the challenges facing Amazigh language require investigating its linguistic ecology. Hence, the focus should be laid on the languages which constitute the Moroccan linguistic market. The language planning goals of Amazigh language ought to be designed taking into consideration the constraints and the opportunities offered by the linguistic environment. The central objective of this paper is twofold: a) analyze the current situation of Amazigh language and provide an overview of the benefits of the classical model to language policy on Amazigh language, and b) study the non-linguistic environment of Amazigh language and prove the urgent necessity to adopt an ecological paradigm to responds to the needs of the language. To attain this objective, the paper will answer three main questions: 1) what are the strong points and weaknesses of the classical model to language policy and planning? 2) What is the status and position of Amazigh language in the Moroccan language market? 3) What are the non-linguistic factors that solidify the status of the other languages and weaken the position of Amazigh language in Moroccan society?

Key words: Amazigh language, linguistic ecology, language market, status planning

References

1. Boukous, A. (2012). Revitalizing the Amazigh language: Stakes, challenges, and strategies. Institut Royal de la Culture Amazighe.
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