The Linguistic Rivalry Between English and French in Morocco: Analyzing Representation and Attitudes

Abstract

The global distribution of languages is shaped more by socio-political and historical forces than by any inherent linguistic qualities. In Morocco, rising interest in English, seen as a potential rival to French, has ignited debates in both scholarly and public circles. This study employed a qualitative content analysis to analyze articles and reader comments from Hespress, a leading Moroccan online newspaper, to explore how English-French competition is portrayed. It also considers the tension between these foreign languages and Morocco’s official tongues, Arabic and Amazigh. Findings indicate that Hespress largely favors English, with most commenters endorsing it as a replacement for French due to its colonial legacy. Yet some argue that merely switching from one foreign language to another will not resolve Morocco’s deeper educational challenges. While English appears more practical, the study suggests it must be approached critically, given its own potential to serve as an imperial tool