ABSTRACT
The first study of the phenomenon in France suggests limited acquisition of Arabic among young people of European French background, with the level of acquisition correlating with strong friendship networks both in and out of school. While the history of migration and the resulting ethno-cultural mixes of population are clearly different in each country, France seems to be distinguished by the perceptions of its minorities of migrant origin, which are influenced by such factors as social policy and the media. As with alleged diglossia, it is crucially important to differentiate representations, which are particular to France, from impartial observation and careful behavioural analysis. The changing representations of urban space are paralleled, at least to a degree, by a comparable evolution in the popular, namely media-generated perception of French urban 'youthspeak'. The chapter also presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book.
