ABSTRACT

This chapter analysis of the diverse linguistic attitudes observed in two Moroccan communities, the meaning of these attitudes, and their impact on the linguistic process of levelling and accommodation. It focuses on a particular context: Northwestern Morocco, and specifically on the city of Tetouan and the adjacent rural region of Ghomara. The distribution of the newly arrived population is an interesting factor when analysing the linguistic geography of Tetouan. Ghomara is part of the Jbala region which forms a linguistic and cultural continuum. The several areas of fieldwork have been conducted with many types of informants, that is to say, those whose sociolinguistic profiles were different. The linguistic evolution of the city of Tetouan is peculiar when compared with other varieties spoken in Morocco. It is known that the origin of linguistic changes and phenomena like levelling and accommodation is contact among different varieties resulting from geographic mobility and the improvement of education and means of transportation.