FRENCH DOMINANCE AND ARABIC MARGINALIZATION: LANGUAGE, IDENTITY, AND POWER IN POSTCOLONIAL MOROCCAN EDUCATION

Abstract

Since gaining independence from French colonial rule in 1956, Morocco
has officially recognized Arabic and Amazigh as national languages.
Nonetheless, French continues to hold a dominant position in the
country’s educational system and public administration, particularly in
science, technology, and higher education. This study investigates the
enduring influence of French from a postcolonial perspective, analyzing
how language operates as a mechanism of power, identity construction,
and social mobility. Drawing on Edward Said’s theory of Orientalism, this
study argues that the persistence of French reflects more than colonial
residue—it embodies epistemological hierarchies established during
colonial rule. These hierarchies elevate Western knowledge systems and
languages while framing Arabic, despite its status as both national and
religious language, as traditional and less capable of supporting modern
scientific discourse. This perception undermines Arabic’s historical role
as a language of Islamic scholarship and scientific advancement during
the Islamic Golden Age. This study also applies Faron’s theory of
linguistic capital to demonstrate the dominance of French perpetuates
social inequality, granting disproportionate advantages to French
speaking elites while limiting opportunities for Arabic-educated
populations. This dynamic exposes tensions between Morocco’s Islamic
cultural foundations and the continued privileging of a colonial language.
Through qualitative case studies and library research, this study
highlights the implications of Morocco’s linguistic hierarchy on national
identity, educational access, and the broader struggle for postcolonial
sovereignty. The findings suggest that the linguistic preference for French
undermines the potential for a decolonized, culturally rooted education
system that aligns with Morocco’s Islamic heritage and aspirations for
independent knowledge production.