European Conference on African Studies in Prague (ECAS 2025)
At ECAS 2025 in Prague, we presented our research on the evolving language landscape in Morocco, focusing on the shifting roles of French and English in a multilingual society. While French remains influential due to its colonial legacy and socioeconomic prestige, English is increasingly seen as a vital pathway to global opportunities—especially among young people and those working in tourism. Drawing on grassroots experiences and interviews across educational and community settings, our findings highlight a nuanced coexistence of languages, where the rise of English is not simply replacing French but creating new dynamics. These changes are largely driven ‘from below,’ with Moroccans actively reshaping their linguistic repertoire and challenging official language policies through their everyday practices.
