The study of Algerian Arabic among white sisters in the Sahara (1932-1978). The works of Fr. Yves Alliaume. «The Sisters in the Sahara» and «The Book of Education»

Abstract

The Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, white sisters, founded by Cardinal Lavigérie in Algeria in 1869, learned Algerian Arabic. This is recorded in the Touggourt community’s annual reports, where a Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies was set up. Alliaume wrote two works in this variety: əs-sūrāt f əṣəḥra «The sisters in the Sahara», in two volumes; and kitāb əl-adab «Book of Education», in three volumes. The sisters learned Algerian Arabic with them. The second of these works was also used for the moral education of the girls under their care in their schools, workshops and sewing, embroidery and knitting workshops. We also accompany this presentation with a linguistic analysis of the Algerian Arabic in which the works were written, belonging to Cantineau’s group A.