Languages and Identities of Francophone Mediterranean Writers in the Diaspora

This book includes a significant portion of the contributions from participants in the study day titled “Languages and Identities of Francophone Mediterranean Writers in Exile: The Current Situation,” which was organized by the Unit for Culture, Communication, Languages, and Arts, part of the Research Center in Social and Cultural Anthropology in Oran, on December 16-17, 2014. This scholarly activity is part of a research project titled “Linguistic Pluralism and Linguistic Imagination in Francophone Exile Narratives: The Case of Moroccan Writers in France and Canada.” The study day aimed to gather studies, analyses, and testimonies concerning the issue of language(s) and identity among Francophone writers in the Mediterranean region and the diaspora. The Mediterranean, a historically rich region known for its complex encounters, is, now more than ever, a melting pot of research aimed at understanding the development of the contemporary world, especially in light of its diverse coexistences, interactions, interpretations, and assumptions, all within a framework of languages and peoples united by the very same sea. In this context, the issue of languages takes on various dimensions and raises multiple challenges, which is why it is crucial to engage in a thorough reflection on the subject. Analyzing the writing strategies embedded in fictional works reveals a form of writing that transcends rigid categorizations. From this perspective, writing becomes a unique language in which cross-cultural and transnational exploration takes place.