Overview of the moroccan language situation

Morocco is home for a great cultural and linguistic diversity. The country’s rich history, along with its geographically strategic location as a major intersection of economic, cultural, and political interactions, have rendered the country an outstanding icon of linguistic and cultural richness. Irrespective of the divergent views about the significance and ramifications of this diversity, Morocco shows pride for the converging factors which created the country’s rich language landscape. An amount of research showcase Morocco’s linguistic mosaic and accord that the country is a model of multilingualism and multiculturalism. This article reveals how national as well as foreign languages are employed to fulfill varied and sometimes overlapping functions, especially in education. It is based on the review and analysis of several official and research documents in order to find out how many languages are operating and what roles each is appropriating in this heated arena. Following a thorough analysis of the country’s linguistic situation, the article exposes how Standard Arabic, Moroccan Arabic (MA), Amazigh, French, Spanish, and English are all operating abreast. The aim is to explore the space and functions each language occupies in this multilingual setting.