Phonological Variations and the Adding of the Particle “ma” in Mascara Dialect

Abstract

Algeria has a rich mixture of dialects such as the dialect of Algiers, Tlemcen and Mascara. Each of these dialects is distinguished by its linguistic variations at the level of vocabulary and grammar and most obviously at the level of pronunciation. The aim of this study is to investigate the reasons behind the phonological variation in Mascara dialect. The main research question of this research concerns the factors that lead to phonological variation and why do Mascara people add the syllable/ma/. To answer these questions, a questionnaire was distributed to forty students living in Mascara. Data showed that gender and geographical factors have a relationship with phonological variations in Mascara dialect and that the addition of the particle /ma/ at the end of utterances is connected to giving orders or to show anger and is used more by men than by women.