This quote highlights that language is more than just how we talk; it's also where different ideas, cultures, and power struggles play out. It can be a battleground for meaning and identity, especially in contexts of cultural mixing.
Quote by Abdelkebir Khatibi: “Language is not only a means of communication, but also a space of conflict.”
Language is not only a means of communication, but also a space of conflict.
Insight
Historical Context
Written at a time when newly independent North African nations like Morocco were grappling with the linguistic legacies of colonialism, particularly the tension between Arabic and French languages and cultures.
About the Author
Moroccan sociologist, novelist, and philosopher who wrote in French and Arabic, developing the concept of 'bi-langue' — the creative tension of thinking and living between two languages. His 1971 autobiographical novel Love in Two Languages is his most celebrated literary work.
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