The aim of this paper is to examine how language, economic and political hegemonies interact in a globalized world, and how certain tools, such as the digital, make it possible, in certain contexts, to reframe dominant languages, such as standard French, from an asymmetrical system in which it assumes a dominant and normative position to a more symmetrical system in which its sociolinguistic functions are negotiated and evaluated locally.
Prof. Dr Mena B. Lafkioui is both Full Professor (directeur d'études) at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales in Paris, where she holds the Chair of Amazigh linguistics, and Research Director (directeur de recherche) at Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - LIER-FYT(UMR8065). Her research interests and projects involve linguistics, sociolinguistics, geolinguistics, linguistic anthropology, and everything concerning North Africa and the Amazigh languages and cultures. Her scientific record shows long and extended experience in the supervision of interdisciplinary research over a broad range of topics, as well as successful international research cooperation. She has a longstanding and international teaching record covering various fields of humanities. Her numerous publications include the Atlas linguistique des variétés berbères du Rif (Köppe, 2007), which is a milestone in geolinguistics and the first linguistic Atlas of Rif Tamazight. Recognition of her scientific excellence is also reflected in her election as Academician of the highly esteemed Accademia Ambrosiana (Milan), where she is founding member of Classe di Studi africani, as well as her election as Academician of the Academia Europaea, one of the most prominent scientific institutions in the world.
