Algeria's 2019 uprising and the significance of slogans: a discourse analysis

Abstract

In 2019, millions of Algerians staged demonstrations, throughout the entire country, for months against the whole political regime calling for change and democracy. The protesters used the medium of slogans to both communicate their political demands and hopes, and to respond and react to politicians¿ speeches and the successive decisions made to appease the protesters¿ anger. This paper aims to analyse a number of slogans as political and social practice performed by protesters, taking into consideration linguistic and semiotic elements in specific context(s). The work draws on a number of devices, such as humour, intertextuality, word plays, etc.; to analyse the persuasive effect of their messages. Drawing on data collected from placards and banners, from several demonstrations over several weeks and locations across the country, this paper reveals that these slogans mirror the sociolinguistic structure of the community, the identity of its members and the linguistic devices employed to reach their goals.