Language as a Vector of responsibilization

THESIS PROJECT This thesis project is part of an interdisciplinary research perspective and is seeking funding to ensure its continuity and scientific impact. ⚠️Disclaimer on the Sensitivity of the Subject It should be emphasized that this project addresses linguistic and cultural dimensions that are closely tied to strong identities, particularly the Arabic language and the Islamic religious tradition. The objective is in no way to essentialize a language or a belief, nor to reduce them to mechanisms of irresponsibility. Rather, the aim is to analyze, within a scientific framework, how certain discursive structures and cultural representations may interact with French norms of individual responsibility, and at times generate misunderstandings. Detailed Thesis Plan Introduction Presentation of the topic: language, responsibility, and integration. Migratory context in France (social, cultural, and institutional issues). Scientific and social justification of the project. Research problem and hypotheses. General methodology. Chapter 1: Theoretical Framework 1.1 Cognitive Linguistics and Agency Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. Theories of agency (Talmy, Langacker). 1.2 Sociolinguistics and Migration Language and identity in migratory contexts. Studies on the perception of responsibility across different cultures. 1.3 Religion and Destiny Al-qadar in Islam. Interaction between religious belief and social representations. Chapter 2: Linguistic Structures of Arabic and French 2.1 Analysis of Impersonal Constructions in Dialectal Arabic Examples: “the glass broke” vs. “I broke the glass.” 2.2 Comparison with French Emphasis on the agentive subject. 2.3 Cognitive and Discursive Effects How syntax influences the perception of action and responsibility. Chapter 3: Socio-Cultural Study in Migratory Contexts 3.1 Fieldwork Interviews with young people of Maghrebi immigrant background. Observation of discourse in various contexts (school, justice, institutions). 3.2 Analysis of Representations How speakers explain their actions (destiny, chance, agency). 3.3 Confrontation with the French Norm Individual responsibility and autonomy as central values. Chapter 4: Results and Discussion 4.1 Impact of Linguistic Structures on the Perception of Responsibility. 4.2 Role of Religious Belief in the Externalization of Responsibility. 4.3 Intercultural Conflicts and Misunderstandings. 4.4 Implications for Social and Institutional Integration. Conclusion Synthesis of results. Limitations of the study. Perspectives: intercultural pedagogy, institutional awareness, extension to other languages and migratory contexts. Methodology Bilingual linguistic corpus (dialectal Arabic / French). Qualitative analysis (discourse, interviews, observation). Comparative approach (linguistic structures and social representations). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Introduction Language is not merely a tool of communication; it constitutes a cognitive and cultural matrix that shapes our relationship to the world. According to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, linguistic structures influence the way individuals perceive, categorize, and interpret reality. Thus, some languages highlight the agent of the action (“I broke the glass”), while others favor impersonal constructions (“the glass broke”), which can alter the perception of responsibility. Numerous studies have shown that lexical and grammatical differences shape speakers’ worldview: the Inuit distinguish dozens of nuances of snow, Breton possesses the term glaz to designate a color between blue and green, and certain languages without a marked future tense influence how their speakers approach planning. Within this framework, it is relevant to examine the Arabic language, particularly in its dialectal forms, and its interaction with the religious belief in destiny (al-qadar), in order to understand how these linguistic and cultural representations may influence the perception of individual responsibility in the migratory context of France. Presentation of the Topic: Language, Responsibility, and Integration Language is not merely an instrument of communication; it serves as a vehicle for social and cultural representations that shape the way individuals conceive their relationship to the world. In France, the notion of individual responsibility is strongly valued and expressed through language: “I decide,” “I take responsibility,” “I am accountable.” However, some young people of Maghrebi immigrant background appear to employ different discursive forms, in which the agent of the action is diminished or erased, and destiny is invoked as an explanation for events. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tools: discourse analysis, cognitive linguistics, sociolinguistics. This project explores how linguistic structures can shape perceptions of agency and responsibility. Focusing on Arabic as spoken in France, it examines the interplay between impersonal grammatical constructions, religious notions of destiny (al-qadar), and cultural expectations of accountability in French society. The aim is not to essentialize language or religion, but to analyze how specific discursive practices may influence individual and collective attitudes towards responsibility. 2. Research Problem In Arabic, negative events are frequently expressed through impersonal or passive structures: "the cup fell", "the glass broke". French, by contrast, tends to identify the agent: "you dropped the cup". This difference may reduce the explicit presence of the subject in speech. When combined with religious discourses emphasizing divine will ("it was written"), such linguistic habits may function as mechanisms of externalizing blame or avoiding personal accountability. In France, where civic culture is strongly centered on the autonomous and responsible subject ("I think", "I decide"), these discursive differences can create misunderstandings, stereotypes, and even conflicts regarding integration. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bibliographie start Sapir, E. (1921). Language: An Introduction to the Study of Speech. Whorf, B. L. (1956). Language, Thought, and Reality. Duranti, A. (1997). Linguistic Anthropology. Hymes, D. (1972). On Communicative Competence. Bourdieu, P. (1982). Ce que parler veut dire. Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. Sayad, A. (1999). La double absence. Kerbrat-Orecchioni, C. (2005). Le discours en interaction.

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