Research in Language Maintenance and Shift is mainly concerned with the dynamics by which a minority language is either preserved and transmitted across generations or replaced by a dominant language. This study examines this phenomenon within the Moroccan context, specifically among bilingual speakers of Tashlhiyt (an Amazigh variety) and Darija (Moroccan Arabic). The research sample consisted of 300 young males and females of Amazigh origin,  aged 18 to 30, from five higher education institutions in Agadir. A mixed-method design was employed to collect data on the informants' proficiency and use of Amazigh. The findings revealed an ongoing shift towards Darija, particularly in urban settings where the bilingual environment favors the use of Darija over Amazigh.

Language maintenance, language shift, language proficiency

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