Metrolingualism in Faïza Guène’s Kiffe kiffe demain

This article analyses Faïza Guène's Kiffe kiffe demain through the concept of metrolingualism: the theory that studies the relationship between language use and urban environments. Conceived by eminent sociolinguistics Emi Otsuji and Alistair Pennycook, metrolingualism describes how local language practices are fundamentally impacted and informed by the manner in which individuals navigate daily life in linguistically and culturally diverse urban spaces. In examining the metrolingual potentiality of Kiffe kiffe demain at both the level of the narrative and thematically, this article showcases the wealth of linguistic diversity pulsing throughout the banlieue of Livry-Gargan by examining how the various linguistic repertoires of the novel's characters are mobilised and perceived in this space. Applying a sociolinguistic theory to this work of literature thus enables this article to present an original, interdisciplinary examination of this bestselling novel, ultimately drawing attention to the manner in which Guène's deployment and manipulation of language functions to challenge stereotypical depictions of her often-stigmatised society.