The Impact of Historical Terminology Formation on the Consolidation of National Memory

Abstract

This study examines how colonial terminology shaped the narrative of Algerian history through embedded ideological assumptions. It analyzes the role of Western historiography in legitimizing French occupation under the notion of a civilizing mission. The research problem lies in the uncritical reuse of colonial terms in Algerian historiography, especially through translation. It aims to deconstruct these conceptual frameworks and redefine terminology to reflect Algeria’s historical reality.

A qualitative and interdisciplinary methodology is adopted, combining discourse analysis, historical method, and historical linguistics. The study compares colonial texts, official reports, and early Algerian historical writings. It shows that terms such as “pacification” and “modernization” concealed violence and dispossession.

The findings reveal that colonial terminology persists in post-independence historiography, distorting historical representation. The study calls for reconstructing terminology and developing an autonomous national historical discourse.