Analysis of emotional authenticity in written narratives of Algerian and Franco-Algerian learners of Spanish as a AL

Abstract

The analysis of emotional narratives has become a well-established method of data collection, but it is notably lacking in the analysis of written autobiographies. In this regard, the existing literature has systematically prioritized the analysis of lexical coding, to the detriment of equally relevant discursive components. This study analyzes 86 autobiographical narratives produced by Algerian and Franco-Algerian learners of Spanish with the aim of determining the degree of emotional authenticity. The goal is to understand what kind of affective identity learners construct. To this end, we employ a multidimensional tool that we have developed specifically for this purpose. The results reveal the existence of different levels of emotional involvement—false, semi-authentic, and authentic—and demonstrate a significant relationship between emotional valence and the recorded discursive identities. While the variables analyzed show varying degrees of influence, it is clear that the affective relationship with the Spanish language exerts a decisive weight in the configuration of the emotional self.