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Berber
 Riffan
Morocco
Tamazight/Berber/Amazigh/Zaian
Morocco and Algeria
Chleuh/Chelha/Tashelhait/Soussi
Morocco
Chelha
Tunisia
Mazir
Libya
Siwan
Egypt
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Group of languages, in use from Morocco to Egypt. The differences between the languages can be considerable, due to geographical distances. There are about 300 local dialects. The largest group of the Berber languages is found in Kabylia in Algeria. Berber languages form a branch of the Afro-Asiatic linguistic family. Most Berbers have no written language and despite the efforts that have been seen in Algeria, little has been implemented.
In Morocco there are three main dialects. Riffan is spoken in the Rifs, but this dialect continues along the Algerian border in eastern Morocco all the way to Figuig. The dialect of the High Atlas and Middle Atlas has many names, like Berber, Amazigh, Zaian or Tamazight. The dialect used in the Anti Atlas and south western oases is called Chelha or Tashelhait, Soussi or Chleuh.
In Algeria there is one main Berber dialect, called Amazigh. Out in the Sahara a Berber language called Zénète is used.
The Berber language in Tunisia, called Chelha, is currently facing extinction in the remaining few small towns in the southern part of the country (see travel pages on Chenini and Douiret). Parents and especially women (who never leave their village for work), speak or at least understand Chelha, while children learn only Arabic.
In Libya, Berbers of Jabal Nafusa, inland from Tripoli, speak their own language, called Mazir. Here the language is still strong and vibrant.
In Egypt, the Berber language is spoken along the coastal zone west of Alexandria, and in the oasis of Siwa.
Berber identity currently is linked to the language: many of the North Africans calling themselves Arabs are more Berber in origin than Arab. In many areas (especially Tunisia), Berber identity is regarded as a negative, principally because many Berber societies are less developed than those in urban settings, where almost all inhabitants see themselves as Arabs. In Algeria, Berber identity is strong and proud, and there are centuies-old tensions between the Berbers of the mountains and the Arabs of the larger cities.
HISTORY
2001: Berber languages become official languages of Algeria.
2004: Algerian president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, makes statements about Algeria only having Arabic as official language.
© Copyright 1996-2008 LookLex Ltd. All rights reserved
By: Tore Kjeilen
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