Answers to Questions on my Berber Project

1.) The reason why is because Berber is an oral language. It is not written down, but since traditions need to be passed down and Berber culture is about to start fading away, the only solution is to record their culture. But Berber is still an oral language.

2.) The Tifinagh is the only written Berber dialect because their culture is fading away and since the children do not want to keep their traditions anymore and want to move to the city, later on, people will never hear about Berber. Other people won’t know specifically what traditions the Berbers practiced. In Morocco, there are three main dialects. The Tarifit is spoken by about 1.5 million people. This number was calculated in 1991. The Tashelhait is spoken by about 3 million people. This number was calculated in 1998. In central Morocco, the Tamazight is spoken by 3 million people. This number was calculated in 1998. In Algeria, About 1.4 million people speak the Chaouia. This number was calculated in 1993. The Kabyle is spoken by about 2,540,000 people. This number was calculated in 1995. There are no longer Berbers in Tunisia. In Libya, there are about 141,000 people that speak the Natufusi. This number was calculated in 1998. And about 17,000 people speak the Tahaggart. This number was calculated in 1993. In Egypt, in overall, there are about 5,000 people who speak Berber. In Mauritania, about 200-300 people speak the Zenaga and the Tamasheq. In Mali, about 250,000 people speack the Tamasheq. This number was calculated in 1991. And about 190,000 speak the Tamajaq. This number was calculated in 1991 as well. In Niger, about 450,000 people speak the Tawallamat Tamajaq. This number was calculated in 1998. About 250,000 people speak the Tayart Tamajeq. This number was calculated in 1998 as well. And about 20,000 people speak the Tamahaq. Even this number was calculated in 1998. So there are at least 11 Berber dialects.

3.) Refer to answer number 2.

4.) The Chadic live near Lake Chad. The Cushitic come from Somali.

5.) Refer to answer number 2.

6.) Well, maybe Arabs should try and preserve it by speaking it, but Berber has to becoma a more official language. Just like Swiss, Arabic, English, French etc... In my personal opinion, not only do the Arabs need to contribute their help in speaking Berber, but also other civilizations.

7.) I do not know what you mean by their invaders, but I think that the Berbers themselves decided to invent their own language to be able to communicate.

8.) Refer to number 2.

9.) The reason why is because Berber is mostly an oral language. You usually do not see a Berber writing or reading. But until it was decided for them to have their own written dialect so they could be able to record their dailey lives and traditions.

10.) Personally, I do not think so. But I do believe that the Berbers have not come from only one specific place, as I explained in my essay, this is still an unsolved mystery, but I do believe that Berbers come from many different places and cultures to make their own in one place. That is maybe why you might see some blue-eyed Berbers, or red-hair etc...

Berber Language and Literature Essay

My topic was on Berber Language and Literature. I learned a little bit of the Berbers’ grammar, their roots, what they use their language for, the different types of dialects, Berbers in Morocco, how Berbers came to Morocco and I got to think on why is Berber language and literature so important. I thought long about it until I have found some answers.

First of all, Berber is part of a family. The Afro-Asiatic or also called, the Hamito-Semetic. There are four other branches in this family. They are ; the Egyptian, the Semetic, the Cushitic, and the Chadic. In this family, it is closer to the Semetic branch.

Then, in grammar. There is less phonology than there is homogeneity. Phonology is the way sounds are organized. Homogenity is the degree to which items are similar. 80% of vowels in nouns are the letter a. Masculine nouns begin with a vowel. Feminine nouns begin with the letter t and a vowel.

The language is used for communication ofcourse. But in Berber traditions, the language is used for storytelling and for poems.

Berbers in Morocco. Morocco is divided into two main languages. There are the Arab speakers and the Berber speakers. All Berber history and anything that needs to be communicated is transmitted orally. It is spoken, not written down or recorded. Before the Arabs have come to Morocco on the 7^th and 8^th century A.D, Berber was the only language spoken.

Where did the Berbers come from ? No exact answer is available. No one knows. A scientist says that it is about a Prince from Yemen. He established his kingdom there. He left and came back. When he came back, he found everyone speaking a language he just could not understand. So he exclaimed, “What is this berbera ?” Berbera is a mixter of uncomprehensible languages. This is where they got the name Berber from. I believe hat Berbers come from many different places. Jus like for South Africa and Switzerland. Many cultures have come to make one.

We should keep Berber culture because it is their culture and they care. If we take off their way of communicating, their culture will be gone because then, how will they continue their traditions, how will the children know what to do, the important stories ?