Berber

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http://www.languagesgulper.com/eng/Berber.html

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Berber
Alternative Name: Tamazight ('language' in Berber), Amazigh.

Overview and Classification. Berber is a language (or a group of closely rela

indigenous of North Africa which originally was present in the entire Maghreb and
the continent. Due to the spread of Islam in the area and the concomitant preponde
Berber has become now a minority language. On its own, Berber constitutes one of t
of the Afro-Asiatic phylum.

Distribution. Berber is spoken mainly in four countries: Morocco, Algeria, Niger,

Berbers live in Mauritania, Tunisia (Djerba), Libya, Egypt (Siwa Oasis) and norther
There is also a large Berber expatriate community in France.
Speakers. Berber speakers number more than 18 million in the following countries
Morocco
Algeria
France
Niger
Mali
Libya
Burkina Faso
Egypt
Tunisia

8,000,000
7,000,000
1,500,000
800,000
500,000
200,000
35,000
30,000
30,000

Status. In Algeria and Morocco, until recently, a negative attitude towards Berbe
Before 1990, the language was excluded there from education and official use, th
taught in some middle schools and universities. In 2011, Berber became an offic

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Berber

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http://www.languagesgulper.com/eng/Berber.html

Morocco, alongside Arabic. It is a national (but not official) language in Niger, M

(since 2002).

Varieties. There are six major Berber dialects, which are considered independen
some scholars: Kabyle and Chaouia (Shawia) in northern Algeria; Rif (Tarifit),
and Tashelhit (Shilha) in Morocco, and Tamasheq (Tuareg) in the Sahel (southern

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Berber

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http://www.languagesgulper.com/eng/Berber.html

12/7/2014 12:54 PM

Berber

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http://www.languagesgulper.com/eng/Berber.html

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Berber

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http://www.languagesgulper.com/eng/Berber.html

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