Berber languages facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Berber (Amazigh) |
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|---|---|
| Tamaziɣt ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖⵜ | |
| Ethnicity: | Berber people (Imazighen) |
| Geographic distribution: |
North Africa, mainly Morocco and Algeria; smaller Berber-speaking populations in Libya, Mali, Niger, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Egypt and Mauritania. Sizable communities of speakers in: Belgium, France, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Canada, and the United States. |
| Linguistic classification: | Afro-Asiatic
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| Proto-language: | Proto-Berber |
| Subdivisions: |
? Guanche
? East Numidian
Western
Eastern ?
Northern
Tuareg
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| ISO 639-2 and 639-5: | ber |
 Berber-speaking populations are dominant in the colored areas of modern-day North Africa. The other areas of North Africa contain minority Berber-speaking populations.
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This article contains Tifinagh text. Without the correct software, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Tifinagh letters. |
The Berber languages or Tamazight are a group of closely related languages. They are mainly spoken in North Africa, especially in Morocco and Algeria. Some well-known Berber languages include Kabyle and Tachelhit. These languages are spoken by the Berber people, who call themselves Imazighen.
Contents
Where are Berber Languages Spoken?
Berber languages are mostly heard in North Africa. This includes countries like Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Mali, and Niger. You can also find smaller groups of speakers in Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Egypt, and Mauritania.
Berber Speakers Around the World
Many Berber speakers have moved to other countries. Because of this, you can find communities speaking Berber languages in places like Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Canada, and the United States.
What is Tamazight?
The term Tamazight is often used to refer to the Berber languages as a whole. It's also the name of a specific Berber language spoken in the Central Atlas Mountains of Morocco. It's a way for the Berber people to refer to their own language and identity.
How Many Berber Languages Are There?
There are many different Berber languages and dialects. They are all part of the larger Afro-Asiatic language family. This family includes languages like Arabic and Hebrew. Some of the main branches of Berber languages include:
- Western Berber languages
- Eastern Berber languages
- Northern Berber languages
- Tuareg (spoken by the Tuareg people in the Sahara Desert)
Ancient Berber Languages
Some ancient languages might also be related to Berber. These include:
- The Guanche language, once spoken in the Canary Islands.
- East Numidian, an ancient language from North Africa.
Berber Script: Tifinagh
The Berber languages have their own unique writing system called Tifinagh. It's an ancient script that has been used for thousands of years. Today, a modern version of Tifinagh is used in Morocco for teaching Tamazight in schools.
Images for kids
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Percentage of Berber speakers in Morocco at the 2004 census
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Map of Berber-speaking areas in Morocco
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A diagram depicting one understanding of the classification of Berber languages
See also
In Spanish: Lenguas bereberes para niños
