Understanding the Berber Language & Providing Professional Berber Interpreters and Translators
Global Interpreting understands the importance of working in the Berber language. For over 10 years, Global Interpreting has worked with the Berber language as well as hundreds of other from around the word. We are a one stop full language service provider. Offering Over the Phone, Video Remote, Face to Face, Transcription, Document and Website Translation in 150 languages including American Sign Language (ASL) nation and worldwide.
The Berber languages are the indigenous languages of North Africa west of the Nile. The Berber group is a member of the Afro-asiatic language family. A relatively sparse population speaking a group of very closely related and similar languages and dialects extends across the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara, and the northern part of the Sahel in Morocco, Algeria, Niger, Mali, Tunisia, Libya, and the Siwa Oasis area of Egypt. There is a movement among speakers of the closely related Northern Berber languages to unite them into a single standard language.
The name Tamazight, which traditionally referred specifically to Central Morocco Tamazight, and is also used by the native speakers of Riff (Tarifit), is being increasingly used for this Standard Berber, or even for Berber as a whole. Its usage is less consistent in some areas like the Kabylia where locals call their language Taqbaylit rather than Tamazight. Due to the rising Berber cultural and political activism and its recent prominence in the North African media, the popularity of the term Tamazight made it known and recognizable by virtually every citizen in North Africa, including non-Berber speakers.
Among the notable varieties of Berber are Central Morocco Tamazight, Riff, Shilha (Tashelhiyt), Kabylian (Taqbaylit), and the Tuareg dialect chain. The Berber languages have had a written tradition, on and off, for over 2,000 years, although the tradition has been frequently disrupted by various invasions. It was first written in the Tifinagh alphabet, still used by the Tuareg; the oldest dated inscription is from about 200 BC. Later, between about 1000 AD and 1500 AD, it was written in the Arabic alphabet; since the 20th century, it has often been written in the Latin alphabet, especially among the Kabylians.
The Berber languages are the indigenous languages of North Africa west of the Nile. The Berber group is a member of the Afro-asiatic language family. A relatively sparse population speaking a group of very closely related and similar languages and dialects extends across the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara, and the northern part of the Sahel in Morocco, Algeria, Niger, Mali, Tunisia, Libya, and the Siwa Oasis area of Egypt. There is a movement among speakers of the closely related Northern Berber languages to unite them into a single standard language.
The name Tamazight, which traditionally referred specifically to Central Morocco Tamazight, and is also used by the native speakers of Riff (Tarifit), is being increasingly used for this Standard Berber, or even for Berber as a whole. Its usage is less consistent in some areas like the Kabylia where locals call their language Taqbaylit rather than Tamazight. Due to the rising Berber cultural and political activism and its recent prominence in the North African media, the popularity of the term Tamazight made it known and recognizable by virtually every citizen in North Africa, including non-Berber speakers.
Among the notable varieties of Berber are Central Morocco Tamazight, Riff, Shilha (Tashelhiyt), Kabylian (Taqbaylit), and the Tuareg dialect chain. The Berber languages have had a written tradition, on and off, for over 2,000 years, although the tradition has been frequently disrupted by various invasions. It was first written in the Tifinagh alphabet, still used by the Tuareg; the oldest dated inscription is from about 200 BC. Later, between about 1000 AD and 1500 AD, it was written in the Arabic alphabet; since the 20th century, it has often been written in the Latin alphabet, especially among the Kabylians.
Orthography
There are a number of different scripts with which Berber languages may be written. The choice of writing system is often based on politics rather than practical considerations.
Who are You Going to Trust with Vital Berber Language Needs?
The Berber language is an important language worldwide. It is vital to understand the general nature and specific idiosyncrasies of Berber. For over 10 years Global Interpreting has provided outstanding Berber translators, over the phone, face to face and conference interpreters nation and worldwide.