Tifinagh alphabet and Berber languages (original) (raw)
The Tifinagh alphabet is thought to have derived from the oldBerber script. The name Tifinagh possibly means 'the Phoenician letters', or possibly from the phrase tifin negh, which means 'our invention'.
Versions of Tifinagh are used to write Berber languages in Morocco, Algeria, Mali and Niger. The Arabic and Latin alphabets are also used. The modern Tifinagh script is also known as Tuareg, Berber or Neo-Tifinagh, to distinguish it from the old Berber Script.
In 2003 Tifinagh became the official script for the Tamazight language in Morocco. It is also used by the Tuareg, particularly the women, for private notes, love letters and in decoration. For public purposes, the Arabic alphabet is normally used.
Public use of Tifinagh was banned in Libya by Colonel Gadhafi's government. However, it is now used once again, to some extent [source].
The
Notable features
- Type of writing system: alphabet
- Writing direction: left to right in horizontal lines
- Used to write: Berber languages such as Tamazight
Neo-Tifinagh for Tamazight
Download an alphabet chart for Tamazight (Excel)
Sample text in Tamazight
Transliteration
Imdanen, akken ma llan ttlalen d ilelliyen msawan di lḥweṛma d yizerfan-ghur sen tamsakwit d lâquel u yessefk ad-tili tegmatt gar asen.
Translation
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Links
Information about Tifinagh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tifinagh
http://www.temehu.com/imazighen/tifinagh.htm
http://scriptsource.org/cms/scripts/page.php?item_id=script_detail&key=Tfng
Tifinagh fonts
http://www.wazu.jp/gallery/Fonts_Tifinagh.html
Tifinagh transliteration
http://www.translitteration.com/transliteration/en/tamazight/ala-lc/
Tawalt - a Libyan Berber site in the Tifinagh and Arabic scripts
http://www.tawalt.com
TIFIN' ART - Calligraphies et peintures (Tifinagh calligraphy)
http://tifin.arts.monsite.wanadoo.fr/index.jhtml
Berber languages
Ancient Berber,Ghadamès,Ghomara,Guanche, Kabyle,Riffian,Shilha (Tashelhit),Shawiya,Shenwa,Siwi,Tamahaq,Tamasheq,Tamazight,Tawallammat Tamajaq,Tayart Tamajeq,Zenaga,Zuwara Berber
Consonant alphabets (Abjads)
Ancient Berber,Arabic,Aramaic,Chorasmian,Elymaic, Hatran,Hebrew,Manichaean,Nabataean,North Arabian,Pahlavi,Palmyrene,Parthian,Phoenician,Paleo-Hebrew,Proto-Sinaitic / Proto-Canaanite,Psalter,Punic,Sabaean,Samaritan,Sogdian,South Arabian,Syriac,Tifinagh,Ugaritic
Page last modified: 15.03.23
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