The Syntax of the Jewish Arabic Dialect of Wad-Souf (Saharan Algeria) (original) (raw)
Related papers
Morpho-Syntactic Features of Bedouin Dialects of Northern Jordan
The present entry deals with the linguistic analysis of morpho-syntactic features of two varieties of Bedouin Arabic spoken in northern Jordan. It focuses on the existential clause, the negation, and the genitive. The data was collected in June 2020 during fieldwork in Samā, Muġayyir, and Zumlat al-Sirḥān (al-Mafraq Governorate), where we recorded members of the Sirḥān (a camel-breeder tribe), and in al-ʿIšša (Irbid Governorate), where we recorded members of the Nʿēm (a sheep-breeder tribe). This data is compared in a synchronic perspective with the corpus of texts we collected in 2018 in the historical region of the Jordanian Ḥōrān (rural northern Jordan). This paper intends to be a step forward in the study of Bedouin-type language varieties of northern Jordan, for which an updated and exhaustive grammatical description is currently lacking.
The Jewish Arabic dialect of ˁĀna: Grammatical sketch and texts
2024
ˁĀna, a city situated in western Iraq near the Syrian border, was home to an ancient Jewish community. The Jewish community of ˁĀna spoke a dialect that bears witness to centuries of cultural evolution and linguistic diversity. The Jewish Arabic dialect of ˁĀna, which differs from both the local Muslim dialect of the city and the Jewish dialect of Baghdad, served as the community’s mother tongue for centuries until Iraqi Jews emigrated en masse to Israel after the state was founded. Today, with few remaining speakers, this unique dialect is on the brink of extinction. As a member of the Euphrates branch of the Mesopotamian qǝltu dialects, it was profoundly influenced by the Bedouin dialects prevalent in the Syro-Mesopotamian desert, resulting in a plethora of distinctive characteristics that are thoroughly examined in this monograph. Divided into two main parts, the first section of this monograph offers a comprehensive analysis of the phonology, morphosyntax and lexicon of the dialect. The second section presents transcriptions and translations of original oral texts by native speakers, offering valuable insights into various aspects of the community’s life, including its history, traditions, cuisine, and folklore. These authentic narratives provide a firsthand glimpse into the linguistic and cultural heritage of ˁĀna’s Jewish community and are a vital resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike.
Journal of Semitic Studies, 2024
Ghardaïa, situated in the centre of Saharan Algeria, is renowned for its well-preserved medieval architecture tracing back to its establishment by the puritanical Ibāḍiyyah sect in the 11th century CE. The city has been home to a Jewish community for centuries, although its exact origins remain debated. Evidence suggests migrations from Djerba, Marrakesh, and Tafilalt shaping a unique Jewish dialect that reflects ties to both Tunisia and Morocco. This paper presents a preliminary linguistic analysis of the Jewish dialect of Ghardaïa, shedding light on its historical layers and socio-linguistic dynamics. Through comparative analysis with neighbouring Muslim dialects, Jewish Djerba, and Jewish Marrakesh, it unravels the complexities of this distinct linguistic heritage, providing insights into its origins and evolution. Additionally, it delves into the nuanced variations between male and female lects within the Jewish community of Ghardaïa, elucidating socio-phonetic features that contribute to the rich diversity of the dialect.
The necessity of studying Arabic dialects has attracted more attention in the recent years. Qatar University chose to support the growing academic interest and research in the field by hosting the Association Internationale de Dialectologie Arabe (AIDA) conference on 11 - 13 November 2013. The AIDA10 conference and the tenth volume of AIDA proceedings show that a good deal of change and development in the field is occurring. Fewer papers deal on hitherto unknown dialects as the white spots on the map of Arabic dialects have significantly shrunk. More papers focus on syntactical issues because we now possess more and larger text collections. Papers using "change" in their titles indicate that Arabic dialectology has a long history. Perhaps the time has come to re-examine the studies of the 1940s, 50s and 60s concerning the dialects of certain regions.