Ghomara language
Encyclopedia
The language of the Ghomara
is a Northern Berber language spoken by at least 10,000 people in Morocco near Tetouan
and Chaouen. While included in the Zenati
subgroup by some sources (such as the Ethnologue
), it is probably more closely related to southern Moroccan languages, such as Central Atlas Tamazight and Shilha. Ghomara Berber is spoken on the western edge of the Rif
in Morocco
. Contrary to the Ethnologue
, it is not extinct; Peter Behnstedt reports that it is spoken in at least the douar of Amtiqan and its immediate neighborhood, just west of Oued Ouringa. However, it is spoken by only a small minority of the Ghomara
; even in 1931, according to Carleton Coon
, only one of their eight tribes, the Beni Bu Zra, continued to speak it. It is relatively similar to the so-called Senhadja de Srair Berber varieties, spoken around Ketama, but s probably difficult to understand for a speaker of the mainstream dialects of Riff.
Some typical features which show the difference with Riff language are the use of the preposition dar instead of general Riff ghar, the feminine plural ending -an instead of -in, and the absence of spirantisation in word-initial position (as witnessed by the texts in Colin 1929).
Ghomara
The Ghomara are an originally Berber group in northern Morocco, living between the rivers Oued Laou and Ouringa, north of Chefchaouen and south of Tetouan, just west of the Rif. The river Tiguisas runs through their territory...
is a Northern Berber language spoken by at least 10,000 people in Morocco near Tetouan
Tétouan
Tetouan is a city in northern Morocco. The Berber name means literally "the eyes" and figuratively "the water springs". Tetouan is one of the two major ports of Morocco on the Mediterranean Sea. It lies a few miles south of the Strait of Gibraltar, and about 40 mi E.S.E. of Tangier...
and Chaouen. While included in the Zenati
Zenati languages
The Zenati languages, named after the medieval Zenata tribe, are a subgroup of the Northern Berber language family, spoken in North Africa, proposed in Destaing They are distributed across the central Maghreb, from northeastern Morocco to just west of Algiers, and the northern Sahara, from...
subgroup by some sources (such as the Ethnologue
Ethnologue
Ethnologue: Languages of the World is a web and print publication of SIL International , a Christian linguistic service organization, which studies lesser-known languages, to provide the speakers with Bibles in their native language and support their efforts in language development.The Ethnologue...
), it is probably more closely related to southern Moroccan languages, such as Central Atlas Tamazight and Shilha. Ghomara Berber is spoken on the western edge of the Rif
Rif
The Rif or Riff is a mainly mountainous region of northern Morocco, with some fertile plains, stretching from Cape Spartel and Tangier in the west to Ras Kebdana and the Melwiyya River in the east, and from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the river of Wergha in the south.It is part of the...
in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. Contrary to the Ethnologue
Ethnologue
Ethnologue: Languages of the World is a web and print publication of SIL International , a Christian linguistic service organization, which studies lesser-known languages, to provide the speakers with Bibles in their native language and support their efforts in language development.The Ethnologue...
, it is not extinct; Peter Behnstedt reports that it is spoken in at least the douar of Amtiqan and its immediate neighborhood, just west of Oued Ouringa. However, it is spoken by only a small minority of the Ghomara
Ghomara
The Ghomara are an originally Berber group in northern Morocco, living between the rivers Oued Laou and Ouringa, north of Chefchaouen and south of Tetouan, just west of the Rif. The river Tiguisas runs through their territory...
; even in 1931, according to Carleton Coon
Carleton Coon
Carleton Coon may refer to:*Carleton Coon, American jazz musician, co-founder of the Coon-Sanders Original Nighthawk Orchestra*Carleton S. Coon, American anthropologist...
, only one of their eight tribes, the Beni Bu Zra, continued to speak it. It is relatively similar to the so-called Senhadja de Srair Berber varieties, spoken around Ketama, but s probably difficult to understand for a speaker of the mainstream dialects of Riff.
Some typical features which show the difference with Riff language are the use of the preposition dar instead of general Riff ghar, the feminine plural ending -an instead of -in, and the absence of spirantisation in word-initial position (as witnessed by the texts in Colin 1929).