Standard Algerian Berber
Language · official in 1 country
Tamazight is the official name of Standard Algerian Amazigh, a standard built by the Algerian Academy of the Amazigh Language out of several Berber languages, Kabyle above all. Algeria made it a national language in 2002 and an official one in 2016, so it holds official status in 1 country on record.
The language on record
- Own name
- Tamazight
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Berber
- Official in
- 1 country
Where Standard Algerian Berber is official
Algeria alone, where Tamazight has stood beside Arabic as an official language since the constitutional change of February 2016.
Official beside Standard Algerian Berber
About Standard Algerian Berber
How Algeria moved from one official language to two
The constitutions of 1963 and 1976 made Arabic the national and official language and did not mention Berber. A constitutional amendment of 8 May 2002 recognised Tamazight as a national language, and a constitutional resolution in February 2016 made it official alongside Arabic in Algeria.
What was the standard built from
Its grammar and vocabulary lean mostly on Kabyle and on the work of Mouloud Mammeri, his dictionary and his Précis de grammaire berbère (kabyle). The script is still unsettled. Latin, Tifinagh and Arabic letters all have supporters, and no single writing system has been agreed.
Who learns it in school
In 2017, 350,000 pupils studied Tamazight in 38 of the 48 wilayas, 4% of all students, and 90% of them learned it in Latin letters. The government announced in 2018 that optional Tamazight classes would be offered in every public primary and secondary school.
Common questions
Questions about Standard Algerian Berber
Is Standard Algerian Berber the same as Kabyle?
No. It is a standard that combines several Berber languages, drawing mostly on Kabyle.
Which alphabet writes Tamazight in Algeria?
No single one has been agreed. Latin, Tifinagh and Arabic script all have backers, although 90% of the pupils studying it in 2017 used Latin letters.
Since when has Tamazight been official in Algeria?
Since February 2016. It had been a national language since the amendment of 8 May 2002.