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Rif Berber: From Senhaja to Iznasen. A qualitative and quantitative approach to classification

  • Mena B. Lafkioui EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: November 17, 2020
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Abstract

By combining qualitative (synchronic and diachronic) and quantitative (algorithmic) approaches, this study examines the nature, structure, and dynamics of the linguistic variation attested in Berber of the Rif area (North, Northwest, and Northeast Morocco). Based on a cross-level corpus of data obtained from the Atlas linguistique des varieties berbères du Rif (Lafkioui 2007) and from numerous linguistic, sociolinguistic, and ethnographic fieldwork investigations in the area since 1992, this study shows that these Berber varieties form a language continuum with the following five stable core aggregates, which cut across administrative and political borders: Western Rif Berber, West-Central Rif Berber, Central Rif Berber, East-Central Rif Berber, and Eastern Rif Berber. Furthermore, data mining studies made it possible to objectively identify the principal aggregate discriminators of the Rif Berber continuum, which are dealt with in the study. A special focus in the article is put on the interplay between system-internal and system-external parameters for the selection, diffusion, and transformation of variants in Rif Berber.

Abbreviations

1

= first person

2

= second person

3

= third person

AOR

= aorist

AS

= annexed state

DO

= direct object

F

= feminine

FRS

= free state

G

= gender

IMP

= imperative

IO

= indirect object

IPFV

= imperfective

IRR

= irrealis

M

= masculine

NEG

= negation, negator

N

= number

PFV

= perfective

PL

= plural

P

= person

S

= subject

SG

= singular

TAM

= tense-aspect-mood

VENT

= ventive

VOC

= vocalisation

EXTVOC

= extended vocalisation

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Published Online: 2020-11-17
Published in Print: 2020-11-25

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