Tifinagh    Tifinagh

The Tifinagh alphabet is thought to have derived from the old Berber 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

Neo-Tifinagh for Tamazight

Neo-Tifinagh alphabet for Tamazight

Download an alphabet chart for Tamazight (Excel)

Sample text in Tamazight

Sample text in Tamazight in the Neo-Tifinagh alphabet

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

Other writing systems

Page last modified: 15.03.23

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