Is the Amazigh language suitable for science and technologies?

Some misconceptions about the Amazigh language, such as describing it as just “separate Amazigh women” or an “artificial laboratory language,” (cause) a lot of misunderstanding among citizens. These are ideas and phrases that are usually repeated by some intellectuals and opinion writers who do not have any respectable knowledge of this language.

The ignorance of most Moroccans in Tamazight, reading and writing (even if they are speakers of it in daily life), is not their fault or responsibility, but rather the state and some influential political parties and lobbies are responsible for that because they deliberately and premeditatedly prevented the people from learning this language in school throughout Twentieth century. However, this policy did not succeed in pushing the Amazigh language towards the abyss of extinction, despite the continuous decrease in the number of its speakers, which is caused by deliberate and unintentional Arabization and Frenchization. These factors did not succeed in weakening Tamazight in itself as a living language, but only succeeded in disrupting it and delaying it from boarding the train of science and technology. The state of delay and failure is subject to compensation and change, and it can even be converted into a state of progress.

This article is not meant to give a lesson in Amazigh, but rather to provide the reader with a clear idea of ​​some of the capabilities of the Amazigh language in expressing science and technology. It has deliberately diversified and simplified topics in order to clarify the idea and encourage the reader to search and investigate, especially since the Internet provides free of charge a large number of Amazigh books and dictionaries rich in information and thousands of words. Amazigh publications are also increasing and common in libraries in the countries of the Amazigh world and Europe.

1) What is “computer” in Tamazight?

The Amazigh language has at least three terms for “computer” / “computer” / “computer”, which are:

– Amessiḍen (pronunciation: Amesiḍen), literally meaning: computer. Its plural form is: imessiḍan. The term is ancient and rooted in Berber, and is derived from the Berber verb siḍen (to calculate/to calculate). We find this term in the Amazigh Arabic Dictionary of Muhammad Shafiq (page No. 266, volume one).

– Aselkim, which literally means: Executor (i.e., the computer that performs commands and mathematical operations). The plural is: iselkimen. This term is derived from the Amazigh verb selkem (to carry out / to carry out). This term was formulated by the Algerian researcher and doctor of informatics, Samia Saad Bouzfran, in her French-English Amazigh dictionary of computer terms, Amawal n Tsenselkimt (page 99). This dictionary was published in 1996.

– Amessudes (pronunciation: Amessudes) and its literal meaning: the arranger / organizer (i.e. the computer that arranges information). The plural is: imessudsen. This term was coined by the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture. The word is derived from the Amazigh verb sudes (to arrange).

Source: Amazigh Dictionary (Page No. 43). Publisher: Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture.

2) How do we say “the theory of relativity” in Tamazight?

The Amazigh equivalent of the word “theory” is: Tamagunt and its plural: Timagunin.

As for the “relativity”, it is in Berber: Timmaseɣt (Temmaseght).

So the “theory of relativity” we translate as follows: Tamagunt n Timmaseɣt.

And the “theory of special relativity” is in Tamazight: Tamagunt tanagmaḍt n Timmaseɣt

As for the “general theory of relativity,” we translate it like this: Tamagunt tamatayt n Timmaseɣt

As for the physical equation E = mc2 (energy = mass x speed of light squared), its translation is: Taẓḍart = tabeddurt x amkoẓ n tfessi n tfawt

3) How do we translate “carbon dioxide” into Tamazight? Amazigh has excellent abilities to form new words through the use of prefixes and suffixes or combining two words in order to produce a third word that is easy to pronounce and use. For example, in order to translate “carbon dioxide” (in English: carbon dioxide) into Tamazight, we use the Amazigh word sin, which means: two, and we combine it with the mixed word oksid, so we have: Asinoksid (meaning: dioxide). Then we take the Amazigh word Aẓoẓim which means “coal”. So “carbon dioxide” is in Amazigh: Asinoksid oẓoẓim (pronunciation: Asinoksid oẓoẓim).

In the same vein, we use the Berber word yan (meaning: one) and translate “carbon monoxide” into Berber like this: Ayanoksid oẓoẓim (pronunciation: ayanoxide and zozhim). We also translate “sulfur trioxide” using the Amazigh word kraḍ (meaning: three) and the Amazigh word Awḍis (meaning: sulfur) as follows: Akraḍoksid n wawḍis (pronunciation: akraḍoksid n wawḍis).

As for the global chemical symbols such as CO, CO2 and SO3, we keep them in the Amazigh texts as they are universally recognized, without any change.

4) “Biology,” “geology,” and “physics” in Amazigh:

The English word Biology is made up of two words of Greek origin:

- bio (life), which is equivalent in Tamazight: Tudert.

- logy (science / study) which we translate in Tamazight as: Tussna.

From the Amazigh word Tussna we take one of the two syllables sna or usna, which is the Amazigh equivalent of logy in English. Thus, we translate the word “biology” into: Tudrusna. We can also translate it to: Tussna n tudert (ie: the science of life).

In the same vein, we translate the word “geology” into Tamazight as follows: Takalusna. The extended form is: Tussna n wakal (i.e.: the science of the earth), based on the word Akal (or Acal / Acař achar) which means “earth” and “dirt” in Berber.

We also translate the word “physics” into Tagamasna or Tussna ugama (science of nature), where the word Agama means “nature” in Berber. From these three Amazigh words, we formulate adjectives (adjectives) and derived nouns as follows:

“biological” (adjective): Udrusnan. "Biological" (adjective): Tudrusnant

“Biologist”: Udermassan. "Biologist": Tudermassant

“geologist” (adjective): Akalusnan. "geological" (adjective): Takalusnant

“Geologist”: Akalmassan. Geologist: Takalmassant

“physicist” (adjective): Agamasnan. "physical" (adjective): Tagamasnant

“Physicist”: Agamassan. “Physicist”: Tagamassant

As the word Amassan means “the scholar,” its plural: imassanen.

Also, Tamassant means “scientist” and its plural: Timassanin. While the word Ussnan means: “scientific”, and Tussnant means: “scientific”.

5) Mathematics, geometry and arithmetic in Amazigh:

Tamazight has the ability to translate all modern mathematical texts and concepts thanks to its rich stock of abstract concepts. For example we have the following simple terms:

“Mathematics”: Takatusna or Tusnakt

“My Mathematics”: Akatusnan. Mathematics: Takatusnant

“The mathematician”: Akatmassan

“The mathematician”: Takatmassant

“Measurement”: Akat

“engineering”: Tanezgit

“geometric”: Anezgan, “geometric”: Tanezgant

“straight line”: Taɣda

“square”: Amkoẓ, “squares”: imkoẓen

“cube”: Agasas or Azeqqa

“cubes”: igasasen or izeɣwan

“rectangle”: Unziɣ (unziɣ), “rectangles”: unziɣen

“The rhombus”: Udlif, “The rhombus”: udlifen

“triangle”: Akerdis, “triangles”: ikerdisen

“circle”: Taẓayert, “circles”: tiẓoyar

“pyramid”: Aẓekka, “pyramid”: iẓekwan

Among the terms of arithmetic and algebra that we have available in Tamazight, for example:

“account”: Tiṭṭant or Asiḍen

“Equation”: Tagda, “Equations”: Tigdayin

“Addition”: Timernit, “Subtraction”: Tukksa

“multiplication”: Akfud or Aseffukti, “division”: Abeṭṭo (Abeṭṭo)

“Number”: Amḍan (Amdan) or Azwil

‘Numbers’: imḍanen (the two prayers) or izwilen

“number”: Oṭṭon (toon)

“whole numbers”: Oṭṭonen imetwalen

“The real numbers”: Oṭṭonen ilawen

“Natural numbers”: Oṭṭonen igamanen

“Decimal numbers”: Oṭṭonen isamrawen

“Exponent”: Amessiwen, Basis: Adasil

“square root”: Aẓor amkoẓ

“cubic root”: Aẓor asekkaraḍ

6) “The Universe”, “The Black Hole” and “The Big Bang” in Tamazight:

Let's quickly read this short scientific text:

“Physicists believe that the universe began with a big explosion that occurred more than 13 billion years ago, as evidenced by the distance of galaxies from each other, and also evidenced by the cosmic background radiation of microwaves (CMBR), which is one of the remnants of the explosion that still reaches us today. This explosion led to the formation of time, space, physical laws, and chemical elements such as particles, atoms, and molecules, and then stars, planets, and galaxies were formed.

We live in a galaxy called the Milky Way galaxy and our solar system is located in it. The solar system consists of the sun and eight planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. At the center of our galaxy is a giant black hole with a weight of about 4 million times the weight of the sun and is 26 thousand light-years away from our planet. The universe is governed by the four fundamental forces known to us: gravity, the strong nuclear force, the weak nuclear force, and the electromagnetic force.”

(Source: NASA website).

When we read a scientific text like this, it will seem to us that the Amazigh language is unable to translate it. No wonder. Most of us did not have the opportunity to learn the Amazigh language and see its dictionaries and literature. Before we translate together this text into Tamazight one sentence at a time, we will first translate its scientific terms:

“The universe” in Berber: Ameɣrad (Amgrad)

“Physics”: Tagamasna

“Explosion”: Aḍoqqez (Aḍoqqez) or Aṭiqqes (Atiqas) or Abaqqay

“the great”: Ameqqṛan (two peers)

“The Big Bang”: Aḍoqqez Ameqqṛan

“radiation”: Azenẓer, “radiation”: izenẓar

"Background": Agilal (English: Background)

“wave”: Tayyuɣt, “waves”: Tiyyaɣ

"microwave": Tamẓi-yyuɣt, (in English: Microwave)

“Cosmic microwave background radiation”:

In English: Cosmic microwave background radiation in Amazigh: Azenẓer ameɣradan ugilal n temẓi-yyuɣt

- Translate sentence 1:

"Physicists believe that the universe began with a big explosion that occurred more than 13 billion years ago, as evidenced by the divergence of galaxies from each other, and also evidenced by the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR), which is a remnant of the explosion that still reaches us today." Ttwalan yimassanen n tgamasna is ameɣrad yessenta s yan oḍoqqez ameqqṛan yemsaren zeg ujar n 13 melyaṛ isegusa yezrin, yesskan ɣer-s umyaggʷaj n imahellawen kra xef kra, d yesskan ɣer-s ula d ozenẓer ame ɣradan ugilal n temẓi-yyuɣt (ZMGM) iy yellan zeg igulaz oḍoqqez ay isulen ttakkʷaḍen-d ɣer-neɣ ar assa

“Time” / “Time” in Berber: Akud “Space”: Asayrur ​​“Formation” / “Formation”: Asileɣ “Law”: Asaḍof “Physical Laws”: isoḍaf n tgamasna "chemical elements": iferdisen ikruranen "particle": Tazelɣa (Tazelga), "particles": Tizelɣiwin "atom": Abelkim, "atoms": ibelkimen "molecule": Tanectiwt (Tazelga), "particles": Tinectiwin "the star “: itri,” “stars”: itran “planet”: Amtiweg, “planets”: imtiwgen “galaxy”: Amahellaw, “galaxies”: imahellawen

- Translate sentence 2:

“This explosion led to the formation of time, space, physical laws, and chemical elements such as particles, atoms, and molecules, and then stars, planets, and galaxies were formed.” Aḍoqqez a yessiweḍ ɣer usileɣ n wakud, asayrur, isoḍaf n tgamasna, iferdisen ikruranen am tzelɣiwin d yibelkimen d tnectiwin, uca ttwaggen yitran, imtiwgen, d yimahellawen “the sun”: Tafuyt, Tafukt, or Tafuct (Thavusheth ) "Solar System": Anagraw n Tfuyt "Milk Way Galaxy" (Milky Way): Amahellaw n Ubrid Uɣi

- Translate sentence 3:

"We live in a galaxy called the Milky Way Galaxy, and our solar system is located in it." Neccin nettedder deg ijen umahellaw qqaṛen as Amahellaw n Ubrid Uɣi, deg-s iy yella Unagraw n Tfuyt neɣ Planet “Mercury” in Amazigh: Azwaq (Zawaq) Planet “Venus”: Amaḍan (Amadan) Planet “Earth”: Akal or Tamoṛt Planet “Mars” Jupiter: Adanbala Saturn: Awihaḍ or Agru Uranus Neptune: Nibtun

- Translate sentence 4:

“The solar system consists of the sun and eight major planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.” Anagraw n Tfuyt tella day-s Tfuyt d tam n yimtiwgen ixataren iy yellan: Azwaq, Amaḍan, Akal, imezwiɣ, Adanbala, Awihaḍ, Uranus, d Nibtun "holes" in Berber: Abgay, "holes": ibgayen (color) "black" : Aseggan or Aberkan or Abercan (Abershan) “black hole” we translate as follows: Abgay abercan “giant”: Alɣuɣ “weight” / “heaviness”: Taẓḍit (TAẓḍit) “alif” (1000): Agim, “thousands”: igiman “million”: Agendid, “millions”: igendiden “light-year”: Aseggʷas n tfawt

- Translate sentence 5:

"There is a giant black hole in the center of our galaxy, about 4 million times the weight of the sun, and it is 26,000 light-years away from our planet." Yella deg wammas umahellaw neɣ ijen ubgay abercan d alɣuɣ ttakkʷaḍ teẓḍit nnes ar ca n 4 ugendid n tikkal n teẓḍit n Tfuyt, d yaggug ɣef umtiweg neɣ s 26 igiman iseggusa n tfawt “nuclear” Berber: Aɣurman "gravity" / " Gravity”: Aẓẓog (Aẓog) “electricity”: Taẓarort “magnet”: Ameɣnaḍis (ammagnetism) “electromagnetic”: Aẓaror-meɣnaḍisan “force”: Adwas, “forces”: idwasen

- Translate sentence 6:

"The universe is governed by four fundamental forces known to us: gravity, the strong nuclear force, the weak nuclear force, and the electromagnetic force." (Source: NASA website). Ameɣrad yettwanbeḍ s kkoẓ n yidwasen ixataren yettwassnen ɣer-neɣ iy yellan: aẓẓog, adwas aɣurman amekroẓ, adwas aɣurman amelkuk, d wedwas aẓaror-meɣnaḍisan Aɣbalu: asmel n tfullut Tamirikant usayrur ​​NASA

7) Summary:

So, we can say with a high degree of confidence that the Amazigh language is fully capable of translating all kinds and branches of science and technology without difficulty, thanks to its lexical richness and its diverse expressive capabilities. Even in cases where you do not have enough modern or accurate scientific terminology, Amazigh has an arsenal of derivation, generation, synthesis and merging capabilities that allow the creation or derivation of new Amazigh words that keep pace with all new scientific developments. These capabilities will enable Tamazight in the near future to transform into a language of science and technology developed and independent and contribute to the movement of scientific research like all other developed languages.

8) The Academy:

- Amawal n Tutlayt Tamaziɣt Amazigh Language Dictionary, Arabic Berber, French Berber, Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture, Rabat, 2009.

- The Amazigh Arabic Dictionary, 3 volumes, authored by: Muhammad Shafiq, Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco, Rabat, 1990, 1993, 2000.

- The French-English Amazigh Dictionary of Computer Terms, Amawal n Tsenselkimt, authored by: Samiya Saad-Buzefran, Paris, 1996.

- Amawal Anemlan School Dictionary, Amazigh Arabic-French, Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture, 2011.

- Amawal n Usneɣmes Media Dictionary, Amazigh English Arabic French, Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture, 2009.

- Grammar Dictionary, Amawal n Tjerrumt, Amazigh English Arabic French, INALCO Institute, Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture, 2009.

- The generation of Amazigh words, La néologie lexicale berbère, authored by: Ramdane Achab. Peeters Publishers, Leuven (Belgium), 1996.

- Amazigh Grammar: Grammaire berbère: rifain, tamazight, chleuh, kabyle, authored by: Michel Quitout, Paris, 1997.

- Amawal amasɣan Amaziɣ Amazigh Religious Dictionary Lexique religieux berbère, authored by: Kamal Naït-Zerrad, Milan, Italy, 1998.

- Dictionnaire touareg français, authored by: Karl G. Prasse, Copenhagen University Press, Denmark, 2003.

- Dictionnaire tarifit français, authored by: Mohammed Serhoual, Tetouan, 2002.

- Dictionnaire kabyle français, authored by: J.M. Dalet, Paris, 1982.

- Al-Shalhi Practical Dictionary, French Berber, Vocabulaire usuel du tachelhit, authored by: Abdallah Bounfour and Abdallah Boumalk, Rabat, 2001.

- Dictionnaire français zénaga - berbère de Mauritanie (Berbère de Mauritanie) Authored by: Catherine Taine-Cheikh

Publishers: Rüdiger Köppe Verlag, Cologne, Germany, 2010.

- A Berber Dictionary and Grammar of Jebel Nefousa (Libya), Le Djebel Nefousa, Étude grammaticale, authored by: A. De Calassati-Motylinski, Paris, 1898.

– Amawal n Tusnakt Dictionary of Mathematics, French Berber, Lexique de Mathématiques - Français Berbère, Authored by: Mohand Laïhem, Hend Sadi, and Ramdane Achab (ed. 1984), Youcef Maallemi (ed. 1998), Tizi Ouzou.

– Amawal azerfan Judicial Dictionary - French Amazigh Lexique juridique - Français Amazighe, authored by: Ahmed Adghirni and A. Afulay and Lahbib Fouad, Rabat, 1996.

- Electrotechnical Dictionary (Electrical Engineering), French Berber, Dictionnaire d'électrotechnique - Français Tamazight, Authored by: Mohand Mahrazi, High Governorate of the Berber HCA, Algiers, 2011.