Senhaja de Srair ("Senhaja of Srair") is a Northern Berber language. It is spoken by the Sanhaja Berbers inhabiting the central part of the Moroccan Rif. It is spoken in the Ketama area west of the Tarifit speaking area in eastern Rif.
Despite its speech area, the Sanhaja language belongs to the Atlas branch of Berber.[2] It has also been influenced by the neighbouring Riffian language.[3]
Name of the language
Besides Senhaja de Srair, there are also several names such as Senhajiyya, Chelha, Chelha n Jbala, Tajeblit, Tamazight n Jbala, Tasenhajit.[4]
Dialects
Dialects of Senhaja Berber are Beni Ahmed, Beni Bechir, Beni Buensar, Beni Jennus, Beni Mesdui, Beni Seddat, Ketama, Sarcat, and Tagsut[3]
Writing System
Senhaja de Srair speakers are not used to write in their language. Unlike some other Berber languages, Tifinagh script is never used in Senhaja de Srair. If the language is written, especially in the case on Computer-mediated communication, Latin script is the most considered one, numbers are sometimes (but not consistently) used to represent some sounds: [4]
| 2 = ’ = ء | 6 = ṭ = ط |
| 3 = ɛ = ع | 7 = ḥ = ح |
| 4~8 = ġ = غ | 9 = q = ق |
| 5 = ḫ = خ |
Arabic influences
Based on the Leipzig–Jakarta list, 17% of the vocabulary in Senhaja de Srair is borrowed.[4]
Consonants
Following shows the oppositions in the consonantal system:[4]
| Voice | Voiced vs. voiceless consonants |
| Length | Short vs. long consonants |
| Pharyngealization | Non-pharyngealized vs. pharyngealized consonants |
| Spirantization | Stops vs. fricatives (spirantized consonants) |
| Assibilation | t vs. ț |
| Labialization |
Vowels
There are three peripheral vowels (a, i, u) and a central vowel, schwa [ə], written as e. The vowel a is usually realized as [æ], i as [ɪ], u as [u], e as [ə].
Following shows the Senhaja vowel system: [4]
References
Bibliography
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