Berberisch

Berberisch is the German term for the Berber languages, a branch of the Afroasiatic language family spoken by the Amazigh peoples across North Africa. The Berber languages constitute a spectrum of varieties rather than a single language; some speakers refer to their language as Amazigh or Tamazight. In German-language contexts, Berberisch can denote the whole language family or individual Berber languages.

The Berber branch includes many varieties, such as Tarifit (Rif), Tashelhit (Shilha), Kabyle, Central Atlas Tamazight, and the Tuareg languages. They are concentrated in Morocco, Algeria, with smaller communities in Libya, Tunisia, Mali, Niger, and beyond. Mutual intelligibility varies, leading specialists to treat some as separate languages and others as dialects of one language.

Berber languages use several writing systems. Tifinagh is widely promoted in modern orthographies; Latin and Arabic scripts are also used. In recent decades, there have been revival efforts in education, media, and literature. Morocco recognizes Tamazight as an official language alongside Arabic; Algeria has moved toward broader recognition of Tamazight in national life and education, with continued policy development in other countries.

Numbers of speakers are uncertain and estimates range widely, commonly cited around tens of millions, though literacy and active use vary by region. Berber languages face challenges from language shift to dominant languages, but they also show ongoing revitalization and increasing visibility in media and public life, including among the diaspora in Europe.