Since the official adoption of Tifinagh as a character for writing the Amazigh language in 2003, a question persists: have we really made the right choice? This system, rich in symbolism, however, seems to have posed more barriers than it has removed, leaving behind a generation of Moroccans in search of a mother tongue that they still do not master.
Returning to the ancestral writing of the Amazighs was a strong political act. It was about reaffirming an identity too often relegated to the background. However, behind this meaningful decision, another reality emerges: tifinagh, as symbolic as it is, is neither intuitive nor easy to learn. Result ? A language that is marginalized instead of being democratized.
Let’s take a moment to imagine a Moroccan student, sitting in front of a board where the mysterious letters of Tifinagh are lined up. For him, it’s like learning a new alien alphabet. And this student is not alone. Millions of schoolchildren and adults share his dismay.
Why not choose Arabic or Latin characters? Two alternatives were on the table:
Arabic characters, already widely used in Morocco, would have allowed a smooth transition. However, as Ahmed Boukouss, president of the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture (IRCAM), pointed out, the technical limitations were glaring. Arabic does not have the necessary tools to transcribe certain phonetic subtleties of Amazigh.
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Latin characters, more flexible, closer to what other Amazigh communities use, seemed an obvious option. However, their adoption would have been a declaration of war for Islamist currents. The Latin alphabet, seen as a cultural Trojan horse, was discarded in favor of a more “neutral” choice.
And that’s where the problem lies. This is not so much a pragmatic decision as an ideological victory. But at what cost? Road signs in Tifinagh, for example, have become enigmas for a majority of Moroccans. Faced with these registrations, many of our fellow citizens feel like tourists in their own country.
The consequences of this choice extend well beyond schoolchildren. Adults, who could have caught up on their linguistic delay, are also left behind. Imagine a language that belongs to everyone, but that almost no one can read. It’s a cruel paradox.
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But all is not lost. A simple idea could save the situation: teaching Tifinagh alongside a Latin transcription. This dual system would have the advantage of being accessible, while preserving cultural identity. And why not popularize Tifinagh through modern campaigns to popularize its learning, including among adults? Applications, educational games or even television series could work miracles.
The adoption of Tifinagh is not a failure, but it is not a resounding success either. It is a step, a chapter in a larger story. For Amazigh to fully find its place, we must think beyond ideologies and adopt a pragmatic approach. Because a living language is not just a spoken language; it is a language understood, loved and transmitted… to as many people as possible. Asseggaz Ameggaz!
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