The Ghadamès language

The Ghadamès language, also known as Ghadamsi or Ghadamsian, is a Berber language spoken primarily in the oasis town of Ghadames, located in the Nalut District of western Libya. It is a part of the Afro-Asiatic language family and belongs to the Berber branch, specifically the Eastern Berber group. While it shares some commonalities with other Berber languages, Ghadamès preserves unique phonological and morphological features that distinguish it from other languages in the Berber family.

The Ghadamès language is spoken by an estimated 17,000 people, though this number is uncertain, and the language faces endangerment due to a steady decline in native speakers. The language has been the subject of study by linguists, particularly Jacques Lanfry, who spent time in Ghadames during the mid-20th century. Lanfry’s work, published in the 1960s and 1970s, provided a comprehensive study of Ghadamès, documenting its grammar and vocabulary. His work remains one of the most reliable sources of information about the language.

Despite its long history, Ghadamès has shown relatively little influence from Arabic, maintaining a distinct vocabulary and structure. This is notable because Arabic has heavily influenced many other languages spoken in the region. Ghadamès is often grouped with other languages like Awjila and is classified by some as an Eastern Zenati language.

In recent years, the number of speakers has dwindled, with estimates suggesting that only a small portion of the town’s population are fluent speakers. Additionally, many Ghadamès speakers have migrated abroad, further complicating efforts to gauge the language’s vitality. Efforts to preserve Ghadamès have been limited, and it remains classified as a “threatened” language. Without intervention, the future of the Ghadamès language is uncertain.