Senhaja Berber

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A language of Morocco

ISO 639-3
sjs
Alternate Names
Senhaja de Srair, Senhajiya, Shilha, Shilha Barbarya, Shilha n Jbala, Tajeblit, Tamazight, Tamazight n Jbala, Tasenhajit
User Population

86,000 (2014 census). 6,000 Ayt Bshir, 7,000 Ayt Bunsar, 9,000 Ayt Hmed, 9,000 Ayt Khennus, 10,000 Ayt Mezduy, 17,000 Ayt Seddat, 17,000 Ketama, 5,000 Taghzut, 6,000 Zerqet.

Location

Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate region: Ketama area west of Tarifit.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, Riff
Dialects

Ayt Hmed (Beni Ahmed), Ayt Bshir (Beni Bechir), Ayt Bunsar (Beni Buensar), Ayt Khennus (Beni Jennus), Ayt Mezduy (Beni Mesdui), Ayt Seddat (Beni Seddat), Ketama (Quetama), Zerqet (Sarcat), Taghzut (Tagsut). A separate language from Tarifit [rif].

Language Use

Some young people, all adults.

Language Development

Dictionary.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Senhaja Berber
Other Comments

Shilha is Arabic for Moroccan Berber language varieties in general. Shilha n Jbala or Tamazight n Jbala are commonly used names which mean Berber of the Mountain People. An Arabic name for this is Senhajiya. Muslim.