Tamahaq- Script Tifinar (Tifinagh)

The script of the Imuhar (Tuareg) is called Tifinar (out-dated spelling by the Orientalists: Tinfinagh)

Characters

Tifinar can be called a geometric script because it consists of lines, points and circles. In most cases, the characters represent consonants. There are 24 main characters and many more regionally specific characters (Ritter 2009). For example, the vowel “a” is just a dot.

Writing

Tifinar can be written from left to right, from right to left, form top to bottom or from bottom up. Not all Imuhar (Tuareg) can write Tifinar. Men like women teach children how to write on occasion. They do so by just writing the characters into the sand with their fingers.

Use

The script is still used among nomads but it is not used for writing long texts. Tifinar is and was never used to write down the history of the Imuhar. Nowadays, Tifinar is used to write shopping lists or short messages especially greetings. Nomads cut characters in tea glasses to designate the owner.

More in the new book:

Dominique Casajus  L´ALPHABET TOUAREG  (Cover picture from A.Fischer)