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Post-Revolution Language Change In The Libyan Media: Tamahaq News Broadcast, Ashour Abdulaziz

Student Research Symposium

This paper examines segments from the very first Tamazight language TV news broadcast in the history of Libya in May 11, 2011. In the analysis, I focus on (a) Tamazight-Arabic code switching and (b) the profound influence of Arabic on the Tamazight spoken in this situation. Before the February 17 Revolution, such a broadcast was unthinkable, as the use of the language in such public contexts was outlawed during Gaddafi's rule. Post Feb. 17, the Tamazight language emerged in the media as a new linguistic spoken and written resource in the Libyan setting itself up as in contrast to and …