Revue de Traduction & Langues Volume 17 Numéro 2/2018, pp. 51-75 مجلة الترجمة واللغات Journal of Translation & Languages ISSN (Print): 1112-3974 EISSN (Online): 2600-6235 On Lexical Obsolescence in Tacawit: The Case of Six Berber Fauna Terms CHAIRA Farid University of Constantine 1 Frères Mentouri – Algeria Laboratoire National de Didactique du Français LANADIF
[email protected] Pr. HAMADA Hacène Ecole Normale Supérieure Constantine – Algeria Laboratoire National de Didactique du Français LANADIF
[email protected] Received: 03/ 09/ 2018; Accepted: 30/ 12/ 2018, Published: 31/12/2018 Abstract: The present paper gives an account of a cross-regional study of lexical obsolescence in Tacawit. It aims to compare the rates of lexical erosion across three regions: the Aurès Massif, Occidental Aurès and Oriental Aurès. The data of the study were collected as part of a doctoral research project on contact-induced lexical erosion in Tacawit. For purposes of brevity, however, this paper is confined to the analysis of the data obtained from one semantic domain, namely animal lexicon. Six basic concepts denoting six species were examined. The study revealed significant differences in the rates of lexical erosion between the three regions. The Massif retained most of the Berber variants, and, to a lesser degree, Occidental Aurès. In Oriental Aurès, however, there was a general tendency towards lexical replacement. This regional variation in lexical maintenance reflects different social tendencies within Aurès towards the effects of contact between Berber and Arabic. Keywords: language contact - lexical borrowing - lexical erosion - Tacawit. Résumé : Cet article présente une étude interrégionale de l'obsolescence lexicale dans le chaoui.