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Copyright

Sumikazu Yoda;

Published On

2025-01-31

Page Range

pp. 175–200

Language

  • English

Print Length

26 pages

Variations in the Writing System and Style of the Modern Judaeo-Arabic of Libya

  • Sumikazu Yoda (author)
This chapter explores the variations in the writing system and style of Modern Judaeo-Arabic from Libya (JAL), focusing on materials primarily from the 20th century. The study investigates the linguistic features and orthographic choices in JAL texts written in Hebrew script, emphasizing their stylistic and phonological diversity. The analysis highlights two main areas: the variability in orthographic representation, particularly the use of the Hebrew letter gimel to denote different sounds (e.g., ž, ġ, g), and the multiglossic nature of the language, where both literary and dialectal forms coexist.

The research reveals that JAL lacks a standardized orthography, with considerable variation in the representation of sounds and grammatical features across texts. This variability reflects influences from Classical Arabic (CA), spoken Libyan Arabic, and even elements of Tunisian Arabic. For instance, literary texts employ formal CA structures and vocabulary, while dialectal words and phrases persist in informal contexts. Despite efforts to maintain stylistic consistency, even highly literary texts often contain dialectal features, highlighting the fluidity of linguistic registers in JAL.

The chapter concludes that the diversity in writing systems and styles stems from a combination of local linguistic practices, historical publishing constraints, and cultural influences from neighboring regions like Tunisia. Further research is recommended to deepen understanding of JAL’s grammatical and lexical characteristics, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive analysis of its unique linguistic identity within the broader Judaeo-Arabic tradition.

Contributors

Sumikazu Yoda

(author)
Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Humanities at Osaka University

Sumikazu Yoda is an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Humanities, Osaka University. He earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Osaka University of Foreign Studies, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy from the Hebrew University. Prof. Yoda's scholarly contributions are significant in the field of Arabic dialectology. His seminal work, "The Arabic Dialect of the Jews of Tripoli (Libya): Grammar, Text and Glossary," published in 2005, offers a grammatical analysis of this specific dialect. In 2006, he authored the article "‘Sifflant’ and ‘chuintant’ in the Arabic dialect of the Jews of Gabes (south Tunisia)," which appeared in the Zeitschrift für Arabische Linguistik, providing insights into phonetic features of the Gabes dialect. His 2009 study, "The vowel system of Cantilena: Its historical development," was included in the volume "Introducing Maltese Linguistics," edited by B. Comrie and others, and examines the evolution of vowel systems in Maltese. More recently, in 2019, the scholar published "Texts from Mahdiya (Tunisia)" in the Journal of Arabic and Islamic Studies, contributing valuable primary sources for linguistic analysis. Professor Yoda's research interests encompass Arabic dialectology, with a focus on Maghribi dialects, Arabic dialects of Jewish communities, modern Judeo-Arabic, and the Maltese language.