36.1446, Calls: The 1st International Conference on Amazigh Language in the 21st Century: Realities, Challenges, and Future Prospects (Morocco)

Tue May 6 03:05:02 UTC 2025

LINGUIST List: Vol-36-1446. Tue May 06 2025. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 36.1446, Calls: The 1st International Conference on  Amazigh Language in the 21st Century: Realities, Challenges, and Future Prospects (Morocco)

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Date: 05-May-2025
From: Yassine Boussagui [y.boussagui at uiz.ac.ma]
Subject: The 1st International Conference on  Amazigh Language in the 21st Century: Realities, Challenges, and Future Prospects

Full Title: The 1st International Conference on  Amazigh Language in
the 21st Century: Realities, Challenges, and Future Prospects

Date: 01-Apr-2026 - 02-Apr-2026
Location: Faculty of Languages, Arts, & Human Science at Ait Melloul,
Agadir, Morocco
Contact Person: Yassine Boussagui
Meeting Email: y.boussagui at uiz.ac.ma

Linguistic Field(s): Applied Linguistics; Sociolinguistics

Call Deadline: 30-Jun-2025

Call for Papers:
Background
Over the past three decades, the official stance on the Amazigh
language (Tamazight) and culture in North Africa has undergone
significant transformations. Political upheavals, coupled with the
rise of linguistic human rights, have contributed to a shift in
attitudes towards Tamazight in the region. In Morocco, the ascension
of King Mohamed VI in 1999 marked a pivotal moment in state policies
towards the Amazigh language and culture. In 2001, the language was
recognized as a national language, and by 2003, it was introduced into
primary education as part of a broader revitalization effort. A
momentous step that culminated in its recognition as an official
language in 2011.
A similar trajectory unfolded in Algeria, where the Black Spring of
2001 in Kabylie galvanized the recognition of Tamazight as a national
language, ultimately leading to its elevation to official status in
the Constitution in 2016. Despite these advancements, the progress in
other parts of North Africa has been slower and more fragmented,
reflecting the enduring challenges that the Amazigh language faces in
the region, from political resistance to societal indifference, all of
which place the language in a precarious position of endangerment.
However, beneath these seemingly progressive reforms in Morocco and
Algeria lies a more complex reality. These policy changes must be
critically assessed, as they often appear to be more a political
strategy aimed at appeasing certain groups than a reflection of a
genuine commitment to the revitalization of the Amazigh language. The
shift from marginalization, once justified under the banner of
national unity and modernity, has now been reframed under the rhetoric
of unity in diversity and national cohesion. While the language is
being promoted as part of the national identity, it remains confined
within the realms of political rhetoric rather than genuine societal
transformation.
In Morocco, for instance, the integration of Tamazight into the
education system remains far from complete. Less than 50% of schools
have implemented programmes of instruction of Tamazight, and where it
is taught, it is often marginalized within the curriculum, taught as
an elective rather than a core subject. This disparity underscores the
challenges of translating official recognition into tangible
revitalization efforts. It highlights the gap between policy
intentions and the realities on the ground—where systemic and
infrastructural barriers prevent the true preservation of the
language.
The situation in Algeria, despite its legislative victories, mirrors
this trend. Even though the language gained official status, its
presence in daily life, media, and education is still inconsistent.
The persistence of these challenges suggests that linguistic
revitalization in the Maghreb is not just a matter of official
recognition, but requires a deeper shift in societal attitudes,
political will, and concrete investments in education, media, and
cultural preservation.
Moreover, this process should involve a more inclusive approach that
includes not only state-driven initiatives but also grassroots
efforts. Civil society movements and community-based language
practices are essential in revitalizing the Amazigh language and
ensuring its survival for future generations.
Ultimately, the struggle for the preservation and revitalization of
the Amazigh language is not only a matter of linguistic rights but
also a fight for cultural diversity and the recognition of
marginalized identities within the broader socio-political landscape
of North Africa.
Aim of the conference:
The conference comes at a juncture where the Amazigh revitalization
project, in its formal and informal dimensions, is losing steam and it
aims, therefore, to bring together researchers, scholars, and
practitioners to discuss the challenges and prospects of preserving,
promoting, and developing the Amazigh language and culture in
contemporary North African and Amazigh diasporan societies.
Themes and Topics:
 - Tamazight in a Multilingual North Africa and the diaspora
 - Amazigh Language recognition: between text and practice
 - Status planning and corpus planning of Tamazight in North Africa
 - Amazigh language-in-education policies
 - Amazigh language loss and attrition
 - Amazigh language maintenance and revitalization
 - Between Recognition and Folklorization: Challenges in Amazigh
Cultural Representation
 - Media and the portrayal of Amazigh culture
 - The impact of globalization on Amazigh cultural practices
 - Contemporary Amazigh literature and its role in cultural identity
 - The role of education in the promotion of Amazigh identity
 - Linguistic rights advocacy and policy implementation
Submission Guidelines:
Submissions are solicited for theme session presentations which should
last for 15 minutes with 5 minutes for questions (maximum 20 minutes
total), and they should be in line with the following guidelines:
 - Abstracts should be 250-300 words, including the title, keywords,
and the author’s name, affiliation, and contact information.
 - Fill out the Abstract Submission Form at:
https://forms.gle/Cz2sthG8dwkBnjqm8
 - Abstracts must be submitted in English. Papers can be also
presented in Arabic or French.
 - The bio should not exceed 100 words
Publication Opportunities:
Selected papers presented at the conference will have the opportunity
to be published in a special issue of a peer-reviewed journal or
edited volume dedicated to the Amazigh language. Further details will
be provided to authors of accepted abstracts.
Important Dates
 - Abstract Submission Deadline: June 30th, 2025.
 - Notification of Acceptance: September 20th, 2025
 - Full Paper Submission Deadline: February 15th, 2026
 - Conference Dates: April 1st, 2nd, 2026
Conference Fees:
Local Professors and Senior Researchers 120 $
International Professors and Senior Researchers 250 $
Doctoral/Master students 50 $
Early birds: 5-30 October 2025
Local Professors and Senior Researchers 100 $
International Professors and Senior Researchers 200 $
Doctoral/Master students 30 $
Conference Venue: Faculty of Languages, Arts, and Human Sciences, Ibn
Zohr University, Ait Melloul University Campus
Keynote Speakers:
Professor Katherine E. Hoffman – Northwestern University – Illinois –
The USA
Professor emeritus Abderrahman EL Aissati –Tilburg University -
Netherlands
Professor Salem Mezhoud – Associate Senior Fellow – African Leadership
Centre – King’s College London
Conference Coordinators: Dr. Yassine Boussagui and Dr. Yassine Ait
Hammou
For any queries contact: amazighconference26 at gmail.com

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