Tifinagh (Berber)

Tifinagh is a script used to write the Berber languages, which are spoken in parts of Algeria, Mali, Niger, Morocco and Tunisia. The name Tifinagh comes from the Berber word for "alphabet" or "writing system". The Tifinagh alphabet was first used by the ancient Libyans, and it is thought to be one of the oldest alphabets still in use today. The alphabet consists of 27 letters, all of which are based on ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. The Tifinagh alphabet is not well-suited to writing Berber languages, as it does not have letters for all of the sounds in these languages. However, it is still used by some Berber-speakers, especially in Algeria. There has been a recent revival of interest in the Tifinagh alphabet, as it is seen as a symbol of Berber identity. In 2010, the Algerian government officially recognized the Tifinagh alphabet as one of the country's three official alphabets (along with Arabic and French).