مجلة روافد للدراسات و الأبحاث العلمية في العلوم الاجتماعية والإنسانية
Volume 9, Numéro 1, Pages 651-677
2025-06-01
Spanish Borrowings Preserved In The Toponymy Of Aïn Témouchent, Algeria
Authors : Chami Abdelkarim .
Abstract
This study explores the enduring influence of Spanish toponyms in the region of Aïn Témouchent, Algeria, highlighting their role as cultural and historical markers. Through ethnographic and dialectological research, the paper inventories Spanish-derived place names preserved in local speech, despite official efforts to rename them. The study reveals how these toponyms, often phonetically and morphologically adapted, reflect the region's history of Spanish migration and language contact. Data were collected from oral testimonies, archival sources, and fieldwork, focusing on beaches, coasts, islands, capes, and urban areas. Findings indicate that these names are deeply embedded in the collective memory, serving as emotional identity markers for the inhabitants. The research underscores the resilience of Spanish toponyms, their socio-cultural significance, and their transmission across generations, offering insights into the intangible heritage of western Algeria. It will also demonstrate that this fragile and latent richness, due to the absence of inventory, most often refers to mythical narratives that reflect a rich cultural heritage.
Keywords
Spanish heritage; language and cultural speech; Spanish toponyms; language contact
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