Aleph
Volume 13, Numéro 4, Pages 409-449
2026-09-20
Figures Of Speech In Kabyle Riddles : Rhetorical Operations, Semantic Domains, And Oral Poetics
Authors : Tabti Rabah .
Abstract
Abstract Kabylian oral literature constitutes a vital component of Amazigh intangible heritage, with riddles emerging as a distinctive literary genre that transcends simple wordplay. This study explores the intricate stylistic foundations of Kabylian riddles by examining their various designations across the Berber-speaking world and analyzing the sophisticated linguistic devices that structure their expression. Through a comprehensive investigation of rhetorical strategies including metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche, and paradox, the research reveals how these riddles construct meaning through complex associative mechanisms based on similarities in shape, color, function, and designation. The methodology focuses on unpacking the linguistic and cultural nuances that transform riddles from mere linguistic exercises into sophisticated tools of cultural transmission. Results demonstrate that Kabylian riddles operate at the intersection of ordinary speech and refined rhetorical expression, serving as initiatory artifacts that encode traditional knowledge and reflect the deep structures of Berber thought and poetics. By illuminating the intricate relationship between language and collective imagination, this research provides crucial insights into the sophisticated art of expression embedded within Amazigh oral tradition, ultimately positioning riddles as complex linguistic constructs that embody the rich cultural and intellectual depth of Kabylian heritage.
Keywords
Kabylian riddles ; Amazigh oral literature ; linguistic rhetoric ; cultural heritage ; Berber poetics ; oral tradition ; language analysis ; intangible cultural expression
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