The First Grammar Book of Riffian Tamazight by a Spanish Missionary
A Pioneer in Amazigh Language Studies By the end of the 19th century, Spanish religious men in Morocco began to show a growing interest in learning the Amazigh language, particularly in the Rif region. Among these individuals was Pedro Hilarion Sarrionandia, a Franciscan priest who traveled to Morocco as part of an African mission. During his twenty-year stay in the Kingdom, he made significant contributions by writing a grammatical book for the Riffian language and a Spanish-Riffian dictionary. The First Grammar Book for Riffian Language The first grammar book for the Riffian language was written by a Basque priest, Pedro Hilarión Sarrionandia. This groundbreaking work was published in 1905 during his time as a Franciscan missionary in the region. Sarrionandia's first contact with northern Morocco began in 1892 when he was a 27-year-old priest sent to the Order of Convent in Tetouan. During his stay, he learned Arabic before transitioning to the Amazigh language. Unlike Arabi...