ArabGayxxl
09-10-2007, 05:08 PM
English is not widely spoken in Morocco, even though it's now part of the school curriculum. Some basic French or Arabic, or a good phrasebook, will come in hand during your visit.
You will find that many Moroccans do know some English words, but most are not able to have a real conversation in English. People involved in the tourism industry, including vendors at the markets in the main cities, usually have a better grasp of the language.
Street signs and other public communication are usually in both Arabic and French.
The languages of the Moroccan education system are Arabic and French. English takes third place, with children learning the language from the age of 10.
The gap between French and English is in practice: Moroccan children hear French all the time, on TV, in songs, in some circles even at home. English, on the other hand, is rarely heard in Morocco, except from tourists. The tourism industry has increased interest in the language, but English still has a lot of catching up to do.
Arabic
Arabic is the official language of Morocco. Moroccans speak their own Arabic dialect, with "Modern Standard Arabic" the language of the press, business and diplomacy. Most of the time, Arabs from across the world are able to have a basic conversation using their own separate dialects.
Not everybody in Morocco speaks Arabic, notably many among the Berber peoples in the Atlas and Rif mountains and the Sahrawi in Western Sahara south of Laayoune. The Sahrawi speak their own dialect of Arabic, known as Hassaniya or Sahrawi. Most Moroccans from the north find it extremely difficult to understand this dialect.
French
Morocco is a former French protectorate. French is still used widely, in films, TV, radio, newspapers and magazines, but also on traffic signs and in government. The language is taught in schools from day one. A basic grasp of French will make it very easy to make yourself understood in Morocco.
Spanish
The Spanish ruled the region between Laayoune and Dakhla, and some Spanish is still spoken here, although it has rapidly been replaced by French as the second language of choice. Spanish is also spoken in Ceuta (Sebta) and Mellila and to some limited extent in the areas surrounding these Spanish enclaves in northern Morocco.
Berber
"Berber" is not a language, and there is no people that calls itself "Berber". The term is used for the three original, non-Arab peoples living in Morocco, and for their languages.
Tachelhit is spoken by 3 million people in Morocco, along the coast between Agadir and Sidi Ifni, inland from Agadir to Marrakech, and east through the Draa valley and into Algeria.
Tamazight, considered by some to be the "main" Berber language, is spoken by another 3 million people in the Atlas Mountains and in rural areas between Taza, Khemisset, Azilal and Errachidia.
Tarifit, the native language of 1.5 million Moroccans, is spoken in northern Morocco, particularly in the Rif mountains.
Many among the Berber peoples speak no Arabic, particularly women. French is even less useful in these regions, let alone English.
After decades of official "discouragement" of the use of Berber languages, the Moroccan government reversed that policy when King Mohammed VI came to the throne. There are now a number of festivals celebrating Berber culture and a Berber university in Ouarzazate.
You will find that many Moroccans do know some English words, but most are not able to have a real conversation in English. People involved in the tourism industry, including vendors at the markets in the main cities, usually have a better grasp of the language.
Street signs and other public communication are usually in both Arabic and French.
The languages of the Moroccan education system are Arabic and French. English takes third place, with children learning the language from the age of 10.
The gap between French and English is in practice: Moroccan children hear French all the time, on TV, in songs, in some circles even at home. English, on the other hand, is rarely heard in Morocco, except from tourists. The tourism industry has increased interest in the language, but English still has a lot of catching up to do.
Arabic
Arabic is the official language of Morocco. Moroccans speak their own Arabic dialect, with "Modern Standard Arabic" the language of the press, business and diplomacy. Most of the time, Arabs from across the world are able to have a basic conversation using their own separate dialects.
Not everybody in Morocco speaks Arabic, notably many among the Berber peoples in the Atlas and Rif mountains and the Sahrawi in Western Sahara south of Laayoune. The Sahrawi speak their own dialect of Arabic, known as Hassaniya or Sahrawi. Most Moroccans from the north find it extremely difficult to understand this dialect.
French
Morocco is a former French protectorate. French is still used widely, in films, TV, radio, newspapers and magazines, but also on traffic signs and in government. The language is taught in schools from day one. A basic grasp of French will make it very easy to make yourself understood in Morocco.
Spanish
The Spanish ruled the region between Laayoune and Dakhla, and some Spanish is still spoken here, although it has rapidly been replaced by French as the second language of choice. Spanish is also spoken in Ceuta (Sebta) and Mellila and to some limited extent in the areas surrounding these Spanish enclaves in northern Morocco.
Berber
"Berber" is not a language, and there is no people that calls itself "Berber". The term is used for the three original, non-Arab peoples living in Morocco, and for their languages.
Tachelhit is spoken by 3 million people in Morocco, along the coast between Agadir and Sidi Ifni, inland from Agadir to Marrakech, and east through the Draa valley and into Algeria.
Tamazight, considered by some to be the "main" Berber language, is spoken by another 3 million people in the Atlas Mountains and in rural areas between Taza, Khemisset, Azilal and Errachidia.
Tarifit, the native language of 1.5 million Moroccans, is spoken in northern Morocco, particularly in the Rif mountains.
Many among the Berber peoples speak no Arabic, particularly women. French is even less useful in these regions, let alone English.
After decades of official "discouragement" of the use of Berber languages, the Moroccan government reversed that policy when King Mohammed VI came to the throne. There are now a number of festivals celebrating Berber culture and a Berber university in Ouarzazate.