Hydronymy and collective memory of Tizi Gheniff region: A semantic reading of the space.

Abstract

This study is situated within the field of toponymy, with a particular focus on hydronymy. Originating from the broader discipline of philology, hydronymy examines the names associated with water sources and their cultural significance. The present research focuses on the region of Tizi Gheniff, historically known as Imẓalen, and explores how water-related place names contribute to the representation of space and the formation of collective memory.

In general, hydronymy is the branch of toponymy that studies the names of rivers, springs, and other water bodies. Closely linked to local heritage, it explores the linguistic, social, and cultural meanings attached to places by communities. It also examines the relationship between water names, language, history, and collective memory in regions shaped by natural water resources. By preserving traces of endangered languages and traditions, hydronymy contributes to geographical organization and the safeguarding of intangible heritage.

The main objective is to highlight the semantic values of the hydronyms and to show how they reflect the physical reality of the Kabyle community and its specific cultural, social and symbolic dimensions. The objective, therefore, is to identify the mobilized lexical fields and to interpret the meanings associated with the names of water sources by triangulating them with data collected from local informants. The primary research question is the following: What are the different possible meanings conveyed by the hydronyms of Tizi Gheniff region?

The adopted methodology is based on a descriptive approach with a predominantly semantic focus. The semantic analysis also considers references to the nature of the water, flora, and fauna, as well as historical events, beliefs and anthroponyms (lawliyat).  The corpus consists of hydronyms collected through field surveys and oral testimonies, including springs, streams, wadis and ancient water points between 2003 and 2009. The names were clasified according to their relationship with water features: direct designation of the spring (tala), or the water retention area (tamda).

The results show that the hydronyms go beyond the simple function of the geographical location. They preserve the memory of ancient social practices related to the water and their symbolic representations. However, the hydronymy of the region under study encompasses significant physical characteristics (such as abundance, stagnation, hazards), while others refer to the narratives, religious figures or striking events. It reveals the interaction between the language, territory, and collective memory. This study does not purport to analyze the entire corpus; rather, it focuses on a significant sample, thereby establishing a framework and offering preliminary insights for further inquiry into the region. The hydronymy of Tizi Gheniff region functions as a profound repository of meaning, contributing not only to the preservation of intangible heritage but also to the enhancement of the Kabyle -Amazigh language collective memory, and identity it epitomizes.

Key words:  collective memory, hydronymy, intangible heritage, semantic study.